Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-11-14
THROUGH THE FLOOD
Marvellous Escape of the Leg.
 gett Creek Miners.
WATER REACHED THEIR LIPS
Breaking of the Great Pumps Caused tn
 Mine to Fill Rapidly.

Only One Way of Egress Reft to the
 Dlen, and That Was Through the Raging
 Waters Hundreds of Yards Through (
 Soothing Torrent-Some Fell Exhausted,
 But Were Saved By Comrades.
 SCRANTON, Pa., Nov. 14.-The truly wonderful escape of fifty miners from being drowned in the Leggett's Creek Mine of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company about 9 o'clock in the after. noon is the great topic of discussion. '. The great pump broke, and the mine be gan to fill with water from a''current of Leggett's Creek.
 The rumor was quickly spread among the miners that the creek had burst into the mine, and that they must hurry or that all would be drowned. The fifty miners and laborers, who had been busy at their perilous task Of finding and cleaning the coal quickly dropL d their tools when they heard the rumor, and rushed to the foot of the shaft to make their escape.
 The shaft filled rapidly with water and veritable river flowed in from the ol d workings When the men arrived at the usual place of exit they found all escape by that means impossible.
 Terror seized all and a panic struck the miners, when Daniel Evans ad- dressed the men and told them that their only hope of escape was to face the water toward the Von Storch slope over a mile away through the dark, uncer- tain subterranean caverns of the mines
 Evans, leading the fifty men, stepped ahead and marched into the water. Bravely the men forced their way toward the incoming stream. They waded into it, but as they went further and further toward their objective point they found the water grow deeper at every step.
 Soon it reached their shoulders, but on they kept, with only the light of hope to guide them on. Soon they reached a spot where the waters were within six inches of the roof, and the weight Of the water and the small channel for air made breathing difficult The lamps of half the men, though worn on upon their hats, Swent out, and many of the unfortunates were left to Rrope about in the dark.
 The water rose until it covered their lips and stopped up their ears. They gasped as they were forced to swallow mouthfuls of the poisonous sul- phur water. They were compe He'd to throw their heads back, and even then the splash of water would enter their y OS OA AOA SO lOS wa AAGO
 Their long boots, filled to the tops with water, held them like lead, but they bravely strove to reach the slope, hundreds of yards distant. On they pressed, encouraged by the broken voice of their leader. Death was behind them, and their only hope lay before. David Williams, in groping through the dark, struck his head against pillar and fell back in a faint.
 Thomas Moran seized him, and raised his head above the water. There was no time for delay and he was showed along. John Jones. a weak old man, grew short of breath and gave up ali hope of getting out. His companions, scarcely able themselves to battle with the waters went to his relief
 "Go on, boys," he said "Leave me here. Let me not be the cause oi the death of you all.' But they would not. dozen hands lifted him above the water. A brave effort was made and soon they found themselves on rising ground, their shoulders again above the water, and in a short time they were out on dry land.
 It is thought that no deaths will re. suit. Williams's injuries are not con sidered dangerous. Eleven of the men are prostrated from the shock, but will soon be about their perilous work again.