The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-07-09
A. punDar,s Burning Mine.

Mine has ComincHcfu- 1Hc a1'iHS 49,
flaa.se,I and an effort Is being made iosmoth-
!, Tho flames. 1t is thought there i0 only
one way in which the property Will be Of
any use again. That is 10 shut up the burn
inc ,or,;on in walls Of brick BY eonfiains |
it in this manner part OF the vein which mas
never been reached viii be within reach
Tie Coroner's inquest over the bodies Of |
the two men brought out Of the slope viii
begin Monday. II will be one Of the most
important ever held in this district II VIII
be the aim of the Coroner 10 try and test the |
entire work done from the first. what IS
most needed here now is relief for the TWEEN
ty-one widows aud seventy seven orphans
Of the victims of the explosion. Money is
needed badly, as there is much suffering
A telegram to the Pittsburgh Commercial |
Gosetie of this morning from Dunbar says
Dunbar is enshrouded in gloom tonight, all |
hone of recovering the bodies of the ensomb-
ed miners having been given up. Whether |
alive or dead before their fate was definitely |
learned to-day. when the exploring party |
found flames raging in the place where the |
men evidently sought refuge after the ex-
pIosion, all the bodies have no doubt been
burned TO ashes long ere this. Tonight
widows and orphans, mothers ana sweet
hearts morn their loss and will not be COM
forted-
The first reverse was met when the test oil |
air was made The atmosphere in the burn
ing mine was found TO contain 70 per cent. /
of fire-damp, as well as much smoke. The |
possibility ofany one living in such place
can be imagined when it is known that five
sixths of per cent. Of fire damp will Kill a
human being who breathes H. The men
had but eleven feet Of coal TO cut away BE-
fore their willing tools the barrier OF coal
almost melted. After an entrance had been
effected the miners withdrew to prepare for
the momentous exploration.
Early this morning the exploring party
was formed. Al the face it wastnet by great
clouds of smoke, which beat them back after
travelling a few feet into the Hill Farm en-
trance. At II O'Clock this party returned
from the face. They had not yei given up
all hope The fan at the mouth OF the
Mahoning mine was increased in speed. A
current of air was forced into the mine at
great velocity. The smoke at the Hill Farm
mine increased and changed in color, show
ing that the fan was doing the task required
of it. For two hours and a half the Mahon-
ing mine was abandoned.
Al 2.3G O'Clock the exploring party for.n-
ed and started down into the pit. The con-
fidence of the men had been shaken by the
first failure and they carried with them sew
eral cotfins At the foot of the maDway a
line of seutries was formed. Along the mar
row passageway the Inspectors crouched
ready for the signal to advance or retreat,
Up at the opening was a little group who
had in their hands the signal ropes, which
connected them with the men who were to
90 in advance. There was little time wasted
in idle talk Inspector Frank Keighley,
Hugh Dolan, a pit boss and Secretary
Watchorn were selected to invade the realms
where death held undisputable sway.
Tying the life lines about their waists
they plunged into the hell. The air was
heavy, and the smoky air could scarcely be
breathed The men climbed over COB piles
and through vacant rooms, and not one sight
or sound of life rewarded them. When they
reached the first room, where Dan Smith
and Jack Mitchell had worked, ii was found
vacant, not even a dinner-bucket or tool
being left as evidence of the whereabouts of
| the men. The men then entered the drain
room. 1t was expected that the men would
be found here huddled in gang. This was
the room the rescuing party had aimed for
and missed. There were two places at the
| end of the room where James and Thomas
McLary had worked.
/ Nothing was in the room. The drain was
filled with water over two feet deep. Every
nook and Granny was examined to find some
clue of the workers, but the search was fruit
less The men had lived after tAe explosion
and had gathered up all their belongings be-
fore they started for the surface of the earth.
There were no messages showing that the
men had expected to escape. With sinking
hearts the THO started for the lower part of
the mine where the butt heading is located.
The Journey was accomplished under the
most trying circumstances. This was the
room in which John Coke worked. 1t was
here the dinner bucket of Patrick Devlin
was found. Besides it lay his blue blouse
The bucket was partially emptied. 1t con-
tained only bread and ham.
A piece of bread was partly eaten. The
miner had evidently been partaking of his
humble repast when the accident occurred.
He had thrown his bread back in the pail,
closed the lid, and rushed to his death The
contents of the pail were dampened and
smelled strongly Of fire damp. Elated by
their meager success the men renewed their
explorations. In the passage leading to the
room was found the body of a mule. II was
neither burned nor cut. The body had been
bursted by the gases Of decomposition. The
mule had lived after the explosion, but not
many hours. In the train TO which the ami
nal was attached were six empty and four
loaded cars. The stencil was almost over
powering. There was but six inches of
passageway between the dead animals body
and the rline wall Through this the men
had TO force their way,
They came to line of brattice one hun
dred feet long, Not one Whit of smoke
pierced the heavy canvass, but back of it
ragged an awful fire The heat was intense
They left chalk line on the wall and re-
turned. They then started in q new direc-
tion. The leagth of the signai-line had ex-
pired. Tying their end to post the three
started down toward the main slope, where
they proceeded slowly. Keighley was in
ADVANCE, Donavan next, holding to him,
and Wstchorn brought up the rear, clinging
TO ponavan. When within few feet of the
FIRE and thirty feet of where the men lay
they encountered ire-damp, The stencil
from the snbterranean charnel-honse was
sickening. The roar of the flames drowned
all conversational sounds.
The men clung together for an instant
and in their secret souls prayed God to spare
them from such frightful death. Then the
gas commenced to act upon their lungs
The lights in the clenny lamps flickered and
died out. Turning the men started to re-
trace their steps. Watchorn was in the lead.
On and on they staggered and stumbled
away from the polluted air. Watchorn lost
his way and started down an entry, carrying
with him lIis two companions This way,
this way, whispered Donovan as he pulled
Watchorn back after a few steps. Starting
ararr The man aIn-l On lanIr IL. e..