Evening journal., 1890-06-17
Frightful Work of an Explosion
Near Dunbar, Pa.
rHlRrY.ONE MEN WERE KILLED.

others sare still entomhed ia the mine
where nheree fire is raging Desperate ef-
forts were made TO clear the way 70 recover /
the bodies, but without avail A rescuing
party Of 100 men, headed by Mine Inspector |
keigley, o. this district, spent many hours
Ia the pit but were able 20 rescue only the
two bodies mentioned These men died
from the force Of the explosion and their |
bodies were badly burned Their features |
were distorted and disflgnred and could |
only be recognized by their clothes,
The Story of the Holocaust
Fifty-seven miners were at work about |
5000 feet from the mouth Of theslope when
the explosion occurred Near the point at
which the heading started nn air hole had
been drilled recently. Gas and water had
accumulated II. miner named Patrick
Kerwin penetrated this air hole six inches
in diameter with his pick, whereupon a
strong stream Of water gushed out. Ker-
win alarmed, sounded the danger signal.
His assistant. Patrick Hayes, started hur
riedly for the main entrance, and had
scarcely moved when the foul gas was
ignited from his lamp. The explosion that
followed was terrific What little air there
was IN the place drifted TO the heading to
the right Of the main entrance.
Cut on by the Flames.
The fire followed swiftly and before the
thirty-one men could be alarmed all hope
of escape was shut of by the flames. The
twenty-six men employed In the left head-
ing were notified of the danger In time to
save their lives, although their escape was
hrff hV
widest confusion. AT point near where
the explosion occurred the bodies Of Daniel
Siberian, fire boss, and David Hayes were
found. They had evidently attempted TO
escape through the flames.
A List OF the Missing Men.
Following is full list Of the missing
miners: Joseph Brigner, married; Richard
Brigner, Milt Ferney, married; Barney
Moss, Peter Eagan, a years old; Robert
McGuiil, single. Martin Cavaner, John
Copo, married; Andy Cope, his son; Pat
Deylin, married; John Debanney, married;
John Joy, married; John Dehanney, Jr.:
David Davis, married; Thomas Davis, his
son; Pat Cahill, married; William Cahill,
single; Pat Courtney, married. John Court
| ney, his son: Dan South, married; James
| Shearn, single; Danny Shearn, single;
/ David Hayes, William Hayes, his son;
/ James McCleary, married; Thomas Nc
Cleary, married; Elmer Dewey, single; Jo-
seph Bigley, aged 30, leaves wife and two
children; Barney Maust and Emanuel
Maust (brothers), and John Mitchell, aged
Az, married.
Relatives Mad with Anguish.
Thousands OF people gathered az the
mouth of the mines in the afternoon.
Among them were the parents, wives, chill
dren and sweethearts Of the unfortunates,
and a strong guard Of police was necessary
to prevent many Of them, mad with an
guish, from rushing into the deadly hole,
Wives widowed by the horror, stood about
III clad and sore footed, lulling 20 sleep
their babes in arms. Mothers wrunR their
hands and cried aloud for theiE boys while
children from eight TO fifteen years Of age
| hurried about, looking into the bHckened
faces Of the escaped miners, in the hope Of
finding their fathers or brothers.
The Horror OF Suspense.
Their suffering was pitiable, and while
the authorities of the company were exert
ing all their energies to recover the bodies
the total absence Of information regarding
the fate of the missing men made their dis
tress more severe, and means and groans
went up unconsciously from many Of the
pinched lips in the unhappy crowd. These
works furnish coke for the Dunbar Fur
mace company. George Parish, Of Wilkes
barre, is president OF the company Samuel
Dickson and j. @. Bullitt, Of Philadelphia
are among the heaviest stockholders.
The officers Of the furnace company have
been notified of the disaEter and the au
thorities here have been instructed to Dc
everything in their power 70 relieve tn,
".
calamity. The Scottdale Rolling Mil
company have closed down their worki
and sent all their employees to the rescue
The loss By the explosion cannot now b,
ascertained. II will be heavy, however
and the owners are fearful that the works
will have 10 be abandoned.
The Coke Regions aIost Deadly Explosion
Tho explosion was one Of the most disas
trous and deadly IN the history Of the coke
region In the Leisenring disaster IN 1855
twenty-three men lost their lives. At Col
J. NJ. Reeds works at this place two year
earlier, five men were killed, while at thu
Youngstown works. year later, some four
teen lives were lost. This latest calamity
has unnerved the community and the in
habitants are wild with excitement
Tho Sacrament for Unseen victims.
4
that about the shaft OF the mine Men
women and children still stood about, hop
ing against hope, and painfully, awfulll
silent. Just inside the manhole, holding
in his hand fiickering lamp, stood Father
Molony, with his prayer book in hand
reading the last sacrament TO the unseen
unfortunates. He was not disturbed by
the excited, earnest workmen, who rushed
| hither and thither in their endeavOr to get
at the lost. Armfull after armfull of hay
were carried in by the men TO close off all
possible escape Of the fresh air. The new:
of the explosion spread rapidly to all thu
works in the region. On all the incoming
trains visitors commenced to pour intc
Dunbar Many mine bosses and superin
tendents were among them. A fire damT
explosion is a rarity in this region, and OF
that account, If for nothing else, the pres
ent disaster is all the more fearful.