Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1891-01-28
TERRIBLE GAS EXPLOSION
OVER ONE HUNDRED MINERS
KILLED.
Narrowing Scenes at the Mouth
of the Mine Where the Tragedy
Occurred-Recalls the Dunbar
Tragedy.

ScoTTDALE, Pa, Jan. 2S.-An explos-
ion of fire damp occurred yesterday in
the shaft ofthe H. c. Frick Coke Co.
The after-damp which followed the ex-
plosion suffocated nearly every work
man who was not killed outright.
A few men realizing the awful situa-
tion, fell to the ground, thereby prevent
ing the gas from striking them. The per.
sons not killed are in such critical con-
ditisn that they are momentarily expec-
ted to dist The fire which broke out
after the explosion was soon extinguishcd
by immense fans which were put in oper-
alton. The gas was then driven from
the pit, and the work of recovering the
bodies commenced.
One hundred and seven bodies have
been taken from the ll-fated mine, no
one of Frick G. Co., at Mammoth. Up to
10 O'Clock this morning it is estimated
there remain at least seventeen more
victims OF the explosion still in the pit,
but it is thought all will be out in a few
hours.
Nobody slept at Mammoth last night.
In every home in the little mining hamlet
there was mourning, yet there was no
demonstration. Little one story houses,
scantily furnished, were illuminated with
talow candles. Mother, wife, sis.
ipr ,t 20,
They only knew that mysterious ac-
cident has befallen their kindred and
friends. They cannot see the dead
They have little care for their living
Theirgriet is deep and keen.
After the explosion yesterday the news
of the awful fate of the scores of miners at
work in the shafts spread rapidly among
the mines and miners homes. The cour-
iers carried the dreadful news hither and
thither and families dashed from the COM
forts OF home into the depths of grief
and despair.
Within an incredibly short time the
entrance to the shaft was surrounded
with the eager, anxious crowd of men,
women and children, some of whom
could with great difficulty, only, be kept
at safe distance. AS bodies of victims
mangled by the terrible force of the ex-
plosion or burned almost out of
human sembance, were brought from
the yawning depths the crowd OF
watchers pushed forward to the pit for
glimpse OF recognition. The hearts of
wives and sisters stood still in fear that
their loved ones were among the dead
The more disinterested ones quailed be.
fore the scene. Tears coursed down
bronzed and bearded cheeks and were
dashed away by brawny hands that had
swung the picks for many years.
The rescuing party proceeded with
their grim task and the crowd Of
watchers silently looked on. 1t was one
of those scenes which, once witnessed, re-
mains forever impressed upon the mem
ory of the spectator.
This catastrophe, while involving
more than five times the loss of life
occasioned by the Dunbar disaster,
differs in many respects from he lat
tet. At Dunbar the explosion set
fire to the mine and the shaft for days and
weeks was a roaring furnace, adding
horrors to the great fatality. In yester-
days occurrence this was not the case
and by the perfect working of the fan
pure air was forced into the mine and the
work of rescuing was permitted to begin
at once.
Fifty coffins arrived from Pittsburg
this morning and another half hundred
will reach tonight. An additional order
TOR twenty-five more was sent this NOR
ming. The cause of the explosion has
not yet been determined. The coroner is
on the grounds and thorough investi-
cation will be made. No arrangements
have yet been made for the funeral. The
victims will be buried by the company,
Many of the unfortunates are Ilungarl-
ans.