The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-02-04
A SMALL PUFF OF DUST
Which Meant the Death of
a Hundred Miners.
Terrible Disaster in a Penn
Sylvania Pit.
A Gas Explosion Does
Horrible Execution.
One OF the Greatest Catastro-
Plies in Mining History.
Sixty Bodies Recovered, but
the Others Burned UP.
Three Score Families Left
Without Means of Support.
Pitiful Scenes at the Mouth Of
the Burning Mine.
The Seventh Cavalry in q Railroad
Collision.
Pitiful Scenes at the Mouth Of
the Burning Mine.
The Seventh Cavalry in a Railroad
Collision.

ScoTrDALE, Pa, Jan. 27.-By an explo-
sion of ire-dsmp In the mammoth shaft of
the FL. @. Frick coke company today, one
hundred and ten sturdy miners were ush-
cred into eternity, and number seriously
injured.
The explosion occurred this morning
shortly after 8 o'clock and ii is supposed
was the result Of the ignition Of miners
oil lamp. The after-damp, which followed
the fire-damp explosion, suffocated nearly
every workman. A few men realizing the
awful situation, fell to the ground, there
by preventing the gas from striking them.
There is not soul left to tell the story of
the calamity. The persons not killed are
I'm such critical condition that their
deaths are momentarily expected. Up to
this writing fifty bodies have been recoy-
cred, all without the sign of life.
The fire which broke out after the explo-
sion was soon extinguished by the i'm
mense fans which were put in operation.
The gas has about all been driven FRONT the
pit and the work OF rescuing the entombed
miners has been commenced. General
Manager Lynch, of the II. @. Frick CON-
pany, is on the scene helping to devise
means to rescue the persisted workmen.
His assistance is invaluable as he has had
many years experience in mining opera
tons.
The mammoth plant embraces 500
ovens, one of the largest plants in the
coke region, but it is hard of &C
cess. 1t is situated near the United
works, where an explosion recently de-
stroyed the entire shaft.
The affair has cast gloom over the en-
tire coal region, and tonight hundreds of
miners are flocking to the scene of the
disaster, offering assistance.
The appalling loss of life in the Dunbar
disaster is more than overshadowed by
the destruction of life in this mammoth
calamity.
Language is too weak to describe the
scenes at the mines. Horror is piled upon
horror. The news spread throughout the
entire coke region with great rapidity, and
everybody was awe-stricken. The collins
have already been ordered for eighty per
sons from Mt. Pleasant undertakes, and
il is understood that the Prick company,
the owners OF the plant, will bear the ex-
penses OF the same.
The only man who escaped from the
fatal mine was Mine-Boss Eaton. Among
those killed are John Beverage and James
Boles, formerly of this place. The former
resided here for many years and was held
in high esteem by everybody. He was a
road man in the shaft.
Ex-Mine Inspector Keighly, the super
intendent of the fatal shaft, is nearly dis
tracted. 1t is a singular fact that mis-
fortune seems to have followed him. His
experiences in the Hill Farm disaster re-
suited in him rendering his resignation as
mine inspector.
Master Workman Peter Wise, ex-
Master Workman r. ID. Kerfoot, James
Mcbride, Mike Disman and John R.
Byme, Secretary Parker and James Kes-
gan, all prominent labor leaders, left to-
night for Mammoth to render any assist
ance in their power, financially or other
wise, to the stricken and bereaved famil-
les. 1t has been estimated that there are
sixty wives and families that are left wholly
dependent on the charity of the world for
sustenance by this disaster. In fact, they
oil fho D.
been running full for some time, and work
has been exceedingly scarce since the dull
ness has set in for the demand for coke.
Every means possible will be resorted to
to supply the widowed mothers and their
children with the necessaries of life. The
Frick company will be liberal in this di-
rection, and il is understood that sub
scription paper will shortly be circulated
TO obtain money to support the unfortu-
nate families. Master Workman Peter
Wise addressed the following letter to the
miners and cookers OF the region tonight:
SCoTTDALB. Pa, Jan. q.
To the Members OF the Knights of Labor and Work
ingmen Of the Coke Region;
The sad news of disastrous explosion OF
Mammoth mines has just reached me, and
fear many families have been left destitute.
therefore appeal to you to promptly render
what aid you can to assist the families of your
brethren who have been killed. The master
workman and committees at each works will
kindly take the matter in hand and act as
q relief committee. Let the committee
select check member" and each miner run
as many wagons as he can under the eircum-
stances contribute, and arrangements will be
made with the companies to pay the amount
and thus prompt aid can be given. Drawers
can adopt the same plan and day men can con-
tribute from their days work and have the
same deducted in the Office. This aid will be
separate and apart from any public coniribu-
tlons, and will be forwarded to district officers
who will apply IL to the relief of those for
whom il IL contributed PBTEB WISE
District Master Workman.