The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1891-11-09
KILLED IN A SHAFT
Eight Miners Meet Awful
Deaths at NanticOkc, Pa.
SIX OTHERS FATALLY HURT
The Explosion of a Safety Lamp Oause ed
M the Terrible Disaster
SIX OTHERS FATALLY HURT

A Band Of Rcscuors Came Near Meeting
the Same Fate -Hoartrending scanes at
the Mouth of the Mine Horrible APP
psnruuce of the Corpses Another
Theory Of the Accident.
NANucoKE Pa, Nov. "a terrible
explosion OF gas occurred yesterday af-
ternoon in No. 1 shaft Of the Susque-
hanna Coal Company's mine, causing
the instant death of eight men and so
badly burning and injuring several
others that is feared they will die The
KILLED are;
WILLIAM j. WILLIAMS, 80 years old,
leaves wife and four children.
PERRY r. JONES, Town Clerk Of Nan
ticoke fire boss, 40 years old, wife and
two children.
WILLIAM JONATHAN, 86 years old,
wife and four children.
john ARNorr, 40 years old, wife and
four children
CALEB JEruNo, 30 years old, wife and
four children
Thomas LLOYD driver IS years old.
DAVID L. SMITH, 81 years old.
HENRY WILLIAMS.
The critically wounded are; David
Po0 ell, 30 years old; Thomas Thomas,
10 years old; Henry Williams, d. w
Evans, Howell Jofheuski, a polauder;
two Polauders, names unknown
When the news of the disaster reached
this town, there was great excitement,
as it was feared many had been killed,
and the relatives and friends of those
known to be employed in the mine
Cd 20 ygrai
ed for news from the shaft the SC enc
was narrowing in the extreme
Women and children ran hither and
thitler, wriugiuR their hands, wailing
and weeping and seeking news and sym
pathy from relatives and acquaiutances
i'm the crowd. 10 was soon learned that,
owing TO the fact that it was Sunday,
there were but fourteen men at work in
the mine at the time Of the explosion.
The smell of the fatal after damp that
found it's way to the surface only added
to the fever of suspense and all these
anxious ones could do was to wait.
The officials OF the mine soon had a
banG of brave volunteers together, and
after the engines were set in motion
ahese heroes entered the subterranean
caverns.
They grouped their way through the
darkness, fearful that they might be
overcome by the after damp, or that
they might encounter another body of
pas that might have accumulated be-
Cause of a stoppage of the air current
Soon they came upon their fellow work
men aud horrible scene it was
b One by one the unfortunate men were
4enderly lifted and carried to the foot of
the shaft and were hoisted to the sur
face.
Then scenes were enacted that moved
the hearts of the stoutest men; scenes
that are witnessed only when the death
angel stalks merCilessly abroad in coal
mine.
Ambulances we're soon on hand and
some of the men were taken to their
homes Others were carried there on
stretchers
Some of the corpses presented a hor-
rible appearance, the flesh hanging by
shreds to the bones and the features dis
torted beyond the possibility of recognt-
tion. Those who are still living are not
in much better condition aud their death
Is hourly expected.
One Of the resCuing party told thrill
ing story of the search for the victims.
They nearly lost their way in the dark
ness, and they felt the gas and aftel
damp coming upon them.
Some OF them were growing Ialnt Anu
could go no farther when they provi
dentially found the air current and
were saved from fate as horrible as
1hat met by those for whom they were
searching. They Hgroped their way
through the wrecked cars and debris
until they came upon the mangleC
bodies Of the men.
They gathered the mutilated remaini
together and cared for the injured, thel
carried them as speedily as possible t
the frantic wives and children above.
These were all either killed or badi!
hurt. The injured were in such con
dition that they could not be removed
from the mine and it is feared all will
die
The accident was at first thought t.
have been caused by the explosion Of
safety lamp the flames of which ignlte
a quantity Of gas which had formed il
the shaft
1t is now thought that the gas wa
ignited by naked light in the han d
of some one of tho men.
The damage to the mine will reac
$50, 600.
Shot During HrRwI.
PHuLIPsBURG, Pa, Nov. 0-John ant
Andrew Campbell, with six othe
q