St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-26
A Mine HORROR,
Particulars Of the Frightful
Calamity at the Well
ington Colliery.
Over Ninety Men Meet Death
Bravely in the Bowels
Of the Earth
Heart-Rending Scenes at the
Pit as the Dead Bodies are
Brought Up.
Some are Rescued Alive and
Give Details of the Under
ground Horror.
Brave Work Being Done by
the Gallant Rescu-
ing Parties.
Men Rush in the Deadly Fire
Damn at tho Risk oP
Men Rush in the Deadly Fire
Damp at the Risk Of
Their Lives.

Special to the Globe.
VICTORIA, B. G.. Jan. 25.-Like all
big accidents, it is difficult to get early
and full particulars. After the terrible
explosion of the 9th of May last. when
so many were killed, it was thought a
respite would follow for some time.
But owing to the large quantity Of gas
in the Nanimo coal, the danger is always
very much greater than in other mines.
The first intelligence received here of
the terrible accident was brief tele-
gram yesterday morning to the manager
of the mines, who is living here. to the
effect that an explosion had occurred in
pit No. 5, near Wellington. five miles
from the former explosion. A special
train was at once hired, and Hon. DunS-
muir, owner of the mine, and others
promptly started for the scene. AL
though the train has not returned sew
eral people have arrived from the mine
and give the particulars. The first ex-
plosiOn sounded like distant thunder to
those near the pit. Instantly mass of
dust and inky black smoke shot into the
air from the mouth of the pit, and peo-
pie in the vicinity knew instantly what
had happened, and rush was made for
the mouth of the pit, as it was known
large number of men were working i'm
the mine. To their horror it was found
that the cage would not work, the eXplo-
sion having injured the machinery.
After time. during which the people
assembled in great state of cOnsterna-
ton, not knowing what to do, one dust
begrimmed miner, named Stebbins.
crawled out of the pit, having climbed
up by means of the cable wire. He
stated that others were following his
example, and rope was Immediately
lowered to assist them up. While pull
ing up one Door fellow, name unknown,
the rope broke and he fell 100 feet, being
crushed to certain death. The foreman
OF the mine, who came up by the rope,
stated there were $50 men in it. and he
feared, unless instant aid was rendered,
many of them would perish. as after
damp prevailed, and was
SUFFOCATING THOSE IN THE MINE.
Carpenters set towork, and in the
course of an hour or so temporary
cage was lowered and. although it did
not reach the bottom, still, by means of
ladders, etc. ninety-seven men were
rescued and sent to the top. 1t was
known that about fifty still remained in
the mine and rescuing parties were or
ganiZed to search for them. Meantime
the cage was so fixed as to reach the
bOttom,a the work of rescue went on.
James Wetmore, who was rescued and
brought to the top, tells the following
story:
II was with gang of II when the ey-
plOSiOn occurred. We were several
hundred yards from the shaft at the
time. All our lights were exinguished
and we were left cropping in the dark.
After wandering about for some time.
suffering from the effects of the after
damp, after q time several
of the party were overcome and
lay down to die. Others pushed on and
finally came to drift obstruction. We
tried another with the same effect. All
of them succumbed but the relatOr.
who, as a last resource, shouted az the
top of his voice. The rescuing party,
who had gone down the shaft after the
explosion, heard him, and fastening in
the direction of the voice reached him
in time to save him. His companions
were found, several being dead and
others in such bad condition it is
feared they will not survive. About
twenty out of fifty have been rescued.
Quite number of bodies have been re-
covered and identified by relatives, but
their names could not be procured.
Twenty-Five of the whites are married
men with families. Some of the young
wives, with children, are frantic with
grief, standing or sitting, worn out by
watching around the mouth of the fatal
shaft. Occasionally, when a body is
brought up and recognized,
A HEARTRENDING SCENE
is enacted. Others, dazed with watch
ing and fountains of tears, are silently
watching the cage ascend from the
depths below, where their dear ones are
entombed. Small volumes of coal
smoke continue to ascend from this
shaft, although it is not thought there is
much fire. A large gang of men are
now down the shaft trying to rescue the
miners OF recover the bodies. The
bodies of Campbell and Michael Lyons
were recovered horribly mangled. The
latter was discovered 700 yards from the
shaft, and in the midst of the fatal after
damp. Men rushed in amongst the gas
at the risk of their lives, and bore it
out. Another body was seen little
further, but could not be reached. All
possible is being done. The mouth of
the shaft is eagerly watched hour after
hour by an eager crowd of men,
women, children, Chinese and In
dians, all too much terrified to
even talk above whispers. A member
of the rescue party who has come
up, states that the explosion must have
been bad one, as they found lumber
knocked out of position and piled in