The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-25
RESCUE OF THE MINERS.
THE STORY OF tn GALLANT HUNT
IN THE SLOPE.

The Rescuers in Constant Danger of
Death Desperate Chances Taken to
Get Through the Fire-Damp TO Reach
the Imprisoned Hungarians = Their
Chances of Life.
HAzELroN, Pa, Feb. 24.-Four men were
rasoued alive from Jeanesville mine last
night. instead OF five. as then stated All
ara Hungarians, named Thomas Tomas
t,sky. Joe Mastuskowitch, John Berne and
Bosco Frinke. Twenty-three men were in
tbs mine when the water broke in. Six
ESCAPED and seventeen were caught by the
waters. Thirteen bodies have been taken
out Tomastusky is in the best condition
and will doubtless fully recover. Mastus-
kowitch. kno own as "Big Joe,n from his siss,
Is apparently in the worst condition of all,
and may not live.
PRISONERS NEARLY TWENTY DAYS.
They were in the mine nineteen days and
nineteen hours, and owe their lives to the
fact that the portion of the mine where they
took refuge was cushioned" by fresh air
by the pressure OF the water. which rose In
the slope 624 feet in five minutes. They
supported life on the contents OF their din~
ner pals and the oil in their lamps and
bottles, and, when these were gone, upon
the water in the mine. which was horribly
foul with sulphur. The terrible tale of their
nineteen days suffering will hardly be told
for several days, aswith the most favorable
improvement hoped for none Of the men will
be strong enough TO talk.
WANTED BY MUSEUM MEN.
Much comment is heard as to the future
movements of the rescued men, should they
be returned to health and strength. Already
parties are eager to secure them, and ex-
hibit them from place to place, and have
them relate the sufferlngs Of that awful
time. Supt. McFarlane was the happiest
man of the many happy men at Jeanes-
vile to-day. To him Is due the credit for
prosecuting 50 vigorously the work OF emp
tying the mine, reaching the bodies and
rescuing the four men last night.
NO EXPENSE TO BE SPARED.
No expense was to be spared, or difficulties
allowed to remain in the way Of emptying
the mine in the shortest possible time, were
the instructions he received when the acci>
dent occurred and right well did he carry
out these instructions. Scarcely had he
time to eat, and certainly very little time
for sleep. His men worked with him all
the while without murrnur, at times search
ing through the water up TO their waists
Eight times was the pump in the slope
lowered to be nearer the men, and every
time the water was lowered rapidly. The
greatest praise Is due to the firm of j. c,
Hayden & Co., Superintendent McFarlane,
and the heroic band of miners with him, in
the perils Of the black damp death that
might have at any time seized any and all
of the searchers at the bottom of the man
way.
THE SEARCHING PARTY.
This searching party consisted of Supt
MaeIsariane. Joseph Kelshaw, William
Hale, Alexander Morton, James Sterling
and David Nelson. They had again de-
scended into the lower lift by means of a
dog hole. The gangways, while empty of
water, were impossible because of mud, de-
bris, wrecked cars, etc. They took their
perllous journey down the manway BY
means of ropes and when once upon the
lower lift began to investigate the portion
of the mine where the Huns worked, The
air was terrible with black damp. They
gained access to the northeast gaugway
and began to explore the breasts.
DRIVEN BACK REPEATEDLY.
They were driven back and their lights
exhngulshed many times by the black damp,
but, they were certain the missing men
would be found in this locality and they re-
turned again. Once, when feeling them
selves being overcome by the black damp
and certain that they must again retreat
McFarlane called out aloud to what
ne supposed were the occupants of
the breast, already cold in death. To his
and his partys surprise, the call was met
Win response. They returned to good air
agaln, nt their lamps and again made a
desperate effort to reach the voice heard
FAILURE again met their heroic efforts.
although Superintendent McFarlane went
Inrouga a the black damp, distance of sixty
teet, without light or anything to guide
bis footsteps.
BATTLED THEIR WAY THROUGH,
Agaln the ATTEMPT was renewed after
breathing spell, aud the providence that had
ueaIt so kindly with the men entombed.
ana mad directed the rescuers thus far, did
noV desert them, for, after an almost SUPER
human eHort, the rescuers battled their
way through the deadly damp and got
sve aoove the water line into fresh air. Again
Iney called, and again came the response,
ana this time close at hand. On they
pressed, guided by the sound of the voices
from the dark.
THE FOUR MEN FOUND
In cross~heading eleven wards in length
DetWeen breasts four and five, were found
Cnv % oooles OF four or FIVE men in a narrow
Geh, Tour by four. The men were all hud>
T gleo together as if trying to keep warm.
1 lheir hmos and heads were 50 intermingled
Cnat with difficulty only were they
separated. Caleb Williams and Mine
Inspector Lewis, who were following
ctose py, were shouted to to 20 for blank
T, TSS, hourlshment, physicians and a priest.
luis was done at once. Drs. D. W. Mears
s anu j. w. Bowman were hastily summoned
from rom Audenried, and j. w. Cole and
uso~ard s,t Mcclure from Hazleton They,
i, %Isn 6ev. j. j. Cummiskey, were at once
lowered into the mine.
MOVED TO THE PUMP HOUSE.
Ihen the men were moved to the pump
tt!l HJuse at the bottom of the slope. TO do
ttoh shIs ohey were again compelled TO bring
S Suen up the man-way and through the
.Lg .Og mole. 1t was an awful journey down
through the deadly black damp OF the
;nleasT, through the mud and water
ooS the dog-hole, where, for
~V feet, the men were compelled TO
wal, wax STOPPING. At length they reached the
SIhp house at the bottom of the slope.
tlere tne men were placed on beds of straw,
- blankets, and cared for by the physicians
oor onu miners. They were very weak but all
conscious.
BROUGHT TO THE SURFACE.
,y ahey were brought to the service this
- -1s'T ~ Tning at o'clock, and taken to the Sons
~ -, 1emperance hall at GAINESVILLE, where,
ppuen representative as the Associated
i.1s Lless arrived, j. G. Hayden and party of
iTaulsS were administering to their wants.
--4 aLiLne water, beef tea, milk and wine were
Ssvve6 the men In sparing quantities. DIR. J.
VAC Sois was in charge, at ending to their