Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-09
100 LIVES GONE OUT
In the Awful Mine Explosion That
Buried 400 Poor Men Alive.
TERRIBLE SCENES AT THE SHAFT
When the Charred and Disfgured Are
Brought Up Tenderly.
LITTLE DONE IN TIE WAY OF RESCUE

| rsPEcIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATCH.t
| MCALLsTER, 1. T., Jan. S.-The town OF
Krebs, five miles from this place, was the
| scene yesterday evening of one of the most
appalling mining disasters on record, and
to-day there is mourning in almost every
household At 5:04 O'Clock, as the miners
employed in shaft Nc II, operated by the
Usage Coal and Mining Company, were pre-
pairing to ascend to the surface, terrific
explosion occurred, spreading death among
the 400 or more men in the mine.
1t is impossible at present to obtain any
accurate information as to the number of
lives lost or persons injured, but it is known
that at least 100 men are ensombed 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
appointed for that purpose. 1t is generally
conceded that the dead will number closely
to 100, and the injured about as many more,
a great many of whom have no prospect OF
| recovery.
Plenty of Help for the Injured.
Physicians from all the neighboring towns
and cities have rendered their services and
are working to their utmost in caring for
the injured. Miners from neighboring coal
fields have focked in by every train during
the night and day, rendering their assist
ance, and heroically volunteering to enter
the gloomy shaft in which so many of their
comrades have met their death, and in
which, perhaps, death even awaited them,
on account of loosened boulders, which the
explosion may have left upon flimsy balance,
and which breath of air might precipitate
upon them.
The McAllster mines dot the prairie at
intervals from a quarter to half mile, and
each is surrounded by the usual cluster of
novels which serve the purpose of homes to
the miners. These homes present pathetic
picture to-day. There is not one of them
which does not mourn the loss OF either
member or friend.
Little Done in the Way of Rescue.
Very little has been accomplished today
in the way OF relieving those who may still
be alive and hemmed in by falling walls. 1t
is probable that at least week will elapse
before all the men can be reached. Many
of them no doubt are still alive, but shut off
from eeress, and must remain until they can
be reached by outside help.
The exact cause of the catastrophe is un-
known, but it is supposed that, contrary to
the custom and rules of mines, some miner
had fired blast without warning or author
ity, the blast igniting either the accumu-
lated gas or coal dust, and causing the great
explosion, which was terrific. One of the
hoisting cages had Just come to the surface
with six men aboard. As the last man
stepped from the platform the cage, pro-
PEELED by the explosion, shot up through
the roof of the tower, some 80 or 60 feet
above, while flames shot skyward 100, 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 by the ex-
plosion, climbed the entire 450 feet to the
top of the shaft. Others climbed to the top
whose flesh was so badly burned that it
would strip from their hands as they clasped
the ladders. A father started his son to the
top on the last cage, landing him safely,
while he himself perished by remaining be-
hind.
Z List of the Recognized Dead.
1t lis difficult to identify the bodies as they
are brought to the surface. All are black
ened almost beyond recognition, while
that fragments of their clothing or contents
of their pockets alone serve to prove their
identity. The dead as far as they have been
identified are:
George Sunsay. Sr., Bennett Mass,
George Lindsay, ST., Joe Corkonts,
George Lindsay,Jr., Antonio Gennessot,
William Russell, Tommy Cain,
Mike Jacomo, Joe Rocco,
Ted Blondon, John Quinn,
Joe Blondon, Jim Quinn,
John Sierra, Matlock Quinn,
Joe Gennessio, Mike McShane,
Steve Verzene. Tom McShane,