Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-24
A WONDERFUL RESCUE.
Four Miners EntOmbed by the Jeanesville
Disaster Found Alive.

Disaster Found Alive.
A special received last night by the Philadel-
phia Press from Hazleton, Pa, says: Four Of
the miners who were caught by the rush Of
waters and imprisoned in the GAINESVILLE mine,
No. l. on the morning of February 4, were
rescued alive tonight after an imprisonment of
nineteen days. At late hour tonight, while q
large crowd Of people were waiting at the head
of the slope for the searchers to come up
with their report, they were electrified by
the news brought up by a messenger from be-
low that four of the men had been found alive
The messenger had been dispatched for a
doctor and Father COmmisky of Hazleton. Dr.
Dooiittle of GAINESVILLE was soon at the slope 9
mouth and was Immediately lowered to the
bottom OF the first lift. where he found John
from starvation that he could barely speak.
He presenteda pitiful sight as he raised his
eyes mournfully to the rescuers and the clergy
man and muttered in broken accents, me 10
SICK 1t was only the sturdy physique of the
man that had kept him alive.
The other three of the men had to be left
just where they were in tho breast and cared
Tor there, rs it was considered impossible and
hopeless to move them. Blankets and medi-
cines were sent down and willing hands went
to work to bring them back to life. 80 that their
awful tale may be told to the anxious public
The rescued were Boss Frinko Joe Matusko-
witt, John Tomaskuski and John Burns. The
men were found in a breast of the north pitch
OF the east gangway. They were lying
close together and there was no evidence
OF any effort of the men to subsist by can
nibalism.
Superintendent McFarlane would not talk for
pubhcation, as he was too busy caring for the
men. As he came up the slope for q moment
ne had just time to say: Their story will all be
gladly given you later IL you only give us time
now to make use Of the means that generous
Providence has placed at our disposal to bring
the men around again to life."
xNocKINas HEARD By THE REscuERs.
Ats o'clock tonight the leaders of the rescu-
ing party heard sounds from an abandoned por-
ton of the mine. The sounds seemed caused
by knocking or tapping against the rib, and the
experienced miners were positive nothing but
human power could cause them. Further in
vestigation proved that the sounds were made
by some OF the imprisoned men and that four
OF them still lived. It was some time before
the rescuers could overcome their establishment
and bring themselves to o sense Of action.
Steps to reach the imprisoned men were taken,
but il was found that the black damp, which
was present in large quantities, prevented the
rescuers from pressing forward. Means for
brushing out this impure air had then to be
constructed, while the report Of finding some
OF the men alive was quickly dispatched TO the
surface and nourishment taken down by physi-
cians.
AT 10 O'Clock the exploring party had got 20
near the Imprisoned men AZ to be enabled to
converse with them. The voice heard was dis
tinguished ~ that Of Joseph Matuskowitz, bet
ter known as big Joe." The men were located
in an overhead passageway and could not posi-
bly, be reached until the foul gases could be
moved. Every effort was exerted and prepara-
tons for receiving them were made. The rap
ping continued and grew more distinct as the
rescucrs were enabled to proceed farther. At
10 o'clock they had got near enough to speak
with Matuskowitz, from whom. it was learned
three others were with him and still alive.
The astonishing information WIS received by
the rescuers with Joy and they could scarcely
control themselves from rushing into the
deadly black damp. It was at 10 o'clock ON
Wednesday morning, February 4, they were
imprisoned by a large volume Of water rushing
in from an abandoned working, and they were
there from that moment until II O'Clock Last
NIGHT