The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1892-01-15

= Terrible Explosion IN = Crowded G00I
Nin~- Pour naudr~d Liv~s s@periied.
~ Whom Only On~ Hundred and bifty
E~~ap~d tniary-Ihe Others KILLED ~
InJnr~d The 1 ~nal nearsFen<1ing scenes
Aronnd the fit-
SorTm NcAfrisTrR l. T.. Ian s.
The horrors Of the Diamond disaster at
WAS re-enacted here last night. and To-
day. except that ia this instance. fire
instead % fiood was the instrument II
destruction. As the miners were pre-
pairing "a leave shaft No. II NJ krcbhs.
miles FROM here. operated by the
Usage Coal and Mining Co.. shortly
after o'clock last evening. y
terrific explosion occurred spread
ing death among the 900 or more
miners at work. II Is impossible
NJ present 10 obtain any accurate i'm
formation as 20 the number II the
lives lost or persons injured. but i is
known that at least 100 men are en-
tombed in the mine and il j. only pos
sible Ia ascertain their number by =
canvass from house Ia house. which Is
being made by a committee appointed
for the purpose II Is generally con-
ccdcd that the dead will number close
10 100. and the injured about a. many.
a great number Of whom have no pros
pect Of recovery.
Physicians Of the neighboring towns
and cities have rendered their services
and are worked to their utmost in car
ing for the injured Miners from neigh
boring coal fields have fockrd in by
every train during the day and night.
rendering their assistance and heroic
ally volunteering 10 enter the gloomy
shaft in which 50 many Of their com
radcs have persisted. and in which per-
haps death even awaited them on nc
count of the loosened boulders. which
the shock Of the explosion left upon
fmsy balance. and which breath q
air might prccipitate upon them
The NcAllister mines dot the prairie
at intervals for . quarter Of mile.
and each Is surrounded by the usual
cluster Of novels which serve the pur-
pose Of homes 70 the miners These
homes present q pathetic picture 10 :
day There is not one 81 them which
does not mourn the loss Of either mcs1-
Der or friend. Those who have re-
covered their dead. though their agony
is pictured in their faces. seem 10 ex-
perience silent content in comparison
with the many who are still thronging
around the mouth 81 the dismal hole
awaiting tidings Of the loved ones who
are still enfombed-
Very little has been accomplished to-
L. - .T
NAV still be alive and hemnred in by
falling walls II is probable that
week will elapse before the men can be
reached Many Of them no doubt. are
still alive. hut they are shut on from
cgreSs and must remain 50 until they
can be reached bv outside help.
The exact cause Of the catastrophe Is
unknown. but it is supposed that. con-
trarv 70 the custom and rule II the
mines. some miner fired blast without
authority. the blast igniting either the
gas or coal dust and causing the ex-
plosion. which was terrific Ore ~ the
hosting cages had inst cor.se 10 the
surface with six men aboard A. the
last man stepped from the platform.
the cage. propelled hy the explosion.
blew mp through the roof fifty or sixty
feet above. while .he flames went sky
ward a hundred or more feet followed
by a report which was heard for miles
Nearly half the men employed in the
mine escaped by climbing the air
shaft One man whose leg was broken
hy the explosion climbed tbs. entire so
feet 10 the top ~ the shaft Others
climbed whose flesh was 50 badly
burned that II would strip from their
hands a. they cin>ped the las;dr-s One
father started his son t. the top on the
last cage. landing him safely. while he
himself persisted ~ remaining behind
II j. difficult 20 identify the bodies a.
they are brought 10 the surface All
are blackened almost beyond r.cogni-
sion- while many are mangle-i and
charred u the extent that fragments ~
their clothing or contents ~ their
pockets alone serve 10 prove their
identity.
There were about 400 men NJ work
and as near a. can be a~certain~d about
$50 ~ them escaped injury. while the
others are either imprisoned or have
hNtn ufehEhN NJ nrAh "r iulNr"n f.rrI
trip If the cage brings 10 light new
victim. which the volunteers carefully
carry - the mine blacksmith shop.
which has been utilized rs temporary
morgue. and through which the anx-
ions crowds ~ miners wives and chill
dren surge in search of the absent
Members OF their families
No arrangements have been made as
20 funerals. The different secret or
CARNATIONS have posted notices calling
special meetings for tonight. when ar
engagements will IT, made for appro-
pirate services for all the dead
The Proposal 10 E~furn the Captured
American War ship President
LoSnoS Ian. 81 high official ~
III. n.fstnsrnf-x - - s-.s.~.s-.