The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-03-04
FEARFUL LOSS OF LIFE.
ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEEN MIN
ERS KILLED BY AN EXPLOSION.

ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEEN MIN
ERS KILLED BY AN EXPLOSION.
Sprinchill, Nova Scotia. Thrown iuto
Mournius-Severai OF the s:odirs Fear
fully Mu,ilated-Fifty-:hre Widows
and 15sCh;ldren left CnDrovided to-.
SpRINGRiLL. MINES. y. S., Feb. %.
An explosion occurred in the mines OF
this place YESTERDAY. Al midnight nlne-
ty-four bodies have been recovered. and
the total number Of dead is thought to
be III. 4 largely attended public meet
inc was hel>i last evening and arrange
ments for public funeral on Tuesday
were completed. Chic; Inspector Clip
in arrived Yesterday morning, accompa-
MED bv Madden and went down into the
mine. Mr.. Gilpin says so far as the evl-
dence shows the explosion occurred III
either No. or 6 balances, and that the
force of the explosion il these balances
j. very great. Most Of the timbers were
knocked ou.. allowing the roof TO fall,
breaking boxes and mutilating men and
horses. Tow small fires were shoulder
ing ID the debris, but were oxtinSulshed
at once without any difficulty by the
searching party.
: The explosion. Mr.. Gilpin says, did
very little damage to property IN No:
slope, having extended but a short dis
tarce be, end the tunnel, and all the
deaths IN that slope were from sutfoca-
ton bv fire damp. Manager Swift was
atsthe bottom of No. slope about fifteen
minutes before the explosion occurred,
and intlmated to one Of the roadsmen
that he was going into the place were
the explosion occurred. He has not
been seen since; probably his body viii!
be recovered when some of the debris IS
cleared up.
A boy named Boaton heard the en-
plosion and rushed otto the place where
he knew his brother was atWork and
succeeded in carrying him out unin-
iured. His heroism is one OF the Chief
topics of conversation. There were
plenty of volunteers to search for all the
Lodies. Men who came to the pit as
spectators divested themselves OF Their
coats and unhesitatingly went to the
rescue of their fellow workmen. Many
shastly scenes were to be seen, both on
the surface and underground. Several
Of the bodies were so fearfully nluti!ated
that they were placed IN bags and
brought up to the surface.
The explosion is more disastrous to
life than anv other in the history OF coal
mining Oh this continent, 1t is slngu-
lar coincidence that the loss OF LIE
EQUALS that of both the Ford pit and
Drummond colliery explosions. The
number of lives lost at the Ford pit was
tifty-rhree, and Drummond sixty-tour.
The list of dead reaches ll9, ofwhom
fifty-four were married, forty single and
twenty-five boys. Nlnety-seven oodies
have been taken out; l6l children were
orphaned. a good deal OF distress
prevails. No explanation. OF the accl-
dent can be given. The mine IS being
put in order no resume operations We'd
nesdav. The damage to the property
is comparatively small. The following
zappeal has been issued:
ITO the Public: a mining disaster.
aLIeQGeQ VIII 1dlat iSsOlIS Ill Ss<A@
in the history of the Canadian mines:
has fallen on the town and people OF
Sprlnehill. n. S. The loss OF lie is
probably as great as the combined ap--
palling losses at the Drummond and
Ford pit explosions. Abou: ll9 lives
were lost: tifty-four widows have been
left behind and lGl children made,
fatherless. =,
s.The widows and fatherless will need
abundant assistance, and that promptly
from a public shocked and horrihed by
this terrible calamity. Seventy thousand
dollars will be required to meet the
demands and 10 alleviate the suiferlnss
of the bereaved and distressed during
the most pressing period Of their dire
misfortune. The residents OF Sprlngnlll
in meeting assembled have appointed a
committee, consisting Of the Mayor,
Town Council and all residence clergy,
to solicit and acknowledge subscription
to the Springhill relief fund, aud they
confidently and earnestly ask foran Inn,
mediate response from persons OF al
denominations, societies, trades, guilds
and nationallties. William Hall, Mayor,
A. Mcleod, Secretary"