Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-11-08
DEAD In THE PIT.
Disastrous Explosion in q Penn.
sylvania Coal Mine-Seventeeu
Killed.
Monticello Seminary Burned-Train
Wrecked By Cow With Fatal
Results.
twenty-five Lives Lost By Collision at
Sea-Reported Disastrous Wreck on
the Iron Mountain.

LICK HAVEN, Pa, Nov. Sin the Kettle
| Greek Coal Mining Company's mines,
| thirty miles west of this city, which were
| but recently opened, Saturday night an
explosion occurred in a new drift in which
twenty -one persons were at work. As
soon as possible the mine was entered and
fifteen dead bodies were carried out and
| four others badly injured were found, one
of whom has since died, and others are
likely to die. The cause of the explosion
is unknown, but it is supposed to have
been the striking of a 1ssure or pocket of
gas. Yesterday afternoon the disfgured
and naked body of a miner was found
fifty feet from the mouth of the air shaft
through which it had been blown.
Superintendent George d. Miller upon
hearing heavy report at the new No.
drift went to the spot and at once saw that
violent explosion had taken place. The
ecessaryarrange;uents were quickly made
to carry the air to the face of the work
and men entered the mine to learn what
had occurred. OF the twenty-one men
who had been working in the drift only
three or four escaped death or injury. At
the end of an hours hard work fourteen
dead bodies had been recovered frem the
drift and two of those who were injured
subsequently died. One man was missing
and his remains were found out 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
jured was found to be seventeen. All but
four of them were Hungarians or Italians
xx-h0
English speaking men are named Samuel
Killinger, Patrick Donnell, Michael Currin
and j. L. Cariston. The driver, j. Farrell,
was entering the drift when the explosion
occurred, but was thrown toward 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. Every thing
possible was done for the injured by the
mine physicians, and the bodies of the
dead were taken charge of by an UNDER
taker and prepared for interment. The
coroner of the county was notified and
will hold an inquest.
1t is thought that in making a blast
''gas feeder" was struck, filling tie cham
ber with gas, which coming in contact
with a naked lamp produced the explo-
a
imbedded in the coal. As soon as pick
is struck into it the gas escapes, and if any
thing ignites it an explosion follows. 1t is
generally conceded that there was good
ventilation, and the mines were fully sup
piled with air appliances. The superin-
tendent says the accident could not have
been foreseen and that no blame attaches
to any one.
SEMINARY BURNED.
GODFREY. ILL.,, Nov. 5.-The Monticello
ladies' seminary caught fire at one o'clock
yesterday morning and by daylight was
destroyed. The fire originated in a frame
building adjoining the main building, used
as kitchen and servants quarters. The
inmates of the main building were aroused,
and Miss Haskell ordered the pupils to
dress and secure what effects they could
and then leave the house. There was no
panic, and pupils and teachers escaped
without iujury, but some were frightened
and neglected to clothe themselves suffi-
ciently for comfort. The seminary loss on
building and contents is over $50, 900, in
surance SO 600. The loss of pupils and
teachers in clothing, jewelry and effects is
heavy, although nearly all saved some-
thing. No plans for continuing the school
are yet made.
FATAL TRAIN WRECK.
VICKSBURG, Miss, Nov. "a freight
train on the Louisville, New Orleans &
Texas railroad struck a COW yesterday and
was thrown from the track. The engine
and thirteen cars were wrecked, and three
men killed and two wounded. The killed
are Charles Zimour, of New Orleans, and
Jack Conway, of Vicksburg, both employees
of the road, and an unknown tramp who
was stealing ride. The wounded are j.
L. Martin. boiler maker of this city, and
Jim Brown (colored), fireman. Both were
taken to the hospital and are not expected
to live.
NARROW ESCAPE.
Boston, Nov. 5.-The special passenger
train over the New York, New Haven &
Hartford road, chartered to carry cam
paign clubs from New Haven Saturday
night, ran upon an open switch while en-
tering Bridgeport and the engine and two
coaches ran off with tremendous shock
The track was blocked, causing a delay to
the newspaper train next morning and the
New York papers did not reach here until
1880 p. m. The escape from great dis
aster was a narrow one.
COLLISION AT SEA.
LONDON, Nov. 5.-The Norwegian bank
Nor, Captain Bjonnes, from New York,
October 2, for Stettin, collided with and
sank the steamer Saxmundham off Cowes.
persons are missing and are
to have been drowned. Eight |
survivors have landed at Weymouth. The
Nor was abandoned. Her crew have land |
ed at Portland.
BAD FREIGHT WRECK REPORTED.
ST. LOUIS, Nov. 5.-Report reached here |
at late hour last night of serious freight |
wreck on the st. Louis, Iron Mountain & |
Southern railway near Pevely. Eighteen |
cars were demolished. No particulars are |
obtainable.
THREE PLEASURE SEEKERS DROWNED.
Boston, Nov. 5.-While four young men, |
james Hayes, Henry Gormley, William |
Sellan and Charles Cogan were sailing in |
Dorchester bay yesterday their boat
capsized and the three first named were
drowned.
Oregon has a woman mail carrier. Her
name is Miss Minnie Westman, and she
carries Uncle Sans mail from the head Of
navigation on Stuslaw river over the Coast