Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-11-12
MINE DISASTER.
A Number OF Unfortunate Men
Killed at NanticOke, Pa.
THE VICTIMS FRICHTFULLY BURNED.
4 Miner Attempts to Change the Air Cur
rent When His Lamp Explodes-
Heartrendfng Scenes at the
Mouth OF the Pit.

NAxIIcoKE, Pa. Nov. 9.-The usual
quiet Sunday of this mining village was
disturbed about 4:3O p. m. by the an
nouncement that a terrible explosion
of gas had occurred in No. / shaft of
the Susquehana Coal Co., by which a
number of men had been killed and
others terribly injured, But short
time elapsed before the news spre ad
through the town and large crowd
gathered at the scene, including rela-
tives 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 that it was Sunday, there were but
fourteen men at work in the nina. OF
this number six were instantly killed
and several others SO badly burned and
injured that they cannot survive, many
fearing that they were in such condi-
ton that they could not be removed
from the mine.
The killed-William j. Williams,
miner. aged so years, leaves wife and
four children; Henry R. Jones, town
clerk of Nanticoke, fire boss, aged 40
years, wife and two children; William
Jonathan, aged 35 years, wife and four
children; John Arnott, aged 40 years,
wife and four children; Caleb Jething,
aged 80 years, wife and four children;
Thomas Lloyd, driver boy, aged 1s
years.
Critically injured. -David Powell, 80
years; David Smith, aged ~ years,
single; Thomas Thomas, aged 10 years,
a stepson of Foreman David w. Evans;
Henry Williams. son of William j. Will
Hams, who was killed instantly, wife
and six children; Howell Jofhenski, a
Polander; two Polanders whose names
could not be ascertained
The accident was caused by the ex-
plosion of a safety lamp. the flames Of
which ignited the gas. The existence
of this element was known and safety
lamps, which are used successfully in
the presence of gas, were being used by
the men during the operations. The
mine, which is one of the best operated
by the Susquehana Coal Co., is not
seriously damaged
The scene about the mouth of the
shaft was heartrending. AS soon as
the news of the explosion was noised,
all the town, the wives and children of
the men who were imprisoned, gath
cred about the opening. The wives
wept frantically, and the children
played about, unconscious of the fear
full doom their fathers had met
A searching party was organized as
soon as possible, and the brave men
went down the mines to rescue their
fellow workmen. They had struggled
with the dangerous after-damp and
after almost losing themselves in the
cavern, cropping in the dark, came upon
the bodies of the victims. Some were
beheaded and others disem boweled. It
was fearful spectacle.
The remains were taken to the
mouth of the shaft and from there to
their late homes in ambulances and on
stretchers. After each one followed
tho mans wife and children. Four
more of the injured have died: Howell
Johensky. aged 80 years, wife and
family of small children. John Ma
loney, so years, wife and three chill
dren. David r. James, 81 years w.
L. Williams, % years, son of w. j.
Williams, who was killed.
Four more are badly injured, and one
of them will die.
The explosion was caused by the at
tempt of one man to change the air
current when his lamp exploded