The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-24
SPRING HILLS HORROR.
THE LIST OF DEAD RUNS UP
TO lie.

Fifty-four Women Made widows and
le1 hildren Crphans-Forty Single
Men and Twenty-Five Boys Among
the Dead--Ninety-seven Bodies Re-
covered-An Appeal for Aid.
SPRING HILL MINES, N. s., Feb. 23-
At midnight ninety-four bodies had been
recovered, and the total number of miners
dead is thought to be 1l9. A largely at
tended public meeting was held last night.
and arrangements for public funeral
Tuesday were completed. Chief Inspector
Gilpin arrived yesterday morning,
aud, accompanied by Mr.. Madden,
went down into the mine.
Mr.. Gilpin says so far the evidence shows
that the explosion occurred in either
the No. or No. balances, aud
that the force OF the explosion in these bali
ances was very great. Most of the timber
was knocked out, allowing the roof to
fan, breaking the boxes and mutiiating the
men and horses. Two small fires were
smoldering In the debris, but were extln-
guished at once without any difficulty.
TRE NO. Q SLOPE
The explosion, Mr.. Gilpin says, did very
little damage to the property in the No 3
slope, having extended but a short distance
beyond the tunnel, and all the deaths In
that slope were from suffocation by after
damp. Manager Smith was at the bottom
OF No. slope about fifteen minutes
before the explosion occurred and
minated to one Of the roadsmen that he
was going into the place where the ex-
plosion occurred, He has not been seen
since. Probably his body will be recovered
when some Of the debris is cleared up. A
boy named Beaton heard the explosion and
rushed of to the place where he knew his
brother was at work and succeeded in car
rying him out badly injured. His heroism
is one of the chief topics of converse ton.
There were plenty ct volunteers to search,
for all tho men who came to the pit as
spectators divested themselves of their
coats and unhesitatingly went 70 the rescue
of their fellow workmen.
CHASTITY SCENES.
Many CHASTITY scenes were to be seen, both
on the surface aud under ground. Several
OF the bodies were so fearfully mutilated
that they were placed In bags and brought
to the surface. The explosion was more
disastrous to life than any other in the
history Of GOAL mining on this continent. II
Is singular coincidence that the loss Of
life equals that of both the Ford pit and the
Drummond coiliery explosions The num-
Der OF lives lost at the Ford pit was 90 and
at Drummond a. The loss here. SO far as
can be learned, is now placed at
119. OF these, "a are married men,
who leave 161 children unpro-
vidad for; 40 single aud rs boys.
The relief fund Of the miners, which had a
balance of 81 900 at the beginning of the
year, Is unable TO meet the claims that will
he made. TIE relief from this source at
least can be only temporary. This is 90
kecnly felt that meeting of the mayor
town council and clergymeu was held al
| the oompanYas Office yesterday, and It was
decided 90 issue an appeal to the public for
| aid.
The appeal reads as follows:
To the Ptr5sic: mining disaster, attended
| with fatal results unparalleled In the history OF
| Canadian miners has fallen on the town and
people of Spring Hill. n. s. The loss Of life ID
| probably as great as the combined appalling
| losses at the Drummoud and Ford Phi
widows have been left behind and 16l
children made fatheriess. The widows
and fatherless will need abundant
assistance and that promptly from public.
| shocked and Mortified by this terrible calamity.
! Seventy thousand dollars will DO required 70
| meet the demands and TO alleviate the suffer
| ings Of the bereaved and distressed during the
most pressing period OF their dire
| misfortune. The residents of Spring Hill, II
| meeting assembled have appointed q commit
| tee consisting Of the mayor. town council and
| all the resident clergy, to solicit and actnowl
| edge subscriptions 70 the Spring Hill rsiei
| fund and they confidently and earnestly ash
| for gu Immediate RESPONSE from persons of ell
| denomiua atoms, societies. trades.@ guilds anc
| nati0nalties. WILLIAM HALL, May or,
! A. MCLEOD. Secretary.