Connecticut western news., 1888-02-01
NINETY MINERS KILLED.
Hurled to tho Roof of . Colliery by
 Two Explosions.

VICTORIA, B.C., Jan. 25.-Black smoke rolled from the mouth of Pit No. all day to-day. There were two terrible explosions in the mines yesterday, which tore the machinery to pieces and hurled over hundred colliers to the roof of the chambers. Tho explosions, which were almost simultaneous, were felt in Wellington, five miles away, where the gre atest consterna- tion prevailed. Men, women and children ice to the mouth of the pit, which was ob- scured by . curtain of black smoke and dust.
 During the lamentations of the ersons whose relatives were known to be in the mine, . dust-begrined and bleeding collier named Stebbins crawled out of the pit. He had climbed to the top of the shaft by means of . cable wire. Other coliiers who were clinging to the cable were drawn up by their wfTes, mothers and daughters. Then carpenters set to work aud in less than an hour temporary the bolt m of the pit but by means of ladders 97 men and boys were rescued. The survivors presented pitiable sight. All were bruised and blackened, and one poor fellow named Aldrich was ravinR maniac.
 James Wetmors says that the explosions ex- tinguished all the lights in the mine. Accom- panied by eleven of his comrades, Wetmore groped about in the darkness and stifling after-damp. After wandering about the cham bers for half hour or more all lay down to die. At last all succumbed but Wetmore, whose lusty shouts at racted the attention of the rescuing party. It Is estimated that ninety miners lost their lives in the pit. Twenty bod ies were recovered to-day. Twenty five of the tonight their wives and children were still crying and praying in the glare of the torches. The cage is lowered at regular intervals, but the burden it brings to the surface is ghastly. The dead bodies are torn so badly that many of them cannot be recognized.
 Michael Lyons was blown 100 feet from the shaft. His eyes are gone, and one arm was torn from its socket. Robert Camden was leading gang of comrades out of the pit after the two explosions when all were struck by . wave of after damp and killed. Two st0r- dy young men, supposed to be brothers, were found in the tight embrace of death. The men who have volunteered to recover the dead bodies have experienced great trouble with after damp and more explosions are feared. Three of the searchers were overcome by the deadly gas this afternoon and were rcsuscitated with much difficulty.
 Indians and Chinese were engaged in the perilous work until this noon, when light ex- plosion in the pit seut them all screaming to the shaft. Some of the bodies cannot be reached, as they lie beneath tons of coal and timbers. -e-z
 The following is a close estimate of the men still in the mine:
 Lance Robinson R, Robinson, Jacob Kline regardo, John Stewart, D. McDouald, William Horner, James Jones. =. Valaria, John Mo Neal, William French, Willia n Wilkes, Charles Tiltar, Alexander Ross. =. Bellonia and Italian partner, John Marshall, R. Vincent, D. Cor don. k. Greenwell Al Godfrey, E. Davis, John Williams, Frank Mccoy, and two Belgians, names unknown; one miner, name unknown; two men not in the employ. of the company, taken down by miners; twenty five Chinese, employed as runners; fourteen Chinese, en- ployed as loaders.
 All possible endeavors are being made to re- cover bodies, the greatest obstacle being the after damp. No hopes are entertained of say. ing the lives of those below. There is nc scarcity of volunteers, as the officials and enl. ployees of the Vancouver Coal Company are rendering every assistance required. How the | explosion took place is a mystery.