New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-28

WORK OF RECOVERING THE BODIES
MANY FAMILIES LEFT WITH.
OUT sUPPoRT-AID FOR
DESTITUTE PEOPLE
THE NINE
on FIRE.
Mount Pleasant Penn Jan. 27-An explosion
occurred at 0 o'clock this morning in the Mann
moth shaft Of the H. c. Frick coke works, ten
miles from this place. Between fifty and eighty
men were in the mine at the time OF the expls
sion. Eighteen bodies have been taken out
and it is estimated that fifty men were killed.
The mines are on the Sewickly branch OF the
Southwest Branch Railroad, and are about half
way between sLatrobe and this place. The ma
chinery which runs the fan was not damaged,
and plenty of freshair has been forced into tho
mine to sustain the living and to allow the res.
cung parties to enter in safety and bring Out
the bodies. The mine was badly wrecked in
places.
II is said that most of the killed are
either English-spealing German miners The
shaft is about 100 feet deep and has a number
of galleries Superintendent Keighley has
ganized relief parties and is busily engaged in
trying to penetrate the entries.
Mammoth, Penn, Jan. 27.-One hundred and
ten men were killed in the explosion. Sixty
bodies have been taken out so far. The mine il
on fire, and it is feared the bodies of the others
will be cremated.
Pittsburg Jan 27.-A bulletin from Mount
Pleasant Penn, says from 140 to $50 were killed
in the mine explosion to-day Fifty-nine bodies
have been recovered
A dispatch from Scottdale. Penn. says: BY
ar explosion of 1re-damp in the Mammoth shaft
of the H. C. Frck Coke Company to-day. eighty
sturdy miners were hurled into eternity. and q
number were seriously injured. The explosion
occurred this morning shortly after o'clock. and
il is supposed was the result Of the ignition of
miners oil lamp. The after-damp. which followed
the fre-damp explosion suffocated nearly every
workman A few men realizing the awful situa-
ton fell to the ground. thereby preventing the
gas from striking them. The persons not Killed
are in such critical condition that their death IS
momentarlv expected. Up 10 this writing fifty
bodies have been recovered all without sign OF
life.
The fire. which broke out after the explo.
sion. was soon extinguished by the immense fans
which were put in operation. The gas has about
all been driven from the pit. and the work OK
rescuinc the entombed miners has been begun
General Manager Lynch of the II. c. Frick Coke
Company is on the scene helping TO devise meahS
70 rescue the perished workmen. His assistance
is invaluable as he has many years experience IN
mining operations The Mammoth plant embraces
500 ovens, one of the largest plants in the coke
region. but it is hard Of access. IL is situated
near the United Works. where an explosion
recently destroyed the entire shaft.
The affair has cast gloom over the entire
coke region and tonight hundreds of miners are
hockinc to the scene of the disaster, Offering
assistance The appalling loss of life In the
Dunbar disaster is more than overshadowed Dy
the destruction of life in this calamity. Lam
ruage is too weak 10 describe the scenes at the
mines Horror is piled on horror. The news
spread throughout the entire coke region WIN
great rapidty and everybody was awe-strlckeh
The cofns have already been ordered for eighty
persons from Mount Pleasant undertakers ana IL
is understood that the Frck Company, the owners
of the plant. will bear the expenses. The only
man who ESCAPED from the fatal mine was Eaton.
a mine boss.
Among those killed are John Beverage and
lanes Roles. formerly of this place. The former
lived here for many years and was held in high
esreem by everybody. lie a road man In the
shaft
Ex-Mine Inspector Keghly, the superintendent
Of the fatal shaft. is nearly distracted. IL is a
singular fact that misfortune seems 10 have fol-
lowed him. his experiences in the Hill farm
disaster resulting in his rendering his resgna-
tion as mine inspector. Master Workman Peter
Wise ex-Maser Workman r. d. kerioot james
Ne Bride NJ. Disman and John X. Byrne' secretary
Parker, and James keegan, all prominent lapor
leaders. left tonight for Mammoth, 10 give any
assistance in their power 10 the stricken famihes'
H. has been estimated that there are Sixty wives
and families that are left wholly dependent on
charity for sustenance by this disaster In fac''
they are almost penniess, as the plant has ho1
been running full for some time, and Work mas
becn exceedingly scarce since the dulness in tho
demand for coke began. Every means possible
will he resorted to to supply the widowed mothers
and their children with the necessanes OF Iie
tn. Frick Company will he liberal in this direo'
tion and il is understood that subscription
,oner will shortly he circulated to obtain money
10 support the unfortunate families
Master Workman Peter Wise addressed the
following letter to the miners and cokefs OF the
region tonight;
Scottdale Penn. January -. iso,
To ,bo Nembers of the Knights of Labor and Work
in ymcm Of the Coke Region The sad news OF dls:
asfrons explosion at Mammoth Mines has lust reaahei
me and / fear many families have been lett desuinie;
therefore appeal to You TO promptly render Mis h n
YOU can to assist the families OF your nle.n" c"n,
iavo heen killed The master workman ahd con-.
mittecs al each works will kindly take the matter III
hand and act as a relief committee Let me com.
mit,ee select a check member and each miner iui
as many wagons AS he can under the circunsnih -
contribute and arrangements will be maze WITT ti9
companies TO pay the amount. ana mus pro,,np' NJ WI
can be given. Drawers adopt the same pitn ana
dav men can cOntrbut, their days work ana nave
,be same deducted in the ofiic" This aid VIII ne
..Inaua.od fran, nhlic cOntribmIlns AID VIII "