St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-05-11

SEATTLE, WaSh., May lO.-A special
to the Post-Intelligencer from RoslYn.
WASH, says this afternoon terrible
gas explosion occurred in Mine No. 2
of the Northern Pacific Coal company at
that point, in which the loss of life has
exceeded that in number. OF any other
disaster that has ever been chronicled
in the Northwest. The exact nature of
the explosion or circumstances that led
to it will probably never be known,
since it is believed that every miner who
was at work in the slope at the time has
perished.
1t is not definitely known how many
men we're in the vicinity of the disaster,
but it is believed that between forty
and fifty were on the three levels that
were affected by the explosion. A
large relief force is at work, and at
this time several bodies have been
recovered. These men were working
nearest to the openings ,and at some dis
tance from the point where it is sup
posed the explosion occurred. Most of
the men were 1900 and 1900 feet farther
in the slope, and in the immediate vi
cinity of the accident.
There is no doubt either in the minds
of the miners or the company officials
that every man was instantly killed.
The Roslyn is one of the largest mines
in the state, supplying Western divis-
ions of the Northern Pacific and Union
Pacific railroads with coal, and has ca
pacity of 10000 tons day. The eX-
plosion occurred just as two gangs were
shifting at 1 80 o'clock. The cause of it
is not known. Two boys who were in
the tunnel escaped. but they are the
only ones from either gang so far re-
covered.
The Bodies May Burn.
: Reports so far received indicate that
the explosion has closed up the shaft.
that the mine is on fire and that it is
impossible to recover the bodies. The
company will forward forty coffins
from here by midnight train. The re-
port of the explosion was heard all
over the town, mile distant.
The mouth of the slope was soon
surrounded by an anxious crowd, which
grew in size every minute. A hard rain
was pouring down, but the crowd
needed it not. The number of men in
the slope was not actually known. but
it was said to be from forty-four to fifty.
There is scarcely possibility that one
of them escaped death.
One body vas recovered in about two
hours, another an hour later, two more
at 7:30.
All are terribly bruised. and indicate
that death was instantaneous. The
lower floor of the city hall has been
converted into morgue. The
sad feature of the disaster is
that large proportion of
the victims leave large families
and as they had not had to exceed two
days work per week during the past
year, many of them are in Strengthened
circumstances. The scenes about the
mouth of the slope were sad in the ex-
treme. Men, women and children are
standing about in a dazed condition,
and pitifully lamenting negroes add to
the horror.
Roll of the Dead.
Following is an authenticated list of
the men who we're at work on the three
levels that were affected, and their con-
dition as 10 bsing single or married
men.
THOMAS HOLMES. married.
JOHN FOSTER. wife and baby.
PHILIP Dawes, large family.
THOMAS ERES, large family.
; JOHN REES.
WILL ROBINSON wife and baby.
ROBERT GRAHAM, wife and TWO chill
dren.
GEORGE MOSES, leaves an orphan son
ten years old.
A. POLLARD (colored), married.
JACK FERGUSON, large family.
GEORGE BROOKS, family at Streator. Ill.
JOSEPH ELLIS SWORTH Sr., large family.
JOSEPH ELLSWORTH Jr.
JOHN LAFFERTY, single, aged sixty-fye;
owner of considerable property.
DAN MCCLELLAN, wife and three chill
dren.
8 RICHARD FORSYTHE, family.
: GEORGE FORSYTHE. son of above, single.
4. B. COOPER, married.
LIZZIE JACK SON (eolored), married.