The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1892-05-18
KILLED INA COAL NINE.
MANY MINERS MEET QUICK
DEATH.
Fearful Result of an Explosion In Coal
Mine ut RosIyn. Washington--Sad Scenes
Following the MISUNDERSTANDING the
Dead.



The most horrible explosion ever
known in the Pacific Northwest occurred
at the coal mines of the Northern Pa
cific Railroad Company at Roslyn,
small town about four miles from the
main line of the Northern Pacific, 107
miles from Tacoma. At least AZ men
are believed to have been killed. Ex-
element in the town borders on state
of frenzy and has extended throughout
the State. Nothing like it has ever been
known anywhere in that portion OF the
country, and from all parts OF the State
news of intense interest in the matter
is being received.
Many dead bodies, according to a
dispatch, have already been taken out.
and hundreds OF people have gathered
around the scene of the accident;
wives and children Ct buried men are at
the mouth of the mine and acting like
maIliacs in their terrible distress.
Every body that has been taken out up
to this time is terribly disflgured and
many OF those buried have been
crushed beyond recognition. Some are
horrible masses Of flesh without trace
of their identity left, while many OF the
unfortunate men are believed to have
been blown to atoms.
Nearly all of the men were married
and large number of them had large
families.
1t is thought that the explosion took
place when the men were changing
shifts. The conclusion shook the
ground perceptibly and the noise was
heard long distance. Smoke belched
from the shaft almost Immediately,
showing that the mine had taken fire.
All the inhabitants of Roslyn were on
the grounds in an incredibly short space
of time, and the friends and relatives Of
the men known to have been in the
slope crowded about the mouth of the
mine, the women and children crying
and the men wringing their hands in
helplessneSs. Ropes were stretched TO
keep the people back, and a rescuing
party was hastily formed. In their
grief many of the men acted like mani
acs, and as che body after another, each
horribly mutilated, was brought out the
wild EXPLANATIONS of horror and sorrow
were terrifying. At midnight seven
bodies had been recovered, some OF
them crushed beyond recognition, and it
was known that none of the entombed
men were alive. Thirty-three of the
dead were married men and had fami-
lies who swarmed about the opening OF
the tunnel, hoping against knowledge
of their loss. While the wives and chill
dren of the victims waited for the rescue
of the bodies car load of collins, sent
from Tacoma by special train, was I'M
loaded, and the cofiiI were laid side by
side near the tunnel awaiting occupants.
If anything could add to the horror Of
the situation it is the fact that most of
the families Of the dead are in destitute
circumstances. For several weeks the
camp has been dull on account of the
light demand for coal, and as few Of the
men were provident, it is feared that
much suffering will be experienced un-
less aid from elsewhere is sent.
When the work of rescue began it was
found that the entire interior of the
mine was clogged with debris, and
nothing could be done until a new air
shaft could be put in. Deadly fumes
issuing from the mine stiiled all
who entered, When the third level
Of the slope had been reached and
several bodies had been found, badly
mangled and blackened, the presence OF
a small fire which was roasting some of
the corpses was noticed. This gave rise
to the belief that the explosion was
caused by fire in the mine. Manager John
Kangley, formerly of Illinois, says the
gas accumulated in the slope where new
levels were being driven and before
connections were made with the air
shaft the exposure of damp to a blast or
match could have caused the explOsic n l..
Inspectors were continually on guard in
the mine and reported no accumulation
Of gas on the levels and Kangley says
IL will probably never be known exactly
what caused the explosion