Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-02-13
J. A. Owenby Tells OF His Expert
ence Before the Silver In
vestigating Committee.
He Was Only Offered the Paltry Sum
of $4,000 to Forget What He
Knew About Silver.
The Blizzard in South Dakota and
Nebraska Was Worse
Than Reported.


q NANTICoKE, Pa, Feb. 9.-One OF the
most dramatic events that has occurred in
I the coal mining region about here in many
years was the release this morning of three
/. nen-John River, VIM. Cragle and Michael
the flooded mine in which
Y hey had been imprisoned since Wednes-
cy last. On that day five men, three
Y We named and two others, Thos. Lewis
M Daniel Davis were at work in No. 3
: me of the Susquehanna Coal company.
Ehey were engaged in robbing pillars in
the abandoned portion of the mine. In
bne chamber Lewis and Davis were at
work, and to loosen some coal they resort
ed to blast. The explosion rent asunder
}5he wall separating the chamber in which
{they were engaged from the old aban.
\,oned working which has been used for
! lltoring abandoned mine water. The i'm
I prisOned water burst through the great
4 hole made by the blast III a furious torrent
4 Davis were jerked off their feet and tossed
bout like cOrks. Even heavy coal cars
re lifted and wllirled before the food as
iOugh they had been corks. Lewis and
1yis fortunately were swept to the gang
lay. Here they got footing. With the
flood tearing after them they fled for their
lives. At one time the waters enveloped
them up to their necks, but they made a
final despairing effort TO get beyond its
( clutches Davis and Lewis were saved,
Z but their three companions
5& WE'RE LEFT BEHIND.
@# There was hardly a ray of hope that they
Y could be alive. There was just chance
n that they might have got Oh some elevated
,alI nf ho
Those who first suggested it were thought
half mad. But still il was a ghost of a
Schance and the rescuers set to work with
I all that fury of energy with which miners
go to the relief OF their comrades, not
knowing how soon their own time may
& came to need like effort on their own be-
half. Night and day work has gone on.
Even If the men escaped drowning, there
\ was a small chance of their escaping sutfo-
L cation from foul air. Day after day passed,
4 and though the energy OF the reScuerS
4 slever tagged, their hope was well nigh
dead. At an early hour this morning, how
ever, their growing despair was turned to
Il wild JOY. From tar back III the mine there
s came
A FAINT CRY.
Il For a moment the men ceased their work.
q They could hardly believe their own ears.
4 ] .Ehen, again, as they stood breathless, a
b weak. faint voice was heard. The answer
s. was wild cheer, and with a sort OF blind
4 fury the men fell at their work again. At
& 8 o'clock this morning voice could be dis
tinctly heard; a little later, words could be
\ made out. The three men We're all alive
4 and they were unhurt but for Gods sake
No urging was needed. In a few
moments the rescuers were almost With n
\ touch of them. A raft was made and on it
n the party of men grOped their way in
III darkness to the little cramped-up space in
which the three poor fellows had spent
I their five terrible days: In little hole in
/ The water was almost up to their very
feet. In jiffy they were pulled down and
SisWent on the raft, and a few moments later
lsthey were out in the sunlight. with their
3comrades hngging them and
q H KISSING THEM LIKE MADMEN
4 land welcoming them as the dead come to life
4 again. There have been many touching
4} scenes around the black mouths of the
4 mines lereabouts, but seldom one that
.sRNsslloved mems hearts more than did the wild
! demonstrations over these poor rescued
MINERS. They are the heroes of the day,
for long time to come, and until
~ 10 other great disaster has Overshad-
Id their adventure, they will have to
5ssz over and over again the story Of those
s tt awful days Of darkness and despair.
y y ssfA,fionsly enough, they did not suffer
greatlo from hunger. Their greatest mis-.
cry, after their mental agony, was from
Il thirst and the cramped position in which
a they We're forced to sit. Milk was given
s. them to drink and they quickly recovered
their strength. 1t was after O'Clock this
/ morning. however, before they were
thought sufficiently strong to be carried to
& heir homes. IS
MI s Owenby's Story.
CHlcAGo, Eeb. o. ames Oyxenhy q