The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-11-09
DEADLY EXPLOSION OF GAS
Ten Miners Killed and Four Seriously
Burned and Otherwise Injured.
Another Instance of the Perils of Mining In
Pennsylyania-Safety Lamps Not
Guarantee Against Accidents.

NANTICoKE. Pa.. Nov. s.-The usual quiet
Sunday of this mining village was dis
turbed about 4:30 o'clock this afternoon by
the announcement that q terrible explosion
of gas had occurred in No. 1 shaft of the
Susquehanna Coal Company. by which o
number of men had been killed and others
terribly injured. But short time elapsed
before the news spread through the town
and large crowd gathered at the scene.
including relatives and friends of the
miners employed in the mine, and while
they waited for news from the shaft the
scene was narrowing in the extreme. It
was soon learned. however. that owing to
the fact this was Sunday. there we're but
fourteen men at work in the mine. OF this
number six were insts ntly killed and sew
eral others so badly burned and injured
that they cannot survive.
The killed are: VIM. j. Williams, miner.
aged fifty years, leaves wife and four
children; Henry r. Jones. the town clerk OF
Nanticoke, fire boss, aged forty. wife and
two children; VIM. Jonathan, aged thirty
five years. wife and four children; John
Arnott. aged forty years. wife and four
children; Caleb Gething. aged thirty years,
wife and four children; Thos. Lloyd,
driver boy. aged eighteen years.
The critically injured are: David Powell
David A. Smith. Thos Thomas. Henry
Williams, Howell Jofhenski and two Po-
landers whose names could not be ascer-
tanned.
The accident was caused by the ex-
plosion of q safety lamp. the flames of
which ignited the gas. The exist
ence of this element had become known,
and the safety lamp. which is gem
orally used successfully in the presence of
gas, was being used by the men during
their operations. The mine, which Is one
of the best operated by the Susquehanna
Coal Company, is not seriously damaged.
Another dispatch says: The scene about
the mouth of the shaft was heartrsndIug.
Is soon as the news of the explosion was
noised about town the wives and children
of the men who wero imprisoned gathered
tically and the children played about, un-
conscious of the fearful doom their fathers
had met. searching party was organized
as soon as possible. and the brave men
went down tine mine to rescue their fellow
workmen. They had to struggle with
the dangerous. after-damp, and aft
er almost losing themselves in the
cavern, cropping in the dark. came
npon the bodies of the victims.
The force of the explosion had dashed to
pieces several mine cars standing on the
tracks. Some of the men were beheaded
and others disembowled. IL was fearful
spectacle. The remains were taken to the
mouth of the shaft. ond from there to their
late homes in ambulances and on stretch
ers. After each one followed the mans
wife and children.
Four moro of the injured have died
Howell Johenski. aged thirtytwo years,
who leaves q wife and family of small chill
dren; John Maloney. aged thirty years,
wife and three children; David X. James.
thirty-seven years; w. j. Williams, IT,,
aged twenty-three years, son of w. j. Will
Jams. who was killed. Four moro are
badly injured. and one of them will die.
The explosion was caused by the attempt
of one of tho men TO change the air current,
when bis lamp exploded.