Evening journal., 1891-11-09
EIGHT DEAD IN A mine.
Killed by a Gas Explosion at
Nanticoke, Pa.
SIX OTHERS ARE BADLY INJURED.

Women and Children waiIlng and Wiring
Ing Their Hands at the Mouth OF the
shaft-Bodiss of the Dead and wounded
Terribly MangIed and Torn.
NANTIcoKE, Nov. Eight dead and
six seriously If not fatally injured. That
is brief description of the havoc wrought
by the latest Pennsylvania mining horror
Shaft No. l, Of the Susquehanna Coal com
pany's mine at Nanticoke, is the scene OF
those pitiful sights only too familiar by
their frequent repetition, excited throngs
at the shafts mouth, bruised, battered
and lifeless bodies, wailing widows and
fatherless children. The disaster was
caused by the ignition of a quantity OF
gas that collected in the shaft, exploded
with frightful force mangling and tearing
in pieces the bodies Of the unfortunate
men at work in the mine.
Cause of the Explosion.
1t was at first thought that the accident
was caused by the explosion Of safety
lamp, the flame from which lighted the
deadly vapors, but the lamp explosion
theory is generally disbelieved The gas
was undoubtedly ignited by naked light
in the hands OF some one Of the men.
Names of the Dead.
Following are the names of the dead:
William j. Williams, fifty years old
leaves a widow and four children
Henry r. Jones, town clerk Of Nanti
coke, fire boss forty years old; widow and
two children.
William Jonathan, thirty-six years old;
widow and four children.
John Arnott, forty years old; widow and
four children.
Caleb Jething, thirty years old; widow
and four children.
Thomas Lloyd driver, eighteen years
old.
David A. Smith, twenty-seven years old;
Henry Williams.
The critically injured are David Powell,
thirty-two years old; Thomas Thomas
nineteen years old; Howell Jofhenski, d.
w. Evans and two Poles, names unknown
Pitiful Scenes at the Shaft.
When the news of the disaster reached
this town there was great excitement, as
it was feared many had been killed, and
the relatives aud friends of those known
to be employed in the mine hocked to the
scene. While they waited for newe from
the shaft the scene was narrowing in the
extreme. Women and children ran hither
and thither, wringing their hands, wall
ing and weeping and seeking news aud
/ sympathy from relatives and acuuaint
ances in the crowd. 1t was soon learned
| that there were but fourteen men at work
/ in the mine at the time Of the explosion.
These were all either killed or badly hurt.
The injured were in such condition that
they could not be removed from the mine,
and it Is feared all will die. The damage
to the mine viii reach S20,00O
The story Of the Accident.
A party of men went down the main
shaft of the mine at noon and through
half a mile of workings to near what Is
known as the new shaft They were under
Inside Boss William j. Williams, and
were to break an opening through from
the old workings into new shaft lately
sunk TO establish an air current The gas
was very thick, as there was no opening
for the current.
About 4 o'clock one of the men, Daniel
James, noticed that the safety lamps were
getting full"
Look at the lampsp' he shouted.
The next instant there was a fash and a
roar, and James knew no more until he
recovered consciousness at his home.
He Was a Horrible Sight.
Although the scene Of the accident was
half mile from the foot of the new shaft.
the men working there heard the explo-
sion and felt the shock. They knew what
had occurred, and one Of them was dis
patched for oil, stretchers and safety
lamps. Then six men set out through the
workings
A quarter of mile from the scene Of the
explosion they met Joe Chqsbruski, Po-
lander. he was horrible sight the skin
on his face, neck and hands having been
so frtghtfully burned that It hung in
shreds. he was very weak and had crawled
part OF the way on his hands and knees.
The flesh on his fingers was torn away
until the bone protruded. When the res
cuers reached the spot where the explosion
occurred they found the victims scattered
in all directions, their bodies blackened,
their clothing tattered and matted with
blood. Huge timbers, cars and masses Of
coal had been thrown into every conceiy-
able position by the explosion
Fought with His Friends.
William J. Williams, the inside boss,
who was prominent man in the coal re-
gions, was taken home in a carriage Two
men held him, for he was conscious and
in the agony Of his pain kicked and fought
the men near him as they attempted to
hold him. He died as he was being taken
into the house. His back was so terribly
burned that nearly half of the backbone
was laid bare. Assistant General Super
intendent Reese believes the accident was
caused by the explosion of one of the safety
lamps. The men were all experienced
miners and every precaution was taken to
prevent accidents, he says. 1t was bad
place, being SO far away from the air shaft.
The Ninth Victim Dead.
A later report from the mine than the
above says Howell Jofhenski, another of
the wounded miners, is dead.
II has been definitely ascertained that
the explosion was caused by the attempt
OF one OF the miners to change the air cur
rent, during which his lamp exploded.