The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-17
TERRIBLE MINE EXPLOSION.
IFENTE-SETEN MINEhS KILLED AFTER
TIE CAVE-IN AT ASHLEY
The IlGhtinG OF n Lamp by Ftre.Bsss
Allen, Against the wishes OF Hts Con-
paAIons, said to Have Caused the ES-
,Io,io,-An but Six Bodies Found.

TIE I.lGhtnG OF n Lamp by Ftre.Bes'
Allen. Against the Wishes OF Hts Con
panIons, said to Have Caused the Ex
piosion-An but Six Bodies Pound.
WILKEsBARRE, Pa, May 16.-The charred
renains oftwenty.six OF the men who were i'm.
prisoned by the CAVERN ut the Ashley mine
veaterday we're found in the Rangways this
morning. The rescuing party worked all
night, and did not give up hope OF taking the
man out alive until George Russ was found
this morning. Russ was in advance OF the
other men in his efforts to escape. He was
working toward the abandoned work
would enter first when no fell down
from exhaustion. He died just before
he reached the surface. Before he expired he
laid that men might possibly be alive In one OF
the breasts, but he doubted It. Russ was In
iured in the explosion OF gas which followed
the caye-in. He was some distance from his
comrades, and escaped the full force OF the OK
ulosion. The other men were together in one
of the breasts. They we're thrown in all drec-
tions. Some OF their bodies were 30 badly
manCled as 10 make Identification impossible.
Heads, arms. and legs had been torn from
some.
When Russ was found alive In the chamber
one Of the rescuers made his way TO the sur
face and announced that all the imprisoned
minors were alive. The news spread. and hun
dreds OF people came to the mouth OF the NINE
Tho employees OF the Ashley car shops threw
down their tools and ran to the scene to join in
the congratulations OF the multitude. All the
roads leading to the mine were crowded with
people In carriages and on foot. But the Joy Of
the friends Of the imprisoned miners was
shortliyed. Twenty minutes after the first
report Mine Inspector Williams came out Of
the mine. lamp in hand. and said that all the
men had been found, hut not one was alive
The wives and children OF many OF the victims
were In the crowd. and their sorrow was piti-
tul to behold.
besrnS BODY nat 1R1
were unrecognizable, but from the initials Oh
belt around tho waist it was learned that the
brought out the body OF hungarian. He was
Identified as Simon Parry. body was brought
alter ate The bodies that could, be Identified
were were taken to Preston school house, near by.
which had been converted into q temporary
morgue. Al o'clock this evening twenty
bodies had been taken out and six still re-
stepped work for the night, and will begin
again at o'clock to-morrow morning.
The names oil those reported by the rescuing
party to be dead in and out OF the mine are:
p. s Fl TAR H$5y EssEE fRSn Ffsy
f5sss5S %ISS:
William Edwsrdf ThOma. J; WilIlamS Thoma, cIGass
owen Williams John MemGseS, Frank Gallagher, two
Allen.
Owen willlams's body was identified only by
his shoes. He was q SUNDAY school teacher In
the Welsh Methodist Episcopal church. About
ak months ago he headed a movement among
the men in his mine to discourage blasphemy
nae @e@ber Who Voated his pedse
fund. Williams was one Of the most expert
f.,f lie wi
Another victim named Henry had never
worked in this mine before; The day before
asked him II he would, not work for him on
Thursday. as he CMonahanl desired to attend
the funeral Of n friend. Henry said he did not
like to go to WORK in a strange mine. but he
would accommo "a his neighbor. Henry lost
his life. and Mon nan. who has worked in the
daughter was to have been married to- morrow.
John Allen tho assistant fire boss and one
By the explos ion. A len was the man accused
When the eave-in occurred all the. lights were
put out There was still good flow Of air
the to gas
up again and make their way to the aban.
doned workings. because the air would, not
advised against this course. He said that Il
the lamps were TTssliiGhted an explosion would
He thought that as soon as the condition Of
the mine was ascertained the air fans would
be run at Increased speed And the ventilation
the officials did. They ran the fans at double
plenty OF air. Allen. however. SO 1t is said. was
bent on lighting his lamp. and as soon Us he
did so the gas exploded. In the opinion OF
Phillips 1t was q terrific e1-
plosion. The heavy doors were shattered into
splinters. and the wonder is thet the men were
gas was set or by naked lamp He thinks II
Allen had only RETAINED from rolighting his
lamp all the men might have been rescued
alive.
The cause Of the cavern was the removal of
too much coal. which left the surface without
sufficient support. In q great many mines
hereabouts where the coal has become difficult
and costly to mine the temptation to rob" or
strip the pillars has not always been resisted.
These pillars are blocks of coal about 40 feet
in circumference and sometimes contain 800
tons OF coal. One shot OF powder will loosen
hundreds OF tons. great many OF these pill
lars have been SO weakened that they are use
less and unable TO stand the pressure from
above. Moro disasters are sure to occur unless
some action Is taken to prop up the roofs OF
such mines.
EMPLOYING CHILDREN TO BEG.