The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-04-07
A MISSOURI MINE HORROR.
Fearful Results OF Two Fire Damp
Explosions In a CoiIiery.

The following dispatch was received from
Rich Hill, Mo-, Friday morning: Slaughter,
the like OF which has never before occurred
in Missouri, took place I'm Keith 4 Perry's
mine No. O, at 1915 o'clock yesterday. Sew
enty men were at work in the mine and
fifteen had just come up and were standing
at the mouth OF the shaft when volcanic
explosion took place that shook the earth for
miles around, and was followed by burst Of
flame from the mouth Of the shaft that leaped
fifty feet IN the air. The first shock was fol-
lowe d by a second, as violent and a. terrible
In its destructiyeness as It's predecessor. The
men who had saved themselves by running
from the fiery crater were blind and terror
stricken, and hesItated for some time TO APP
proach the shaft Smoke poured out Of the
mine Ia a thick column. Occasionally faint
shout from the bottom OF the shaft -210 feet
below could be heard.
In few minutes the wives, mothers, and
children OF the lost miners assembled about
the mine, and their GRIEF and lamentations
were such that guard had TO be placed
around the mine to prevent many Of the wo-
men from throwing themselves hcadlong In.
so, my God what have done TO deserve
this?" walled stricken wife. 600 down
and get my Jim, YOU towards. go down."
she yelled at the reseuers, vino were anx-
iously waiting 20 go down. but whose death
would be instantly added 10 the already long
list II they followed the frantic wlfe's order.
For an hour heat and smoke were forced up
through the shaft and the agonizing screams
Of women and children were awful 20 hear.
Then IL was feared that another explosion
would take place, rs 100 kegs of powder
were stored In the magazine down in the
mine, and II was not certain whether they
had exploded. The women aud children
were forced back from the mouth OF the
mine, but not without struggle. ''Saye
my htisbandv' ''Saye my son ~ they cried
In agony. "We'll do rs much as mortal man
can do" was the response.
Long before this rescuing parties from
Rich Hill arrived, and superintendent Re
vially Of the Rich Hill mine took charge Of
the mine. When the smoke would permit
the rcscuers decended into the mine, where
a horrible scene was presented. In the tun-
neI's chambers and passages where the men
were at work they were caught like rats and
suffocated and burned before any opportun-
ity 20 escape was offered. The heat was so
intense and the air, filed with coal dust and
smoke, was sutlocating that several OF the
rescuing party succumbed and had 20 be ear
ried out by their comrades. The wounded
were first taken out, but they were few and
many were beyond all hopes Of recovery
Many OF the dead were found stretched out
with tools in their grasp. showing that death
came swift and sure. The bodies were all
warm and IL was hard 10 distinguish the
dead from the unconscious living.
AS the dead and dying reached the mouth
Of the shaft, the scenes were agonizlng be-
yond description. Mothers, wives, and
children pressed forward TO identify their
dead. The bodies were carried TO a bacA-
smith-shop, and messengers weie dispatched
10 Butler, Nevada, and Fort Scott for physi-
clans.
The panic and excitement were 80 great
that IL was impossible 10 ascertain thesnames
or exact number OF the dead. A conserva-
tive estimate places the number OF dead at
forty-fye.
The mine was inspected two weeks ago
and pronounced safe.