Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1891-11-12
DEATH I'M THE MINES.
Terrible Explosion of Gas in a
Shaft at NantiCoke.
TWELVE OUT OF FOURTEEN MINERS
ARE KILLED SUDDENLY ON
SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

Nanticoke, the scene of so many
horrible mine catastrophes in past years,
startled the coal fields again this week
with another disaster. Sunday after.
noon fourteen men went down the shaft
at No. | colliery of the Susduehanna
Coal Company. About one hour after
ward terrible explosion of gas took
place, and happy wives and children
were made widows and orphans in less
time that it takes to tell it.
The explosion was caused by the
bursting of safety lamp, the flame of
which ignited the gas. The existence of
this element had become known, and
the safety lamp was being used by the
men during their operations.
The mine, which is one of the best
operated by the Susquehanna Coal Com
pany, is not seriously damaged.
The scenes about the mouth of the
shaft We're heart-rending. As soon as
the news of the explosion was nosed
about town, the wives and children of
the men who were imprisoned gathered
about the opening. searching party
was organized as soon as possible, and
the men went down the mine to rescue
their fellowworkmen. They had strug-
gled with the dangerous after-damp, and
after almost losing themselves cropping
about in the dark came upon the bodies
of the victims
The force of the explosion had dashed
to splinters several cars standing on the
tracks, and the victims had been dashed
against the walls of the mine. Some
were beheaded and others sdisemboweled.
1t was fearful spectacle.
The list of the dead is as follows
Henry r. Jones, fire boss, aged 80,
married, two children.
John Atnold, fire boss, aged 81, mar
ried, three children.
William Jonathan, fire boss, aged So,
married, three children.
Joseph Krabosby, laborer, aged %,
married, three children.
Thomas Lloyd, runner, aged %, single,
David A. Smith, miner, aged 80, mar
ried, one child.
Thomas Powell, laborer, aged SO, mar
ried
Caleb Gething, mason, aged 80, mar
ried, six children.
William J. Williams, Sr., inside boss,
aged 40, married, three children.
William j. Williams, Jr., son of the
above, aged %, single
Thomas Il. Thomas, brattice man,
aged IS, single.
Edward d. Williams, brattce man,
aged 27, married, three children.
Eight of the above men where instant
ly killed, one died at noon on Monday
and three the following afternoon.
Mrs. William j. " Nilliams, whose hus-
band and son were killed, died on Tues
day from the shock she received by their
deaths.
The men were all experienced miners
end every precaution was taken to pre-
vent accidents. They were under the
superintendentship of inside boss VIM.
j. Williams. They were to break an
opening through from the old workings
to a new shaft lately sunk, to establish
an air current. The gas was very thick
; around the place, as there was no open
ing for the current. Great precauton
\ was taken to guard against an explosion
\ William j. Williams, the inside boss,
prominent man known throughout the
coal regions, was taken home in a car
riage. Two men held him as he was
conscious and in the agony of his pain
kicked and fought the men near him as
they attempted to hold him. The burn
. ed flesh would come off in their hands
and his bones would be exposed. He
died as he was being taken into the
house. His back was so terribly burnt
that nearly half of the backbone was
laid bare.