Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-01-09
ONE HUNDRED DEAD
Awful Story of the Horror in
Indian Territory.
THE BLAST OF DEATH AND HAVOC
Sends Five Score o. More Men to
Eternity and Wounds as
Many Others.

The Wounded FriChtfully Manglsd and
Scorched and Most of Them Fatally
Hurt-t orty-Eisht Corpses Brought Up
from the Pit, Many of Them Nutilated
Past Recncnition--Score of Mourning
Households in the Community - The
work Of B"rovcry Very Slow and the
neath-RoIl Not N.t COmplete-other
Fatal Disasters.
ScUTH MCALIiSTER, I. T., Jan. 9-The
horrors OF the Diamond mine disaster at
BrGidwood, Ill, about eight years ago,
were re-enacted here Thursday night and
Yesterday, except that in this instance,
titt instead OF food was the instrument of
destruction. As the miners were prepar-
ing to leave shaft No. II at Krebs, five
miles from here, operated by the Usage
Cual and Mining company, shortly after
o'clock Thursday evening, a terrific eX-
piosion occurred, spreading death among
400 or more miners. 1t is impossible at
present 20 obtain any accurate information
as the number of lives lost or persons in
jnred, but it i known that at least 100
men were entomhcd in the mine, and it is
only possible to ascertain their number by
a canvass from house to house. which is
being made by committee.
Two Hundred Dead and Wounded.
The dead, it is generally conceded, will
number close 20 100 and the injured about
as many, a great number OF whom have no
prospect of recovery. Physicians from the
ncighboring towns and cities have rendered
their services, and are worked to their ut
most il caring for the injured. Miners
from neigh hboring coal fields have fiocked
in by every train during the night and
day, rendering their assistance and hero
ically volunteering to enter the gloomy
shaft in which so many Of their comrades
have perishcd. and in which perhaps death
even awaited them on account IF the loos-
ened boulders which the shock Of the eN-
7Iosion left upon a fiimsy balance, and
which breath Of air might precipitate
upon them.
Mourning in Many II umbie Homes.
The McAllister mines dot the prairie
| at intervals from a quarter to half n
mile and each is suToundered by the
usual cluster Of novels which serve the pur-
| pose Of homes to the miners. These homes
present pathetic picture today. There Is
not one Of them which does not mourn
| the loss Of either member or friend.
! Those who have recovered their dead,
! though their agony is pictured in their
faces. SEE med to experience silent con
! tent in comparison with the many who
! are stiIl thronEing around the mouth Of
! the dismal hole awaiting tidings of the
! loved ones who are still entombed. Very
! little has been accomplished in the way Of
! relieving those who may stil be alive and
hemme1 in.
! Cause of the Disaster Unknown.
! The exact cause OF the catastrophe is un-
/ known. but it is supposed that, contrary
! to the custom and rules Of the mines
/ some miner fred a blast without author
| ity, the blast igniting the gas or coal dust
/ and causing the explosion, which was ter
! rife. One Of the hosting cages had Just
/ come 70 the surface with SIX men aboard.
! A. the last man stepped from the platform
! the cage, propelled by the explosion, shot
/ mp through the roof fifty or sixty feet
above, while the flames went skywaTd
/ 100 OF more feet. followed by a report
whc4 was heard for miles Nearly half
( the Len employed in the mine escaped by
/ climbing the air shaft. One man. whose
/ leg was broken by the eHp4osiun, climbed
the entire $50 feet to the top of the shaft.