The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-05-14
DIED IN A WATER-SPOUT.
PRoBABLY 4 HUNDRED LIVES LOST.
Hungarian Mine PILED with Laborers
Dsiuged bv Mighty Flood of Water.
The Work of Rescue.

VIENNA, May 13.-Dispatches from Fuenf-
kirchen. in Hungary. say that water-spout
burst over the mines near tho city to-day.
and flooded them, and that between eighty
and hundred miners il not more, have been
drowned.
The food came shortly after noon. An
hour before the water-spout burst the wind.
which had been from the south, shifted to
the east and drove up over the mountains q
huge mass Of clouds The clouds were
whirled along the crest Of the noun
ta.ns by the wind, which rose to a gale until
over the mountains skirting the coal fields on
the north they had assumed the form OF an
enormous cone with It's apex almost resting
on the mountain tops. The men at the
mouth Of the pit ceased work aud two gangs
Of men from the pi1 nearest the mountain
became alarmed aud refused to descend.
They started for their homes 20 wait for the
storm 20 blow over. Suddenly the wind
shifted 20 the north the darkness increased,
aud the cone swept directly over tue col
lieries
DEATH AND DELUGF.
Il burst moment later and the water came
down IN q deluge sweeping the men from
their feet wrecking the shantes and
pouring IN floods DOWN the shafts. Large
buildings were swept lr m their foundations
the roofs were crushed Ia and furniture and
tools were carried through the shattered
doors and windows by the wind and water.
Several men standing at the pit entrance dis
appeared IN tie first rush OF tue Hood, and
are supposed TO have been carried down the
shaft with the water and wreckage.
In the mines the full force OF men were at
work. The total number IS said 10 apprOxl-
mate 300 or 400. They had absolutely no
warning Of the coming disaster. rs tho
men on the surface had refused 30
descend after tho water spout had
began forming. The lower galleries in sey-
eral mines are said 90 have been completely
flooded, although the water did not rise to
the upper galleries. In one PIT there are flf-
teen dead in another seven IN another nine
In other pits tho wood work and sides were
50 l0osened by the falling water and
debris that no careful examination has been
made and the details OF the loss are not u DO
ascertained. The volume oil water broke with
o rushing report that alarmed tho whole city,
and within thirty minutes thousands oil men
and women wero hurrying out to tho scene
of destruction.
TIE WORK OF RESCUE.
Volunteers were called for at oil the pits.
and men from the night shifts were
sent down the shafts 10 rescue their
comrades. The first descent WIS made in tho
mine whore about fifteen men were at
work on the lowest level. The men IN the
upper galleries were found unlnlurod and
were carried 10 tho top. Nobody IN the
lower gallery was alive 20 tell the story
OF the disaster. The niue was flooded
AZ that level aud several bodies were
found floating in the water and were sent up.
No more can be done before the pumping out
of the mine. Ii is reported that the numoor
OF dead in this mine may reach
twenty. At another pit the entrance OF
the lowest gallery was under water ana
10 bodies could be found. On tins level at
least seven men were at work. u Is the pit
where the miners refused 10 20 down when
they cav the Water-sp0nt coming ARD fnefe-
fore bns one-third the usual number were
at work. In the pit where nine men are known
20 have been lost there may DO twenty or
thirty more dead. for the water rushed into
the lowest two galleries. 10 completely sub
merged the lowest gallery, drowning every
soul there In the other gallery no inYeStl-
cation has been made.
THE REscUERs ~ DANGER.
Although the water in it IS but two
feet deep tho timbers were moved or
shattered by the force OF the incoming
food and wreck. so that the rescue party
fears TO enter. Whether all or
only q few we're killed will not be
known before tomorrow. Atother shafts the
number of dead is estimated all the way from
ten to forty. The whole mining colony IS IL
the field tonight awaiting the results
Of the work Of rescue Women are
sleeping with the children on the wet
ground The authorities of Fuenfkirchen
have sent out fuel and food and big fires have
been built near the shaft entrance.
Tho department Of the interior
has received dispatches hourly
rs TO the progress Of the work md they have
been communicated s. the Emperor. An I'm.
perial courier has been dispatched D. tuen-
fkirchen with the Emperor contribution for
tho relief OF the most pressing wants Of the
stricken families.