Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-01-08
THE BURIED MINERS.

They Probably Lived on the Flesh Of II
Mule Several Days and Eventually Died
of Thirst.
The discovery of the bodies of the eight
miners who were lost in the South Wilkes
barre shaft of Lehigh and Wilkesbarre
Coal Company, was reported by telegraph
in last week issue.
Further information states that it was
impossible to identify any of the remains,
but an iron foot was recognized as belong
ing to Frank Gait. Seven of the eight vic
Tins were Catholics, and when the bones
had been brought to the surface, by order
Of Superintendent Scott they were placed
upon table and Father McAndrews read
the services for the dead over them, aftei
which they were taken to st. Mary's ceme
terry and buried.
Superintendent Scott thinks the men had
a hard fight for life. After the explosion
they had walked over four miles on their
hands and knees in vain endeavor to
reach the surface. Failing to find way
to escape they all congregated in the gang
way, where they were found, expecting
that those on the outside would rescue
them.
The skeleton of a mule was found in the
gangway. 1t is possible that the men
lived OIL the mule for some time, but prob
ably not long, as there was no water.
Death from thirst was doubtless the final
fate of the men. A physician thinks the
miners could have slaked their thirst from
the mules blood, and there is a probability
that they lived for long time. There was
current of air through the main gang
way all the time.
The men on the outside never gave up
the idea but that the intombcd miners
were alive and awaiting to be rescued,
AT the. first explosion the eight fated
men probably started to return, to the
progress, and had gotten to the air,way
leading to No. 5 shaft, about 600 feet be-
yond the tunnel, but evidently saw that
they could not proceed along through the
tunnel and thence out the main gangway
to No. 3 shaft, so they turned aside to
make their way out to No. 8 through the
air-way. Here they must have been over
powered by after damp or possibly their
way was blocked by fallen roof. They got
no further, and then death swooped down
upon them.
AT the time of the disaster many experts
and those acquainted with the mine
thought. that if the men had not become
confused they might have escaped by way
Of No. so. This if evidently Just wa,fb
they did intend to do, but they were pre-
vented
Immediately after the accident occurred
the company put large force of men TO
men to work to clear up the debris caused
by the explosion. II was a difficult task
as part of the mine was on fire The men
could only work portion of the time
Some of them were overcome by The
fumes of the gas and had to give up the
work, but recruits were put in their place.
The company was determined to rescue
The bodies, no matter what the cost, and
the effort was rewarded this morning. e
Thomas Jameson, drfver-boy In the
South Wilkesbarre Coal Company's mine
at O'Clock in the afternoon Of March Sd,
last, carried a naked light into the tunnel
and in so doing set fire to a gas-feeder in
the roof of the tunnel. An explosion fol-
lowed, which fired the dry woodwork and
lighted up the tunnel. Eight men were at
work in the mine. and the flames in the
tunnel cut off their only way of escape.
The frightened boy rushed towards them
to give the alarm, and was never seen
afterwards.