The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-12-04
THE DEADLY DAMP.
AAtther Pennsylvania Coal Mine Horror
An Explosion Buries Over Fifty Men.


AAsther Pennsylvania Coal Mine Horror
An Explosion Buries over Fifty Men.
WILKEsBARRE, Pa, Nov. 26.-Shortly
otter the miners and labOrers entered the
Conyngham shaft this morning an eXplo-
sion of gas took place. Between twenty
and thirty miners are said to be killed,
badly burned or seriously injured. This
shaft is known to contain considerable gas
and is owned and operated by the
Delaware & Hudson Coal Company.
The explosion occurred in a
shanty at the foot of the shaft, which was
occupied by the fire boss. No work was
done yesterday, consequently there was
larger quantity of gas than usual in the
shaft. The men are new being removed
from the pit and taken 10 their homes or to
the hospital in ambulances and wagons.
LATER DISPATCH
The accident in the Coyngham shaft oc-
cured at ten minutes past seven this morn
ing, while the men were getting ready to 90
to work. About fifty meG, miners and
labOrers, were sitting at the foot of the
shaft awaiting for the inside boss when
terrible explosion took place. Only
! three or four, as far as can be as
certained escaped without injury. Most
of the men we're sent to their homes at
once and as they are scattered far and near,
| long distances from the shaft no account Of
| the result of the injuries at this writing can
be obtained. 1t is known, however, that
! several, possibly twelve or fifteen, will die,
others will be Scared and manned
| for life. The disaster was caused
| by Cornelius Boyle mine
labOrer, who stepped into worked
out chamber which was filled with gas with
a lighted lamp in his hat Boyle will die.
/ Many mules were killed and wounded. The
damage to the inside workings of the shaft
is great. Fire Bosses William Williams and
William Evans are reported fatally burned.
There is great excitement in and about the
shaft.
TERRIBLE SCENES.
WIIKLSBARRE, Pa, Nov. 27.-The scene
at the Conyngham cOlliery while the injured
men were being taken from the shaft was
terrible. A crowd of several hundred per-
sons had gathered at the mouth Of the
shaft, among them the wives, mothers and
daughters Of the injured men. AS they
were taken out Of the pit they were brought
to the engine house, and the women made
desperate efforts to gain entrance Their
rntreaties and frantic demonstrations of
grief were terrible, bat they were kent out
side the building while the blackened,
scOrched and bleeding victims were
wrapped in blankets sUaked in oil The
floor Of the engine house was covered with
writing human forms so distigured by the
fire as to be unacceptable. AS fast as
possible they were taken to the hospital OF
to their homes, and SO rapidly was the work
done that by nine O'Clock every one had
been taken out and carried away.
The recovery Of the following is believed
to be hopeless: Hugh SWeeny, aged %,
laborer, unmarried; Edward Kerns, aged
90, labOrer, unmarried; Richard Coulter
aged 26, miner, wife and family; COndy
Shannon, aged 81, miner, wife Nnd large
family; Thomas OBIien, aged 80, miner
wife and large family; Cornelius Boyle
aged IS, MINER wife and family, reported
dead; John Cannon, aged 80, miner, wife
and family; Christopher Brundage, ageC
80, labOrer, unmarried; Michael OBren
aged 80, labOrer, unmarried; Daniel Ferry
aged 81, miner, wife and large family; JOIN
Dougherty, aged 81, abOrer unmarried
Denis McCabe aged 40, miner, unmarried
HOW IT OCCURRED.
While the miners were engaged in gena
chats the laundering report of an explosion
rang through the dark corridors and in {
second the frantic men hurried to The foo
of the shaft, all auXiOusly peerIng upward
In less time than it takes to tell il The
deadly gas flame crcled around their heads
and agOnzng screams rent the air. Manl
fell at once in heap, while Others less in
iured, dropped on their knees and put thei
bliStered heads into the stream OF wae
that ran along the gangWay. The tact tina
the men were in such close proximity 10 TIN
shaft rendered their removal to the surface
an expeditions matter. In two hours al
We're safely taken up As they came up t
the surface, two or three at q time, TIN
horrOlstrcken crowds at the mouth of TIN
shaft peered amXously at the faces of th,
men. 1t was impossible to recognize an,
of them at that time. In some instance
the skin had been ripped off in masses
leaving the purple flesh exposed, which il
turn was begrlmed with coal dirt to al
extent that made the facial disiguremen
horrible TO look at As each man wa
lifted from the cage a thicl; blanket wa
thrown completely over him and he wa
hurried away to one of the neighburm
Offices. Some were taken 10 their homes
All sorts of conveyances were sent to tn
scene. lt was a cruel sight to see many o
4 the sufferers passed into common coal cart
and jOlted over rckety roads and pavement,