St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-27
CLOUDED IN SORROW.
The Scene of the Milling Coal
Mine Horror One of
Gloom.
One of the Rescued Party
Says Over 100 Were
Killed.
One Man Killed and Several
Injured By an Explosion
of Dynamite.
Two Trains Collide in Florida
and Several Persons Are
Killed.
Special To the Globe.

VICTORIA. Is. c., Jan. ga special
train sent out from here yesterday to
the relief of the sufferers of the explo-
sion in the Wellington mine, returned
early this morning. bringing twenty
five of those rescued from the mine, be-
sides about fifteen bodies of whites and
Chinese taken from the mine. After
the bodies taken out of the mine were
distributed at different points on the
island, several interviews were had
with persons rescued and who came to
this city. 1t turns out that there were
from fifty TO SeVenty-five more persons
in the mine than at first estimated. A
very large gang was working on the
lower level and these were overlooked.
1t is feared they have all persisted, as
up to the present not a single body has
been taken from this level. An eXplOr-
ing and rescue party descended to this
level yesterday evening, and after an
absence of an hour or more, came back
and reported that they found fifteen or
twenty bodies. They searched dill
gently for survivors, but failed to find
one. Afterdamp in the mine was still
terrible, and the rescue party was una
bic TO remain as long as they would like
TO have done. They found the fifteen
bodies all in one place. The poor fellows,
when they realized their fate, had piled
up timber, coal and debris in hopes of
keeping out the fatal afterdamp from
the recess in which they had taken
refuge. Alex Ross, one of the Surviv-
Ors, who came here, tells
FOLLOWING STORY:
81 was working in No. level, about
400 yards from the shaft, when the eX-
DlOSiOn occurred. 1t seemed as if the
explosion happened in the west portion
of the mine. The shock was terrible,
and completely deafened myself and
seven companions. who were working
in my gang. We at once realized our
terrible position, and in few minutes
were thrown into utter darkness, as our
lights, which were eXtinguished by the
shock, could not be re-lit. Presently
we heard cries coming from the other
end of the drifts in which we were
working. Fearing something very bad
lad happened, l took a companion,
James Vincent, and we CROPPED our way
down the drift in the direction of the
grew more distinct, and in few min
utes we came upon poor fellow pinned
TO the ground under heavy truck,
which he lad been in the act of dump
ing when the shock occurred, and was
thrown upon him by the shock. AL
though quite dark, we succeeded in lift
ing the truck from him and dragging
him out. He had an arm broken and
was terribly bruised. There was only
two of us, and we spoke of hurrying
away to save ourselves, but the poor
fellow pleaded SO hard we could not
leave him, and so, half dragging. half
carrying him, we retraced our steps.
Our companions had evidently started
in the direction of the shaft, for we did
not find them. Pulling our poor in
jured friend along we at last reached
the shaft, for knew the direction well.
We were very much surprised to find
our companions had not reached the
spot before us. After waiting some
time and getting refreshed with air, i'm
PEELED down by the fans, we started TO
find our competitions. A search of fif-
teen minutes, during which we shouted
and hallOed, was fruitlesS. After
damp became so bad we had to give up
the search and return to the shaft. Our
companions had not been found when
left the mine. / am quite sure
THEY ARE ALL DEAD.
From the very closest estimate L can
make | am convinced that from so to lO5
have met death in the mine. No fire
seemed TO follow the explosion, but
afterdamp was very bad and seemed to
OyerpoWer the men much more quickly
than in the terrible explosion in the
NanimO mines last May, which was in."
A message has Just been received by
the secretary of the company which owns
the mine. 1t was sent from Wellington
and asks that twenty-five collins and
goods for ShrOudS, ETC., be sent down at
once. Ten more white and thirteen
more Chinese bodies have been
taken from the pit, and a rescue party
just up from the mine say number
more of bodies have been recovered.
Scenes at the mouth of the shaft as the
bodies are brought up beggar deScrip-
ton. Although the weather is raw and
cold, anxious mothers, heart-broken
wives and weeping children stand
around hour after hour. eagerly scanning
the contents of the cage each time it is
hOisted. Occasionally
A PIERCING SHREK
breaks the mOnotOny as a mother or
wife recognized the duSt-begrimed and
rigid countenance of dear one as
rough hands lift him tenderly from the
cage and lay him upon platform pro-
vided for the dead There are now
large rows of bodies. while large num-
berS have been taken away by friends.
Among the dead are large number of
Chinese, There are dozens of poor
Chinese with scared faces hanging
about the mouth of the shaft eagerly
scanning the faces OF the dead and
watching anXiously the countenances of
the men engaged in the rescue work, to
see what fate they can read therefrOm
In the village back of the shaft all is
diSmay and gloom. Grape bangles from
many door. As one passes up the
street he can hear the dismal wall OF
weeping women and children. Re.
quests lwill be made for assistance
as many families whose support has
been wreSted away are in deep want
Such temporary relief as neighbors car
provide is being afforded, but it is, OF
course, entirely inadequate. All work
has been suspended in the village
People seem unable to do anything but
hang around the mouth of the shaft il
morbid curiosity. 1t is expected by to
morrow morning that all bodies will be
taken from the mine and the wors
known.
dnnfI.nps