Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1888-11-10
AWFUL CALAMITY.
One Hundred and Sixty Men
Buried in a Mine.
TERRIFIC EXPLOSION
The Ground Shaken as if by
an Earthquake.
THE SHAFT CLOSED UP by DEBRIS

Instant Death 112 Feet Below the Sur
face No Possibility of Escape = The
Night SHIFT Had just Gone Down to
work-Two Came Up Just in Time to
Save ThemseIves-Agony Of the Vie
tins wives-Diniculty OF Reaching the
Bodies.
PTTsBURa, Kan, Nov. 10-The worst dis
Rster in the history of Kansas occurred last
evening, and the town Of Pittsburg is in tears.
One hundred and sixty men were sent into
eternity at moments notice. 1t is the most
horrible mining disaster that ever happened
in the state The miners working at shaft
No. at Frontend, suburb of this city, had
Just entered the shaft for the nights work
when a terrific explosion occurred. The
shock was tremendous. For miles around
the noise Of the explosion was heard, and its
force shook the earth so that it seemed as if
an earthquake had taken place. There We're
100 men in the mine at the time They were
1i2 feet below the surface. There is no doubt
that all are dead.
When the smoke and debris had somewhat
passed away it was seen that the shaft was
entirely closed up by the cave in There
was no chance for the imprisoned men and
no hopes are entertained of their escape.
Two men had just come up in a car, and
these are the only ones saved.
The terrific explosion caused panic In the
city, and Immediately all the citizens rushed
to the mine The scene there was heartrend-
ing in the extreme. Women and strong men
shed tears Some of the wives and children
of the doomed miners broke forth in loud
lamentations and uttered piercing shrieks
and cries. "Oh. Johnl Johnl Where is
my husband? | know he IS dead" frantic
| ally screamed one poor woman with a babe
at her breast "Save himl Save himn she
exclaimed in her agony. Then the babe
dropped from her arms and she fell in a
/ faint to the ground.
A score or more of women were rendered
! hysterical. Many tainted, bat at last some
thing like order was brought about. a few
cool headed men compelled the women to
retire, and the stronger Of the latter took the
wives OF the dead miners to their homes, and
rendered them all the consolation in their
power, and tried to calm them with falss
hopes. The men around the mine were by
this time able to go TO work, which they die
with a will. A great deal of the debris anC
large stones We're removed from the entrano
to the shaft, where it was discovered tina
further headway was impossible The shat
was blocked completely.
The cave in had practically destroyed it
and the only way to attempt to reach til
imprisoned men, or rather TO recover thei
bodies, for no one has the faintest hopes tina
they are alive, was to SO to work systemat
ically. The superintendent of the mines wa
soon at the scene Of the disaster, and divid
ing the miners into gangs all with vii
bent their energies to the task Of reachin
the doomed men 1t is doubtful whethe
they can reach the bottom Of the shaft C
day. Meanwhile Pittsburg is a town @
mourning. There is scarcely family bu
has some relative or friend among the in
> prisoned men, and what with alternatin
hopes and fears the citizens are in a state q
semi frenzy