The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-01-28
FROM ANOTHER SOURCE.
The Explosion Caused by . Miners Lamp
Measures for Relief Of Widows.

The Explosion Caused by . Miners Lamp
Measures for Relief Of Widows.
ScoTTDALE, Pa. Jan. 2Z.-By an explosion
of firs-damp in the Mammoth shaft of the
II. C.Frick Coke Company. to-day. ITO sturdy
miners were ushered into eternity and q
number seriously injured. The explosion
occurred this morning shortly after o
o'clock, and, it is supposed, wa the result
of the ignition Of gas by q miners oil
lamp. The after-damp. which followed
the ire-damp explosion, suffocated
nearly every workman. A few men, real
izing the awful situation. fell to the
ground, thereby preventing the gas from
striking them. There is not . soul left to
, tell the story of the calamity. The persons
/ not killed are in such q critical condition
that their deaths are momentarily ex-
pected. Up to this writing fifty bodies
nave been recovered, all without the sign
of life.
The fire which broke out after the explo-
sion was soon extinguished by the immense
fans which were put In operation. The gas
has about all been driven from the pit. and
the work of rescuing the entombed miners
has been commenced. General Manager
Lynch, of the II. c. Frick Company. is on
the scene, helping to devise means to
rescue the persisted workmen. His
assistance is invaluable, as he has
had many years experience in mining
operations. The Mammoth plant embraces
500 ovens, one OF the largest plants in the
coke region. but it Is hard of access, 1t 10
situated near the United works, where an
explosion recently destroyed the entire
shaft.
The affair has cast . gloom over the en-
tire coal region. and tonight hundreds of
miners are f1ocking to the scene OF the dis
aster, offering assistance. The appalling
loss of life in the Dunbar disaster is more
than oy YER by the destruction Of
Is too weak to describe the scenes at the
mines. Horror is piled upon horror. The
news spread throughout the entire
coke region with great rapidity, and
cofins nave already been ordered for eighty
persons from Mount Pleasant undertakers,
and 1t is understood that the Frlck Jom-
pany. the owners of the plant. will bear the
expense of the same. The only man who
Eaton. Among those killed are John Bev-
erage and James Boles, formerly of this
place. The former resided here for many
years, and was held in high esteem by ev-
cry body. lie was q road man in tho shaft.
Ex-Mine Inspector Keigerly. superin-
tendent of the fatal shaft, is nearly dis
tracted. II is o singular fact that misfort-
une seems to follow him. HIS experiences
in the Hill Farm disaster resulted in the
tender of his resignation as mine inspector.
Master Workman Peter Wise, sex-Master
Workman r. ID. Kerfoot, James Mcbride,
Mike Disman and John X. Bryan, Secretary
Parker and James keegan. all prominent
labor leaders. left to-day for Mammoth to
render any assistance in their power, finan-
cially or otherwise, TO the stricken and be-
reaved families.
1t has been estimated that there are sixty
wives and families that are left wholly de.
pendent on the charity Of the world fol-
sustenance by this disaster. In fact, they
are almost pennilees. as the plant has not
been running steadily for some time. and
work has been exceedingly scarce
since the demand for coke lessened,
Every means possible will be resorted
to to supply the widowed mothers and
their children with the necessaries of life
The Frick company will be liberal in this
direction. and it il understood that a sub
scription paper will shortly be circulated
to obtain money to support the unfortunate
Master Workman Peter Wise addressed
the following letter TO- the miners and
cookers of the region tonight:
The sad news Of a disastrous explosion at tn.
! Mammoth mipe has just reached me, and I feal