The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1891-01-28
Explosion of Fire Damp in
Pennsylvania Mine Shaft.
OVER A HUNDRED MINERS MEET
THEIR DEATH
Sixty Families Left Wholly Dependent
on Charity for Sustenance-Every-
thing Being Done to Supply the
Widowed Mothers and Children
With the Necessities of Life.
Special to the REcoRD-UN1oN.

shaft of the III. G. Fricke Coke Company
to-day, eighty sturdy miners were ush-
cred into eternity and number seriously
injured.
The explosion occurred this morning
shortly after O'Clock, and it is supposed it
was the result of the ignition of miners S
oil lamp. The after-damp, which fol-
lowed the fire-damp explosion, suffocated
nearly every workman. A few men,
realizing the full ituation, fell to the
ground, thereby preventing the gas from
striking them. The persons not killed
are in such critical condition, that their
deaths are momentarily expected.
Up to this writing fifty bodies have
been recovered, all without sign of life
The fire which broke out after the explo-
sion was soon eXtinguished by immense
fans which were pug in operation. The
gas has about all been driven from the
pit, and the work of rescuing the en-
tombed miners commenced.
The mammoth plant embraces 500
ovens, one OF the largest plants in the
coke region, but it is hard of access. 1t is
situated near the United Works, where an
explosion recently destroyed the entire
shaft.
The affair has cast gloom over the en-
of miners are tlocking to the scene of the
disaster, offering assistance.
The appalling loss of life in the Dunbar
disaster is more than overshadowed by
the destruction of life in the Mammoth
calamity. The news spread throughout
the entire coke region with great rapid
lty, and everybody was awe-strick en-.
Collins have already been ordered for
eighty persons from Mt. Pleasant under
takers. No one escaped from the mine
in condition to tell the story Of the awful
disaster.
1t is estimated that there are sixty
wives and families left wholly dependent
on the charity of the world for sustenance
by this disaster. In fact they are almost
penniless, as the plant has not been run
ming full for some time, and work has
been scarce. Everything possible will be
resorted to to supply the widowed
mothers and children with the necessi-
ties of life. The Fricke Company will
act literally in this direction, and Master
Workman Peter Wise has sent an appeal
for aid to the miners and cokers of the
region.
LATERAL midnight it is stated that
110 men were killed in the explosion
Sixty bodies have been taken out so far.
The mine is again on fire, and it is feared
all other bodies will be cremated.
MORE DETAILS.
This evening partial story of the dis
aSter was obtained.
An unexpected flow of gas was struck.
and the miners working in the headings
connected with flags No. 2, 3 and were
all killed. The fire boss, as is his duty,
had been in the mine and examined the
working places. His mangled body lies
at the morgue. The only evidence that
he attended to his duties are the regular
certificates of inspection received from
lybi iah I,n
mines safe.
The miners knew these certificates had
been filled out and went to work. They
never returned.
Superintendent Keighly, who was Mine
Inspector in Dunbar District when that
horror occurred, was at the mine when
the explosion took place. He Immediately
called for volunteers, and gathering a
few about him, descended the shaft. Be-
fore doing so he notified General Super
intendent Dinch, and that gentleman or
dered all the mine Superintendents in the
region to the scene.
When the volunteers entered the mine
sight impossible to picture met them
a bank of cars, mules and, more terrible
than all, men, were piled in a compact
mass against the ribs, or walls of coal,
and not living thing was in the wreck
age
1t was almost as solid as the coal itself.
so terrific was the force of the explosion.
This obstruction was removed with
difficulty, and they entered veritable
chamber of horrors. The first object they
discovered after leaving the main entry
was gum boot.
In it was the leg of man.
Further on, they found human head
but nowhere in sight was the trunk that
had borne it. But in a few minutes, after
walking short distance, surrounded by
dangers unseen, they found the trunk,
and the ragged neck with blood oozing
from it told the story of the appalling
disaster. Working their way in, they
found bodies strewn all along the gang
way.
One unfortunate met his death while on
his knees in prayer, with his hands
clasped and his eyes uplifted. His body
was found in this position.
1t was a pathetic picture.
While all this was occurring, people of
the region were concentrating at the
scene of the disaster. Women and chill
dren and relatives and friends of the un-
fortunate victims rushed to the mouth of
the pit shrieking and sobbing, and the
scene was one never to be forgotten.
Following them came the physicians
and undertakers from Scottdale, Mount
Pleasant and Greensburg, and after them
Father Lambing of Scottdale, who went
among the bereaved with words of sym-
men TO greater work in rescuing any who
might be alive and imprisoned.
The services by the physicians were
little needed, for every man in the build
ings where the explosion occurred was
killed. None were injured and lived.
Dead bodies were brought up every few
minutes. Every corpse was covered, and
no one even ventured to inquire which
body It was, for they knew every one in
that part OF the mine at the time of the
explosion was dead
Superintendent Keighly was sorely dis
tressed. He had been in two other mine
disasters, the Dunbar and YOUNGSTOWN,
but this was far worse. He said:
IN o man living knows the cause of the
accident, and it will never be known for
certainty. Not so many were killed by
the explosion, but the dreaded after
damp came, and the unfortunates sue
cumbed TO it. This is shown by the fact
that only those bodies in the immediate
vicinity OF the most wreckage were
mutilated.n
One of the foremen connected with the
mine said that safety lamps were not
pected.
John w. Bell, fire boss at Heckla No.
!, said: About two years ago there was
an explosion of gas at this mine, and one
man was burned to death. No safety
pumps were used here. There was too
much work for one boss, anyhow. They
discharged one a couple of weeks ago to
reduce expenses, and one man has been
tDrced to do the work. managed to Sc
cure the last report of the Mine Inspector,