The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-11-10

Fifteen Men KILLED by an Awful Ex
pfosion I'm a pennsylvania
CoiIiery.


A telegram from wiIlIamsport, Pa, Mon
day. says. Word reaches here to-day OF an
awful mine horror AZ the Kettle Greek Min
ing company's mines at Cooks Run, Clinton
county. Saturday AFTERNOON at about 4
o'clock George l.. Miller. the superintendent,
heard a terrific noise, and arriving at No. :
mine found that an explosion had occurred.
lie Immediately carried the air to the face Of
the work, entered the mine, and within one
hour had recovered fourteen bodies.
Six injured miners were removed, one OF
whom died soon afterward. 1t Is feared that
one or two more will die from injuries siis-
tanned. samuel killInger, y. Donnelly, VI.
Curran and j. Carlston were the only Eng
disappearing men killed, the rest being
Italians and lIungarians. All that could be
done for the injured was promptly attended
to BY DR.. Weymouth Of Remove and Or.
Brennan, the mine ply stefan. An undertaken
has been sent for Ia attend 20 the intermcnt
OF the dead, most OF whom are believed to be
unmarried.
Only few escaped uninjured. j. Farrell.
a driver had miraculous escape from death
lie was entering the drift ut the time OF the
explosion and was thrown toward the mouth
OF the opening. Ills mulc was killed but lac
was unhurt. Some Of the bodies was blown
clear out of the drift by the force of the ex.
plosion.
Mr.. Simpson, OF Towanda, the mine in
spector, was sent for, but lac has not yet ar
rived. The county coroner has been notified
and Will hold an inquest tomorrow. IL u
said that the general talk OF the miners Is
that there was good ventilation, and the mines
are well supplied with air appliances.
A man who had been missing was found
dead ont In the woods, where he was blown
by the force OF the explosion. The general
theory Il that In working a blast gas feeder
was struck and filled the chamber with gas,
which. coming in contact with miners lamp,
caused the explosion.
A gas feeder II pocket OF gas imbedded In
the coal, and ~ soon as pick IN struck into
Il the gas escapes with q rush. Mr.. Miller
the superintendent, Is thoroughly practical
man, and Is at present one OF the board foi
the examination OF mine Inspectors, he hold
ing his commission from the state.
The Kettle Greek Coal Mining company il
composed OF Williamsport men and It's mines
have been In operation about four months.
IL is rumored tonight that the direct cause
OF the explosion was the inexperienced use OF
dynamite In the mines. In conversation with
one Of the drivers who escaped it was learned
that an Italian had got 100 sticks OF the deadly
stun from the storekeeper In the morning
aud had also got 100 caps and had returned
after fuse but as there were none I'm stock
IL is supposed that he had tried 10 set Il OFF In
some other way, thus causing the explosion.
In blacksmith shop near the scene Of the
disaster lay the charred and unacceptable
remains of August Pierson, who was
blown out through the air shaft fifty
feet IN the air, and some Of bis clothes can
be seen hanging 10 limb OF a large
tree near By. Next 10 him II Mike
Currcns, who was blown two hundred feet
out OF the mouth OF the mine, and was found
dead In the ditch, still clnglng 10 the handle
OF bis shovel. lie leaves a wife and seven
small children. Beside him was Il. r. Don
nelly, who was also blown out Of the mouth
OF the mine. Donelly leaves wife and four
children.
The names OF those badly burned are Wes-
ley Smoke and John Aaron Anderson; they
Will recover. John Farrell, mule driver,
tells this story ~ was behind pushing the
car and In sticking up my head saw flash. |
Immediately dropped 10 the ground, moving
quickly a. possible toward the mouth Of the
drift and escaped uninjured. My mule and y
Swede miner alongside my animal were killed
instantly. l felt but little OF the effects OF
the explosion and It's force must have been all
above, although all the tmbers at the mouth
OF the shaft were carried out two hundred
feet beyond the mouth Of the drift.
----------------------