Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-11-05
CRIME AND CASUALTY.
Terrible Mine Explosion in
Pennsylvania.
SOME TWENTY MANGLED VICTIMS.
A Ladies' Seminary Destroyed by
Fire-NarrOw Escape Of the
Inmates

Associated Press Dispatches 10 the HERALD
Lock HAVEN, Pa, November 4.-There
was an explosion last night in the Kettle
Creek Coal Company's mine, thirty
miles West of this city. The explosion
occurred in new drift in which twenty
one persons were at work. AS coon as
possible after the explosion the mine
was entered and fifteen dead bodies car
ried out. Four other men, badly injured,
were found, one of whom has since died
and the others are likely to die. The
cause of the explosion is unknown, but
supposed to have been the striking off OF
a fssure or pocket of gas. This after
noon 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. The names of the
dead so far as learned are: Samuel Kill
linger, Park Donnelly, Michael Curran
and three Carlston brothers.
LATER DETAILS.
All but those named above we're Hun
garians OF Italians, whose names are not
furnished. A driver named Farrell was
entering the drift when the explosion oc-
cured. He 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 of the mouth of the drift. Every
thing possible was done for the injured
by nine physicians 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 tomorrow. The
mine inspector of the district was also
SUNNI oned. Although it occurred before
dark, ye. it was not given out by the
officials OF the company until to-day
they having been advised of it late al
night. 1t is thought in making drill q
gas feeder was struck, filling the cham
Der with gas, which, coming in contact
with a naked lamp, produced tie ex
plosion. A "gas feeder" is a pocket Of
gas imbedded in coal. The superintend.
ent says the accident could not have
been foreseen, and no blame is attached
to any one.
| WAS IT DYNAMITE?
PHILADELPHIA, November A specia
to the Press from Williamsport says: II
| is rumored that the direct cause OF the
explosion was the inexperienced use O
dynamite. In conversation with one O.
the drivers who escaped it is learned
that an italian had gotten 100 sticks o.
dynamite from the store-keeper in the
morning and had gotten 100 caps and re-
turned after fuse, but as there was none
in stock, it is supposed he tried to set il
off in some other way, thus causing the
explosion. In the blacksmith shop neal
the scene OF the disaster lays the charrec
and unrecognizable remains of Augustt
Pierson, who was blown out through ths
air shaft, fifty feet in the air, and some
of his clothes can be seen hanging to the
limbs of large tree near by. Next tx
him is Mike Curran, who was blowr
200 feet out of the mine, and was foun(
dead in a ditch, still cGnging to The
handle OF his shovel. He leaves wife
and seven small children. Beside hin
lay P. F. Donnelly, who was also blow1
out of the mouth of the mine. Donnelly
leaves wife and four children.
John Farrell, mule driver, tells thil
story: l was beside car, pushing it
and in sticking up my head saw flash
l Immediately dropped to the ground
and moved as quickly as possible towards
the mouth of the drift and escaped un
hurt. My mule and Swede miner
alongside of the animal, were killed in
stantly. l felt but little the effect OF the
explosion, and its force must have beel
all above me, although all the tinbers a
the mouth of the shaft were carried ou
200 feet beyond the mouth OF the drift.