Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-28
OVER A HUNDRED KILLED.
A Terrible Explosion Of Fire-Damp In 9
Pennsylvauia Mine Shan.

Terrible Explosion Of Fire-D.mp 4. a
Pennsylvauis Mine Shan.
SIXTY BODIES roUNp-HoRRIBLE scENRs-ruE
STAME OF MrNEa's LAMP rHouaHr TO HAVE
ioNITED THE sAs--Brr THE CAUSE OF THE Dis
AsrER NOT ABSOLUTELY pErERMISKp.
An explosion Of fre-damp occurred yester-
| day morning shortly after 9 in the mammoth
shaft at Scot.dale. Pa, by which ITO miners
were instantly killed and large number in
jured. The explosion is supposed to be the re-
suit of the ignition of a miners oil lamp but
whether this is true or not will never be known,
as not man is left alive Of those who were
working in the immediate vicinity of the ex-
plosion. Those who were no. killed are in .
critical condition and many deaths are mo-
mentariiy expected. The most deadly agency
in this explosion, as in every other of the kind.
was .he after-,lamp. Almost every body yet
recovered bears the evident marks Of sufoca-
ton. A few men who are among the injured,
realizing the awful situation, fell to the ground
and, and the after.damp passing over thsr heats
the dun roar Of the explosion died away the
deadly gas fumes swept up the shaft, poison
ing the atmosphere to such an extent Tint
those on the bank were compelled TO retire &c
distance.
FIRE ADDS TO THE HORROR.
To add TO the horror Of the occasion fire
broke out immediately in the workings. Start
ing from the place where the explosion oc-
Cured it passed along the tunnel into the larger
workings, the aame increasing in volume about
every hundred yards or wherever the gas had
accumulated. Those on the bank were quickly
alive 10 this new calamity, for the hot air rushed
up the main shaft, forcing them back to more
retired position.
AS the fire passed into the older workings
the gas would ignite and a series of light re-
ports were heard, giving warming that the fire
was spreading. The machinery by which the
huge fans used TO force air in the mine are
worked was uninjured by the explosion. and as
soon as the fumes OF the escaping gas moder-
ated sufficiently to permit it they were called
into requisitior and air was rapidly forced into
the mine. 1t WAS thought that would enable
search parties to enter and begin at once the
work OF rescue. In this, however, a failure was
evident for "a time, and the fire burned fiercer
than ever III the farther portions of the mine.
At The time the explosion occurred the full
force OF men were at work. What the exact
number is cannot be learned. Superintendent
keighiey. who had charge of the Dunbar
mines at the time Of the explosion there, is in
charge of the Friek. mine. He at once dis
patched messengers for help, and in little
time large number Of physicians were present,
all OF whom volunteered to do what they could.
Relief parties were organized and the tool
house fitted up as a hospital for the reception
OF the injured.
RELIEF PARTIES AT WORK.
An entry was effected and a relief party at
once descended to do its work. The scene in
the mine was in every sense horrible one.
The props in the tunnels were bodily torn
away and in many places blocked the passage
ana had to be cut away. Penetrating near
La a, l..
number of bodies we're discovered.
Their faces were swollen and distorted and
their hands clinched, showing plainly the des-
perate fight they had made for life. The fire
mad by this time passed on to the further work
ing. and the relief party pressed forward to the
spot where the explosion took place. A num-
per OF bodies. or rather portions Of them. were
round lying In every direction. The fire had
done its work. The bodies were charred and
Diackened, and in some cases burned to a crisp,
crumbllng to dust at the touch Of the rescuers.
SIXTY BODIES RECOVERED.
Sixty bodies were quickly removed to the
surface by the several relief relays and then
the work had to be stopped, the fire driving
the workers back to the main shaft. The in
jured were all near the entrance to the work.
ings and had thus managed to escape the
after-damp They were quickly given assist
ance.
THE SCENE on THE BANK.
Following the roar of the explosion there was
sharp conclusion, felt for at least a mile
around. The frame shanties of the miners
shook like reeds and it needed no messenger to
inform the women and children of the awful
calamity which had befalen them. The entire
population rushed TO the scene of the disaster,
screaming and calling upon heaven for aid.
Mothers took their children in their arms. and,
regardless of the cold. ran to the mouth of the
mine. Once there they were helpless and
covered on the coal banks wringing their hands
and trying as best they could to comfort each
other. Several women tainted on the bank and
were left to lie there unattended except BIZ
their weeping children. Each seemed absorbed
almost dazed with trouble. SO far as can be
learned sixty wives and families are left penni-
less by the catastrophe. and in some cas 20 aDso-
lutely breadless. for the mine has not been
working its full force for some time.
Every means possible will be resorted to in
order to supply the widowed mothers and chill
dren with the necessaries of life. The Prick
Company will be liberal in this direction and it
Is understood that a subscription paper will
shortly be circulated TO obtain none in sup
port of the unfortunate families.
The mammoth plant embraces 500 ovens, one
OF the largest plants in the coke region, but it
Is hard Of access. 1t is situated near the United
works, where explosion recently DESTROYED
the entire shaft. The collins have already been
ordered for eighty persons The only man
who escaped from the fatal mine was Mine
Foreman Eaton.