The Penn's Grove record., 1888-11-10
FATAL EXPLOSION
IN A COAL MINE IN CLINTON COUNTY,
PENNSYLVANIA,
Seventeen Miners Killed. - Several
Others Probably Fatally Injured.

LOCK HAVEN, Pa, Nov. 4-There
was an explosion last night in the
Kettle Creek Coal Mining Company's
mines, thirty miles west of this city,
which were but recently opened. The
explosion occurred in a new drift, in
which t%wenty-one persons were at
work. AS soon as possible after the
explosion the mine was entered, and
fifteen dead bodies carried out, and four
others badly injured we've found, one
of whom has since died, and the others
ore likely to die. Tie cause of the
explosion is unknown, but Is supposed
10 have been the striking Of "A assure
or pocket or gas. This afternoon the
distigured and naked body Of a miner
was found fifty feet from the mouth of
the air shaft, through which 1t had
been blown. The names of the dead
SO far as learned are Samuel killinger,
Park Donnelly, Michael Curran and
three Carlston brothers.
WILLIAMsP0RT, Pa, Nov. 4.-The
officers of the Kettle Greek Coal Min
ing Company, residing in this city, are
in receipt of information that a terrible
explosion occurred at their mines
located in Clinton county, on the line
Of the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad,
iast evening.
The Superintendent, George l.. Mil
Ter, upon hearing ID heavy report at the
new No. 2 drift, proceeded to the spot,
when he at once saw that a violent ex.
plosion had taken place. The neces.
sAry arrangements were quickly mad e
IN nl,Fy thu Dir IN tho flQa nf tho urnrly
and Bien entered the NINE to learn the
particulars of what had occurred. An
appalling state of affairs was found in
side. Of the 81 men who had beeG
working IN the drift, only three or fouI
had escaped death or injury. At the
end of an hours hard work IA dead
bodies were recovered from the drift.
Two of those who we've injured
subsequently died. One man was
missing and his remains were
found out in the woods, where
they had been blown by the force of the
explosion through the air shaft. The
total number of killed orfatally injured
was found to be seventeen. All but
four of them were Hungarians or
Italians whose names are not furnished.
The four English speaking men are
named SAMUEL Killinger, Patrick Don.
nell, Michael CulTan and J.. Carliston.
Tie driver, named j. Farrell, was en-
ierlng the drift when the explosion oc-
Cured. He was thrown towards the
mouth and escaped. His mule was
killed. The force Of the explosion was
shown In the fact that bodies we're
blown clear out of the mouth of tue
drift.
Everything possible was done for the
injured by the mine physicians. The
bodies of the dead were taEen charge
of by al undertaken and prepared for
lnterment. The Coroner of the county
was notified and will hold an inquest
tomorrow. The Mine Inspector OF
the district has also been summoned,
but at latest reports had not arrived.
A despatch from the superintendent
this evening states that there is moth
ing new in reference to the disaster.
They have all the help they require and
are preparing for the inquest. Captain
Bly, the President and other officers of
the company will leave bere Tomorrow
for the scene of the disaster. Although
the accident occurred before dark yes
teIday, it was not given out by the
officials OF the company here until to.
day. they having been advised of it late
last night. 1t is thought that in making
a blast a "gas feeder' was struck
filling the chamber with gas, which,
coming In contact with a naked lamp.
produced the explosion. A ''gas feeder"
is a pocket of gas imbedded in coal.
As soon al a pick is struck into it the
gas escapes, and If anything ignites it
an explosion follows. 1t is generally
conceded that there was good yentila-
ton and the mines were well supplied
with air appliances. The superintend-
ent says the accident could o have
been foreseen and that no blame at
taches to any one.