The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-03-18
FRIGHTFUL DISASTER.
Over One Hundred Miners Per-
iSh in a Nova Scotia COlliery.
A Mysterious Explosion Causes
an Appalling Catastrophe.

The first great disaster in tho history Of
the Cumberland coal fields Of Nova Scotia,
occurred on recent afternoon, when an e3.
plosion took place in the east slope Of the
Spring Hill mines, resulting in large loss of
life. Twenty-six bodies were recovered i'm.
mediately and ten men were brought up
alive, but terribly mutilated. They are not
likely to recover
The loss of life exceeds any mining disas-
ter in Canada. 1t is placed at III men and
boys.
The explosion was confined to "Nos6 and
balances" where it did its most deadly
work. The balances are in the west side of
No. 1 slope, extending from the 1900 foot
slope to the 1900 foot level n No. Q
slope. The pits are connected for pur-
poses Of ventilation and it is owing to this
bodies taken out of that pit were not mu-
tilated in any way and bear evidence of
having been suffocated by after damp.
Death from this cause is painless.
At No. slope there were come. ghastly
sights. The first exploring party found two
bodies so badly mutilated that they could
only be taken to the surface in bags One
body was cut in two across the abdomen, one
arm was missing, the face was a mass Of
UlACheueu, DuruG ucSu, uuu Iuo Ouly OuiuE w
denote that it was human body was tuft
Of hair on the back Of the head.
Volunteers courageously took off their
coats and bravely undertook the dangerous
work Of rescue. Malcolm Blue did splendid
work in bringing out the injured. The Rev.
D Wright, pastor Of the Presbyterian Church,
went down to succor the relieving party and
refreshed them with hot coffee Three of
the searching party were. brought out un-
conscious from the effects OF tbs after damp
They were Thomas Brown. Thomas Porteer
and James Harvey. Assistant McInness
ventured too far and had to be assisted out.
When it was found. about six o'clock, that
it would endanger moro lives to proceed
further the men were withdrawn and the
work Of rescue abandoned.
When the searching party entered the pit
Immediately after the explosion their pro-
gress was greatly retarded by the fall Of the
roof and other ebstructions on the levels.
Two horses pinned in by timber were killed
to put an end to their misery. About six
horses were killed outright. A mule was
| found on one Of the slants with both hind legs
blown off. A gang of men saved twelve Of
the horses in the pit.
The most terrible scenes were witnessed at
tho pits mouth as the bodies were brought
up. The air was rent with the heart-break-
ing shrieks of the wives and mothers Of the
|
| victims
The cause of the disaster is still a mystery.
A large carpenter shop Is used as morgue.
The corpses are taken there, cleaned, and
then laid out for Identification by relatives
and friends. In several instances the charred
remains have been almost unrecognizable,
and the only clew to Identification has been
a vestlge Of clothing or some marks on the
body.
The Spring Hill mine is owned by Eng
lish and Montreal capitalists. 1t employed
one thousand men and had an output Of hall
million tons year.
One hundred and twelve bodies have SO fal
been recovered. The sights met with bJ
the rescuers are something appalling
Men were found with hands clasped Oh
Some corpses were found stand
ing erect, themen having apparently graspes
any object which was within reach when tn
terrible after damp overlook them. Iht
only ones who could tell how the explosion
occurred are dead.