The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-14
IMPRISONED In A COAL MINE.
Another Accident that May Duplicate
Last Years Nantic0ke Horror.
A Serious Cave In at a Shaft Near Scranton,
Pa.-0ne Man Killed and Number Of 9th
erS DISTINGUISHING Parties at Work.

SCRANTON, Pa, Sept 13-The Marviue
shaft colliery of the Delaware g. Hudson
Canal Company was the scene OF an extensive
cavern this morning. by which it is feared
number of men have lost their lives. How
many it is impossible to say the suggestions
varying from six to nine. There seems to be
but little question of the death of one of them.
an elderly man named John Shafer "A number
of men were cut and bruised by falling rock
and coal in making their escape up the slope.
For several weeks squeeze has been going on
in the chambers on the left-hand side of the
mine, the right-hand side being safe, as sup
posed This morning about sixty men went to
work in the right-hand chamber. After they
had been at work some time, it was noticed
that the squeeze was extending in the direction
of where the men were at work, and they were
at once notified of the danger and all started
for the foot of the shaft Two falls occurred,
and it is not known whether the missing men
were caught by the falling debris or had re-
turned to the back part Of the mine. If they re-
turned, there is hope of rescuing them alive; but
if they continued toward the foot of the shaft
they were undoubtedly killed. The cavern COW
ers five six acres.
The door was found to be already fastened in
its frame oy the squeeze, and it was necessa-
ry to use force to open it. The men had just
succeeded in forcing the door open when the fall
occurred behind them. and they rushed up the
slope, with rocks flying from the roof and pieces
of the rock flying from the sides in the darkness,
for their lights were out Before they reached
the top of the slope another fall occurred It
tha fref Sud fall AFT ki,n
party rushing mp the slope received their in
juries. Following are the names Of the injured:
Henry Shafer, shoulder bruised and three ribs
broken: Thomas Healy, laborer, slightly hurt;
Joseph Ready, driver. toes mashed; George Ma
son, miner. hand badly cut; Peter Kelly, timber
boss. struck on the back of the head and on the
shoulder by falling rock
Kelly passed John Shafer, an elderly man, at
the foot of the slope He thinks the rock which
struck him struck Shafer also.
Two young men who were in the very furthest
workings were behind Kelly, and told Shafer, as
they passed him, to hurry on and get out. They
did not look back to see if he was following, and
as he has not since been seen, the supposition is
that he has been crushed under the falling rocks
search for those still remaining in the mine
and to ascertain the extent of the disaster. was
ordered the fans set going at an unusual rate of
speed, to force, if possible, air through the
crevices of the fallen rock to reach the
imprisoned men, if still alive. Materials for
brattices and for restoring the air courses were
at once gathered and sent down into the mines
I The main road and the straight road as they
are called, are both blocked, and entrance
through them is as yet impossible There is
possibility. however, of effecting an entrance to
the workings in the rear of the fall by means Of
another heading, which runs clear around the
twenty five feet OF the chamber in which John
Young was working This was explained to Mr.
Vaudeling on the map, and he at once gave
orders to put men to work and continue without
cessation until an entrance was effected By
working three shifts and spelling the men every
three hours it is hoped to drill hole through
this twenty-five feet of coal by some time to-
morrow, when, by getting in the of the fall,
if the missing men are alive, :hey will almost
certainly be found. The chances of rescue are
very slim. 1t is just probable that they turned
back at the first fall, and made their way beyond
the effects of the second fall. If this is the case,
they Will have air enough to sustain life till res,
cued. These are grave questions remaining to
be answered, and the seems so hopeless that
it seems the answer must be in the negative
So far as is known the names of the missing
mon, in addition to Shafer, are as follows:
John Garden. laborer. thirty years of age,
married; John Young. miner, fifty five years
married, has three children; Patrick McNulty
MINER married, has seven children; Cormac Ma
guire, miner, fifty five years old, married, has
two children; Patrick Kavanaugh, miner aged
forty five, married, has six clldren: Patrick
Murphy, laborer, twenty five years old, single;
Patrick Harrison, laborer, thirty five years old,
single
Disappearance of a Land Spectator.
MILWAUKEE, Sept 13-Advices from Flor
ence, Wis, state that considerable apprehension
is felt there concerning the fate of Samuel Cra-