Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-27
COLLAPSE OF A MINE.
Sixteen Miners Buried for Eight
Hours Before Rescued.
THE BIG GANGWAY BREAKS LOOSE,
Leaving the Men Facing Almost Sure Death
Before the Chasm.
THRILLING JOURNEY ACROSS A ROPE
.sprc,.r TELEGRAM TO THE p,spArc,

SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPArcH.l
SHAMoKIN, PA, Sept. 26.-One of the
strangest accidents in mining annals and the
sensational escape and rescue of a number
of miners occurred at Hickory Ridge to.
day. For eight hours the men were i'm
prisoned in an old chamber, not knowing
what second they would be crushed to
death. They were Carson DeLong, Zach
Ham, Frank Walthroff, Daniel Oyster and
dozen Hungarians and Italians.
When they entered the mine at o'clock
in the morning, Inside Foreman William
Reinhardt directed the men to rob pillars,
considered the most dangerous of inside
work A pillar divides one breast or cham
taken from the chamber then the pillar is
removed in order to secure more coal. A
chain pillar divides the levels. At the
| ridge the men we're working on the first
| level, while 100 feet of rock and coal lay
between il and the second lift, which had
been well worked out. DeLong and his
comrades were compelled to work eau
tiously, as the pitch was 30 degrees. There
were few men in the gangway anywhere
near the men.
A YAwNING CHAsM OPENS.
An hour after the first pick had been sunk
into the coal the miners experienced a
tingling sensation, as though a bunch of
needles had been thrust into the soles of
their feet. They grew dizzy and were mo-
mentarily paralyzed with sstonishment and
fear. The bottom of the gangway was
cracking in hundreds of places, while
through the assures issued blast of air
and dirt A violent swaying then ensued,
mingled with sudden roar and crunch
ing of coal, while succession of reports,
like that of an artillery battery in action,
were heard above the din.
Boys" shrieked Ham, 'the chain pill
lar must be running, and if We don't get out
of here it means DEATH A rush was made
for the closet chamber. Waltroff was in the
rear and was lifted to the edge in safety,
Just as the bottom of the place they had left
dropped and revealed to their. startled gaze
yawning chasm 100 feet in depth and 80
feet in width. When the pillar started to
run the men on the lower level escaped.
The imprisoned men were surrounded on all
sides by falling coal.
AN AWFUL SITUATION.
They went up to the chamber as far as
possible and had a council of war. They
found that there was no possible way of exit
other than the way they had entered, but
now a seemingly impossible chasm. Sud-
denly they heard voices calling for them,
and they hurriedly clambered to the edge
of the chasm. Are you alive" cried Fore
MAI Reinhardt, who with Tom Llewellyn
and Davy Williams had gained the entrance
of the gangway quick as the rush occurred.
The rescuing party were overjoyed on
hearing that the men were safe. How to
get the miners across the abyss was the next
thing. A rope was procured and for hours
Reinhardt and his men tried to cast an end
across. Sometimes it would land on a
treacherous ledge almost within reach and
then go whistling down in darkness and
dust. Once it fell on rock which seemed
solid, but as Dan Oyster was about to seize
it the rock and rope went down with a rush.
The met then grew timid and glanced
into each others faces with fear. 1t was
growing serious. They were almos; with
out oil and had nothing but what was in
their cans for provision. Was it to be a
second Evansville horror, and yet within
shouting distance of rescuers?
MEANS OF RESCUE PROVIDED.
These gloomy meditations were cut short
by whirIing noise and the crack of bolt,
which, attached to the rope, had fallen at
their feet. 'Fasten your end of the rope to
timber" they heard a voice cry, "and We
will do the same Once securely tied
about post, the men consulted as to who
would make the attempt. 1t was peril
Gus undertaking, but, as the way led to lib
erty, il, did not take long for Carson DeLong
to make up his mind. Rubbing his limbs
vigorously and tieing pair of suspenders
about his waist were his preparations
Then bidding his comrades goodby, the
intrepid fellow flung himself into space and
went hand over hand. The rope cracked
and swayed. Several times he thought he
would fall, but with strained muscles and
stout heart De Long went on, and at last
was drawn up and into the happy rescuers'
arms. His experience was duplicated by
other men, and when the last had crossed
they wept like children and cheered loud and
long over the miraculous escape. On being
hoisted to the surface 2, 600 men, women and
children cheered and danced with joy. The
company's loss is enormous.