The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1891-02-19
ENTOMB MBED ALIVE.
THRILLING SITUATION OF THREe
MINERS IN A COAL MINE.

MINERS IN A COAL MINE.
Rescued In nn Almost Exhausted Condi-
tlon from Their Ono Hundred and Eff
teen Hours Imprisonment--Two OF
Thcm Go Crazy.
WILLKEsEARKE, PA, Feb, 9.-In-
tence JOY and excitement prevails in the
little hamlet of Grand Tunnel this morn
ing over the rescue there OF the ell.
tOmbcd miners imprisoned by water
rushing into the gangways and breasts
OF the Susquchannah Company's col.
liery at that place Oh Wednesday of last
week. After firing the blast, since the
men were lost, experienced miners de-
clarcd their rescue alive an impossibllity
and they were practically given up and
the whole community was in mourning
over their supposed sad fate. The
names Of tho men were Michael Shell
bank, William Cra%ct and John Rineer,
all well known miners. They were
found aliyc i'll the upper workings near
the outcrop, the water being unable to
reach them after they managed to get
out Of its way when it was rushing
through the mine. The company's en-
ployccs had exhausted every effort to
get the water out, and by pressing into
service mammoth pumps were able to
lower the water sufficiently to let the
rcscuing party in this morning. The
men were found in an almost exhausted
condition from their one hundred and
fifty hours Imprisonment. 1t will re-
qurc care to bring them through. Their
sullrrings have been intense but they
were buoycd by the hope of being res
cuCd, and the outcrop workings being
fairly well ventilated they were able to
secure enough pure air to keep them
allvC.
The immense pumps used to clear the
water from the inundated portion were
run to their utm st capacity and during
last night the water rcccdcd very much.
When sufficiently low this morning a
raft was constructed and on this a res
culn% party managed to get through the
gangways. Alta point in the vein where
the coal had pitch Of 10 degrees, the
raft was turned INTO Cross heading and
the men were found up above the water,
sitting on cross timber whittier they had
gone Immediately after they discOvcre
the water coming IN upon them on We'd
uctday. Before they had advanced
many steps water was up to their nccks
and they were carried along hy its force.
Being aware Of the pitch in the vein they
happily selected the only point in the
workings where they could have gone in
safety and pcrchcd themselves on the
timber high above the Hood.
Their only lamp lasted three hours,
and from about 6 o'clock Wednesday
they sat on this timber in total darkness
withouta mOrscl to cat until their rescue
this morning. Two Of them became
crazcd at times and with the greatest
their single companion man.
aged to keep them from leaving the cross
heading during the long weary hours
that interviewed. Their position was be-
Aond AL description, and but for the
knowledge that their liberated COM
panions III the mine would do every
Thing to reach them, the men would
have given up in despair. Intense cX-
element prevails and the company is
praised on every hand for the exhaustive
measures they took to rescue the untor-
tunatc men.
The story Of tho escape Of the miners
is a remarkable one. After they had
reached a point of comparative safety
from the flood they found that only a
slender piece OF wood served to Keep
,acll tons Of loose coal, that had fallen
nto the mouth Or head OF the cross cut.
When they found the inclined cut in the
'cin and climbed up its almost pcrpcn-
llcuiar passage they managed to press
ntO service Il piece OF loose timber which
hey had picked up in their hasty retreat,
md this they placed across the opening
II the tunnel, and, after getting it safely
od.cd, climbed upon it tor seats, The
ncn then found that their feet rested in
he water below them, but soon after de-
crmincd from the gurgling sound that 1t
lad gained the highest altitude it could.
There they were sitting on 4 slender
piece Of timber three inches wide for
over four days. Behind them was an
immense body Of coal held in place by
n small prog" and fearing to dislodgc
II the men dared not even rest against it.
BY changing the oil in their lamps and
they were enabled to keep
light few hours. but this supply had an
end, and after short time they were
to sit in absolute darkness
with hardly enough room to hold them
selves in an upright position. John Ri
necr, the most experienced of the miners,
and an employee of many years in the
collicry, was able to keep his head In
their long imprisonment. but both Graz
get and Shclbank at times became crazcd.
Cragct imagined he saw mine car and
jumped down into the water to run to
stop it. He was rescued and got back
on the perch by liinccr. Shclbank was
more easily managed although he was
sobbIng considerably. Wednesday night
passed and Thursday came, and then the
men lost track of time.
The first welcome sound reaching
their cars was the ''p. .unk' Of the pump,
and then the men KIN wv that active work
had commenced towards their rescue.
But while this welcome sound reached
their ears the men were almost over
come by the dreaded sound of the work.
ing Of coal and Il G loose particles held
in check behind them. The crcaking
sound showed tIat the coal was bccom-
ing looscncd md every moment they