The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-31
DRESS GOODS, SATEENS, WHITE GOODS
THE RICH HILL EXPLOSION.
The Dead Now Number Twenty-Five, but the
List May Be SwelIed to Thirty.

KANSAS CITY, No. March 30.-The Times re-
porters, sent by special train to Rich Hill, re-
turned tonight, and from their information the
situation may be summarized as follows: The
dead list has reached twenty-one and nine of the
injured are expected to die, making the probable
loss of life by the explosion thirty. The follow
ing is the latest authentic list Of the victims:
Dead-Charfes Smith. colored; George May,
white; G. @. Mcpherson. white; Frank Lawler,
white; Jordan Smith, colored; Joshua Trumble,
white; John Roberts, white; George Block, col
ored; G. Black, colored; w. Black, colored; Fl.
S. Shepard colored; j. @. Neptune, white; John
Lefaer, white; Charles Kay. white; John Gray.
white; Bruce Brown. white: L. r. Dixon, white;
Fred Henderson, colored; w. Ell. Hill. coiored;
Alexander White, colored; Gibson McFerron,
white.
OF the above-named. the first five were taken
from the mine Dead Trumbull and Roberts
died after being taken out and the last fourteen
the unfortunate imprisoned miners who
were sutfocated in the west end OF the eight
cen injured taken out, nine are reported to be
in a critical condition, but their names are not
ascertainable.
There is still great deal of conjecture as to
the cause of the catastrophe, some persons
claiming that natural gas was the cause, while
others contend the accumulation of foul gases,
without proper ventilation, was the real
cause of the explosion. State Mine Inspector
Wolf is strongly censured by the miners.
He examined the mine on March last, aud
pronounced it perfectly safe The Richfeld
Herald. this evening strongly denounces him,
and demands his immediate suspension from
Office. The mine is located nearly six miles
from the town or Rich Hill and is practically
isolated from both telephone and telegraphic
communication. The scene OF the calamity is
reached only with considerable difficulty, the
roads being almost impossible. The depth of
the shaft is 265 feet. 1t was in the west end
that the explosion occurred. aud none on this
side of the shaft escaped. Most of those in the
The coroner arrived from Butler at 1 o'clock
this afternoon and the inquest will begin to-
morrow.
All the victims will be buried at the expense
OF the owners of the mines Messrs. Keith and
Perry. of Kansas City.
The following dispatch to the Associated Press
Was received late tonight from Rich Hill:
'The scenes around the shaft where the great
mine explosion occurred yesterday, were heart.
rending during the entire day. Up to noon
day twenty had been taken out five of whom
were dead Four of the living that were taken
out have since died. Several others are danger
ously injured. Seven more dead have been
taken out since noon, and seven more are known
to be yet In the mine, but at points hard to
reach, and it is difficult to find volunteers to go
down and make the search. Those miners who
have rIsked their lives to the buried liv-
ing and bring TO the surfacs the dead, are
from the mines of the Rich Hill coal
and Mining Company. under charge of Superin-
tendent Joseph T. Reavely, who yesterday,
after Superintendent Geo. Sweeney, of the
Keith & Perry Coal Company so seriously
burned. volunteered his services, and has since
been in charge of the exploded mine, and to
whose careful work, good Judgment and courage
is largely due the success of the resculng corps.
All night last night men were at work in search
for the living and the desd, Notwithstanding the
mine filed with naturaI-gas that it
burned above the regular blaze of the one safety
lamp used.
There seems to be question but the ex-
plosion was caused from natural gas, which
abounds in the earth at and below the depth of
this mine in large section of country south and
west, frequent explosions and great damage and
loss of life having occurred heretofore. State
Mine Inspector Wolfe, though having reported
the mine in excellent condition, knew of the
existence of large quantities of natural gas, and
has frequently unoficially so stated, and so
great Indignation prevails among the living
miners of No. mine. that it would have been
dangerous for Mr.. Wolfe to havs put In an ap-
pearance ct the mine yesterday or to-day.