Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1888-11-17
a TERRIBLE EXPLOSION.
zsrenfy- Ons Miners Meet Instant Death To q
Coliiery.

| 1trenty- Oae Miners Meet Instant Death Ia a
Coliiery.
Lockhaven PENN dispatch: There
was an explosion last night in the Ket.
tie Creek coal company's mine, thirty
miles west of this city. The explosion
occurred in the new drift in which
twenty-one persons were at work. As
soon as possible after the explosion the
mine was entered and fitted dead bod
les were carried out. Four other men
badly injured were found, one of whom
has since died and others are likely to
die. The cause of the explosion is I'M
known, but is supposed to have been
the striking of a fssure or pocket OF
gas.
This afternoon the disfigured and
naked body offs 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: Sam
uel Killinger, Park Donnelly, Michael
Curran and three Carlston brothers.
All but those named above were Hun
garians or Italians whose names are not
furnished. A driver named Farrell was
entering the shaft when the explosion
occurred. He was thrown toward the
mouth and escaped. The force of the
explosion was shown in the fact that
bodies were blown clear out of thu
mouth of the shaft. Everything posi-
BILE was done for the injured by the mind
physician. The bodies of the dead were
taken in charge by the undertaken.
The coroner of the county was notified
and will hold an inquest tomorrow. The
1nuVNaofD- II L
been summoned.
Although the accident occurred before
dark yesterday it was not given out by
the officials of the company until to-day,
they being advised of it late last night.
1t is thought that in making n blast a
gas feeder" was struck filling the cham
Der with gas, which coming in contact
with the naked lamps produced the ex-
plosion. The ''gas feeder" is pocket
Of gas imbeded in the coal. The super
lntendent says the accident could not
have been foreseen and no blame at
taches to any one.
1t is rumored that the direct cause OF
the explosion was inexperience in the
handling of dynamite. In conversation
with one of the drivers who escaped it
was learned that an italian had gotten
100 sticks of dynamite from the store.
keeper in the morning and had also
gotten 100 caps and had returned after
fuse, but as there we're none in stock it
is supposed he had tried to set it off in
some other way, thus causing the ex-
plosion.
In the blacksmith shop, near the scene
Of the disaster, lays the charred and I'M
recognizable remains of August Pierson,
who was blown out through the air shaft
dfty feet in the air, and some of his
clothes can be seen hanging to the limb
Of large tree near by.
Next to him is Mike Currans, who
was blown 200 feet out of the mouth of
the mine and was found dead in ditch
still clinging TO the handle of his shovel.
He leaves a wife and seven small chill
1ren. Besides him, p. J. Donnelly, who
was also blown out of the mouth of the
mine, leaves wife and four children.
John Farrell, mule driver, tells this
story: 81 was behind pushing a car
and in sticking up my head / saw flash
and | Immediately dropped to the
ground, moving as quickly as possible
coward the mouth of the drift and es-
,aped uninjured. My mule and a
Swede driver alongside of the animal
we're killed instantly. / felt but little
Of the effect of the explosion and its
force must have been all above me, al
though all the timbers at the mouth OF
The shaft were carried out 200 feet be-
Tond the mouth of the drift.