The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-05
APPALLING.
A Terrific Coal Mine Explosion,
Fourteen Miners Killed Outright
and Three Fatally Hurt.
One Man Is Blown Through the Air
Shaft OF the Mine,
And His Body Is Found In tho
Woods Near By.
A Wreck On the Louisville, Now Orleans
s. Texas Road Results in the Killing
OF Three Persons and the In
jury of Two Others.

WILLIAMsPoRT, Pa, Nov i-Thc Of
ficers Of the Kettle Creek Coal Mining
Company, in this city, are in receipt OF in
formation that terrible explosion occur.
red at their mines, located in Clinton
County, on the line Of the Philadelphia 4
Erie Railroad, last evening The superin.
tcndent, q. l.. Miller, upon hearing a
heavy report at the new No. . Drift pro.
ceeded TO the spot, when he at once saw
that violent explosion had taken place.
The necessary arrangements were quickly
made TO carry the air TO the face OF the
work and men entered the mine to learn
the particulars of what had occurred. An
appalling state Of affairs was found inside.
OF the twenty.one men who had been
working in the drift only three or four had
escaped death or injury. At the end OF
an hours hard work fourteen dead
bodies were recovered from the drift.
Two Of those who were injured subse.
quently died. One man was missing and
his remains were found in the woods,
where they had been blown by the force
OF the explosion through the air shaft.
The total number OF killed or fatally in.
jurcd was found TO be seventeen. Al but
four Of them were llungarians or Italians,
whose names are not furnished. The four
English.spcaking men are named Samuel
Killingcr, Patrick Donoll, Michael Curran
and Carliston. The driver, named j.
Farrell, was entering tho drift when the
explosion occurred. lie was thrown to.
ward the mouth and escaped His mule
was killed. The force Of the explosion
was shown in the fact that bodies were
blown clear out of the mouth OF the DRIFT.
Everything possible was done for the in.
jurcd by the mine physicians Tho bodies
OF the dead were taken charge of by an
undertaken and prepared for intcrment
The Coroner OF the county was notified,
aud will hold an inquest tomorrow. The
Mine Inspector Of the district has also
been summoned, but al latest reports had
not arrived.
A dispatch from tho ausgtint. ...isnt Nj,
evening states that there y nothing new NJ
reference 90 the disaster. They have al
the help they require aud are preparing
for the inquest. Capt. liy, the president
and other officers Of the company, will
leave here tomorrow for The scene Oi th,
disaster. Although the accident occurred
beiorc dark yesterday, twas not given out
by the officials of the compIny hero until
today, they having been advised Of il late
last night.
II is is thought that In making a blast n
gas feeder was struck, filling the chamber
with gas, which. coming IN contact with a
naked lamp, produced the explosion. A
'gas feeder Is pocket Of gas imbcddcl
IN the coal. As soon as pick n stuck
into Il the gas escapes, aud II anything
ignites II an explosion follows
IL is generally conceded that there was
good ventilation and the mines wcrc fully
supplied with air appliances. The super
inicndent says the accident could not have
been iorcscen and that no blame attaches
10 nnyOue,