The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-02-24
THB NINE DISASTER.
A Hundred and Twenty Lives
Lost at Sp,icg Hill,
RECOVERING THE BODIES
ofthe victims-.Huw the Explosion
Occurred Cannot be Explained.
The Mine Was Apparently
in a Safe Condition.

SPRING HILL MINES, N. S., Feb. 2S.-
At 12 p. M, S4 bodies had been recor
cred and the total number Of dead wa
thought to be III.
A largely attended public meeting wa
held last evening and arrangements 70
a public funeral Tuesday were com
pleted.
Chief Inspector Gilpin arrived yester
day morning, and accompanied by NJ
Madden, went into the mine. Mr.. Gil
pin says so far as the evidence shows
the explosion occurred on either No.
or balance, and that the force Of tht
explosion in the balances was very great
breaking boxes and mutilating men anG
horses. Two small fires were shoulder
ing in the debris but were extinguished
without difficulty.
The explosion, Mr.. Gilpin says, did
very little damsge to property in No. :
slope, having extended but a short dis
tanCe beyond the tunnel, and all the
deaths in that slope were from sudoca-
tion.
Manager Swift was at the bottom OF
No. slope about fifteen minutes before
the explosion occurred, and iutimated to
ono Of the roadsmen that he was going
into the place where the explosion oc'
Cured. He has not been seen since. II
is probable that his body will be recov-
cred when some Of the debris is cleared
out.
sion, aud rushed of to the place where
he knew his brother was at work and
succeeded in carrying him out badly
wounded. His heroism is one of the
chief topics OF conversation. There were
plenty Of volunteers to search for the
bodies. Men who came to the pit as
spectators diveated themselves Of their
coats and unhesitatingly went to the
rescue Of their fellow workmen. Many
CHASTITY scenes were presented both
above and under ground. Several OF the
bodies were SO fearfully mutilated that
they were placed in bags and brought 10
the surface.
The explosion is more disastrous to
life than any in the history OF coal min.
iup in this continent. 1t is singular
coincidence that the loRs OF life equals
that of both tho Ford pit and Drum.
mond colliery explosions; the number
of lives lost at the Ford pit was 81 aud
at the Drummond 04, and the loss here
is placed at III. OF these 81 were
married men who leave l57 children un-
provided for.
The relief fund Of the miners, which
had balance Of $1,000 at the beginning
OF the year, If unable to meet the claim
that will be made. The relief from this
source at best can only be temporary.
This is so keenly felt that a meeting Of
the Mayor, Town Council and clergy
men was held in the company's office
yesterday and it was decided to issue an
appeal for aid to the public.
Seventy thousand dollars will be re-
quired to meet the demands and to allie.
yiate the RuferiDgs OF the bereaVed and
distressed during the most pressing pe'
tiod OF misery. The residents Of Spring
Hill have appointed committee, con;
sisting OF the Mayor, Town Council and
all the resident Clergymen, to solicitand
acknowledge subscriptions to the fe!iei
fund, and they confidently and earnestly
ask for an immediate response from per.
sons Of all denominations, societies,
trades, guilds and nationalites.
To-day there Is mourning in the
houses and it is evident that suffering
will eusue unless the response 10 the
apoeal ia hearty and prompt. Last
nights meeting was held by workmen
to arrange for the burial OF the dead.
The wofkmen are recovering from the
bewilderment which the terrible blow
caused, A number OF men are watch
ing for any indications Of fire among the
debris, but this is merely precaution'
ary measure as danger from this source
is passed. ,,
Fully 1000 strangers visited the scene
OF disaster and viewed the dead as they
were laid out in the carpenter shop.
Senator George A. DIpmmond, oi
Montreal, is one Of the directors OF the
Spring Hill mines. He showed an otii.
cial report Of the manager Of the mine,
which tellsa remarkable story. II is
dated February 10, and in 1t Under
ground Superintendent Swift says that
much uneasiness had been caused among
the miners by "Old Mrs. Co.," known
in the neighborhood as the "Plctou
Prophet" toretellipg an explosion which
was to take place in the Spring Hill
mine.
In conse sequence Of the old woman's
story and the pneasiness OF tho men, q
committee OF the miners themselves was
appointed by the company, and, with
Manager Cowan at their head, they be-
gan an examination OF the mines on
February lG. The West mine was ex'
amined, and on Tuesday last the North
mine was gone through, and the most
complete examination made OF all seams
drifts, aud slopes and leGdings. Every
thing was found in good shape, with
absolutely no appearance Of danger.
The fears OF the miners caused BY
"Mother Coo" were dispelled by the per
feet condition Of the mines, excepl
among very few, who stoutly maiH
tained that the old woman never prophe
sizes wrong.
The work OF recovering bodies hal
been carried on troughout the day mos
successfully. A revision Of the lis
shows the number OF dead ll9. o
these 81 were married and 20 single mer
and % boys.
The scene Of the explosion Is aboE'
three quarters OF mile from the bottom
OF No. slope. In all the bores in tha
district the men were killed. The bodies
are being recovered quite rapidly.
A searching party is now underground
and 1t is expected that all the bodies will
be brought out to-day. There are sew
ersl now in sight and these will be taker
up Immediately. Relatives are arriving
claiming their dead and taking then
away.
There are now 1876 Orphans on The
list. Subscriptions 70 the relief fund art
Preparations for the funeral OF tht
dead are being made. A carload OF cof
flns arrived last night and more are ex
pecsed to-day. Ths funerals begin thil
afternoon. A large gang o. men arr
now busily employed in digging grave
in the cemetery. All the flags In towr
are AZ hall mast. All Of the dead vii
be buried in separate graves which vii
be distinctly marked,