New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-30
FORTY DEAD BODIES FOUND.
A MINING DIsA sTER IN MISSOURI.
MANY MEN MISSING WHOSE LIVES ARE
SUPPOSED TO BE LOST.
AN EXPLOSION FROM CAUSE AS YET UNKNOWN
LONE HUNDRED MINERS AT WORK IN
THE PIT-oNLY ONE MAN so FAR RE
PORTED AS TAKEN OUT ALIVE
fBY rxLEoRAFH TO THE TRIBUNE.t

PORTED AS TAKEN OUT ALIVE.
FER rxLEoRArH TO THE rRrBuxEf
Rich HILL, Mo-, March 20.-A loud rumblng
day, and moment after there was explosion
that buried over 100 miners who were cut off
from every way of escape. Up to the present
time forty bodies have been recovered, and at
was impossible, in the midst Of the excitement,
grief and confusion, to obtain complete list of
the names. The superintendent Of the mine was
badly injured, but will survive. This village is
in the centre Of the mining region, about 100
miles from Kansas City, and the mine where
the accident occurred is six miles from town and
the details Of the disaster come in slowly.
The explosion occurred when the full force OF
men was at work in the mine. No one has
been taken out yet who is able to tell anything
about the way the explosion was caused The
mouth Of the pit was surrounded tonight by thou
sands Of people, and the work of rescue went on
slowly, notwithstanding the fact that hundreds Of
willing hands were ready to relieve those at work
The men worked by the light Of torches The cries
Of the women as the bodies were brought to the
surface were heartrending, and strong men turned
weak and faint at the sight of the bruised and
blaclsened corpses.
The explosion was plainly heard in town, and
many old miners on the streets instantly declared
that disaster had occurred. Fifteen minutes
later messenger rode in ON horse all covered
with foam with the news that all the men in No.
had been killed or suffocated. Scores OF
rescuing parties were Immediately organized and
driven rapidly to the scene. When the mine was
reached it was found surrounded by the wives
and children Of the dead miners 1t was neces-
sary to put guard at the mouth of the pit in
order to keep the frantic women from throwing
themselves into the mine. Dense smoke poured
up out Of the pit for an hour.
Later information is that there have already
to day been two explosions in the Rich Hill mine
and that a third is dreaded. The first explosion
occurred at 1910 p. m, killing twenty or thirty
men The superintendent, Mr.. Sweeney, and his
assistants Immediately began the work of rescuing
the imprisoned miners, and up to A: 80 had taken
out fifteen men, A second explosion then took
place and Superintendent Sweeney and his aides
were imprisoned
The fire was terrific, the flames shooting out
from the top of the 27O-fcot shaft as If from
furnace At o'clock to night another explosion
was momentarily expected. The flames wore al
most within reach of magazine containing between
800 and 400 kegs of powder. The mines belonged
to the Keith & Perry Coal Company and were in
spected about two months ago.
MEN CRAZED BY PAIN AND FRIGHT.
HANGING MIDWAY IN THE SHAFT SHOUTING
AND SINGING.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, March 90" The Journal
received dispatch from Rich Hill which states
that the explosion occurred just at the dinner
hour, when the men were ascending
eight at time, on the cage 1t
filed every entry with flame which shot
out Of the shaft. 1t could not be ascertained to-
night Just how many men were yet in the mine,
but at l. o'clock one man had been taken out dead.
Journal reporter called at the house of the
SUPERINTENDENT at IL o'clock and found him
propped up in chair with his face and hands
the following statement:
At Just seven minutes after noon was teleDhoned
that an explosion had occurred at No. g. which is four
miles northwest OF town. went out as soon as poss-
ble and found the south cage on which the men always
ascend stuck in the shaft about half way from the bot
tom with six men It, went down on tub lowered
with ropes and found them all badly burned and In
frenzy In fact they were crazy, some shouting and
others singing found 1t impossible to have this cage
hosted as the tlmbers all blown out Of position
We finally managed to be hosted by means Of ropes
and pullIes in a fatntng condition. and 1t was then
ascertained that the north cage could be WORKED Dy
clearing some timbers which had been driven through
from the south shaft. This was done by saving them
short off. I then called for volunteers
TO 20 down with me to see any
OF the poor fellows at the bottom could be
got out Robert Brick, Charles smallwood and Matt
Imlehand rss ponded When we reached the bottom l
looked through into the entry and saw light and
asked who was there and a voice responded Gray"
and told him put out his light. then asked him
to crawl to me- but he so exhausted that he could
not do SO, and reached through the small aperture
and dragged him onto the cage Just as this was
done wind rushed with the velocity of cyclone up
the entry putting out all our lights but one. This
was followed by two loud reports and flame which
came with dcafcring roar, completely envelopng
us for length of time that seemed like an age, and
shot out OF the mouth OF the shaft 240 feet above our
heads We were all horribly burned and thought our
time had come. The flames receded as suddenly as
they had come and had to abandon the attempt to
save the others.
yelled to the men on the top to hoist away, but IL
was some time before they got the signal or under
stood my meaning The moments thus spent were
living death thought they could not hear me ana
concluded We would have to crawl through into the
south shaft and undertake TO climb out that way.
was Just In the OF doing so when felt the cage
move and we ascendod about thirty feet' when the
cage began descending. l thought the machinery
had broken and that We were iainhs " "
an avhI and certain death. The wall
that want mn from those men was heartending and
shal never forget It, The knowledge that at tho top
were their wives extending their arms ready to clasp
and shield them from further danger was maddenins
enough to destroy reason. All at once, however, the
cage came TO sudden stop and again began respond
ing to the pressure of ropes and pueys and we were