New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-02
EXPLOSION IN A MINE.
SIX MEN KILLED IN THE NOTTINGHAM
WORKINGS AT PLYMOUTH, PENN.

BODIES OF THE DEAD RECOVERED.
iBr TELEGRAPH TO TKrBUSE.I
wilkesbarre, Penn, Feb. IAN explosion about
a. M to-day startled the inhabitants of
Plymouth, near the Nottingham mine. 1t was
followed by an immense volume of smoke and
gas up the air-shaft. The people soon gathered
in crowds around the mouth of the shaft. On
account of the recent foods only fifteen men were
at work in the portion of the mine where the
explosion occurred.
rescuing party was quickly formed and by
noon had recovered the bodies of ten of the men,
of whom one died after he was rescued. Among
the injured were James DunstOn, the fre-boss,
who told the story of the disaster He said that
q little before o'clock, he left No. 6. in the
west gangway, where six men were bracing up
the roof with timbers, and made his way toward
lift No 5. He had just reached the outlet
when the explosion took place. He was blown
some distance with violence which knocked
him senseless This the means of saving
his life, as fall of rock Immediately followed
the explosion, and instantly killed the five men
in No. 8 lift The men in No 8, luckily being
out of reach Of the explosion, with the exception
of John Humphries, escaped death, but all were
severely injured. The least injured in lift NO.
6 escaped by crawling a distance of two miles
up manway and others were fortunately rescued
by great exertions of the relief party before
the fredamp reached them. Their experience
was something which few men would live through
crawling for two miles in intense darkness over
the rough ground, bleeding from dozen wounds
with the fear of instant death by second ex-
plosion.
The men in No. 5 must have been instantly
killed either by the explosion or the fall of
l.. fo1Io Tha ra1tn
only advance slowly, on account of the deadly
firedamp which pervades the mine. 1hey DuiiC
bratticcs to circulate the air, and removed tho
immense quantity Of fallen rock and coal which
obstructed the passagcways. Late tonight three
bodies were recovered, and the others a few hours
afterward. The casualties are as follows:
KILLED.
NxrtTGII1IAWs david T. HUMPHREYS John.
DAVIS. John. SChULIH' To"S"
INJURED.
DUNSTON, James, the fire boss. was severely ourcu
and his recovery Is doubtful
JONES Joseph was fatally hurt; his Skull was fract-
ured.
LAKE Thomas. was severely burned and bruised
LYNN Peter, was burned and injured internally.
THOMAS John had his head and arms burned
FOX David, severely burned.
DENNIS, John, was badly burned
All of the injured men are married. The space
around the mouth Of the shaft within half an
hour after the explosion was crowded with friends
and relatives of the miners, women weeping and
men with stern faces talking together, waiting
for nows from the brave workers below When
the first carriage load of injured men was brought
up the people crowded up to the cage to see the
men, The sufferers were taken as quickly as
possible to the enginehouse, where sklltul physl-
clans did everything they could to relieve their
suferings. The shrieks of the burned men were
fearful to hear. and it was only with the great,
thot fhe
Sufficiently to permit the relief to the working
As far as can be learned, the explosion was
caused by accumulation OF gas dne 10 tle ileG
iigence ~ lanes Dunston but as he is severely
Injured. it is impossible to learn any more from
him than the account of the explosion. Various
rumors are afoat in the town, some saying Una.
the company are responsible and some that the
gas was caused By the sinking of water In the
mine exposing some hole and letting in the gas
from an old working.