Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-08-28
HORRIBLE,MINE EXPLOSION.
Thirty-Eight Men Taken Ont OF the
MIne-Scenes at the Pit Mouth.

Thirty-Eight Men taken Out Oh the
MIne-Scenes at the Pit Mouth.
LONDON, August 27.-All night long
the volunteer parties kept up their
work at the Park Slip pit, the scene OF
the disastrous explosion at Bridged,
Wales, yesterday. They worked with
a will, and removed an enormous guam
tity of debris from the mine.
At six this morning they had pene-
trated 900 yards into the main shaft.
In all this distance not a sign OF lie
was discovered, but here and there the
body OF a miner was found, the atti-
tudes showing how suddenly death had
come to them. Some OF the men had
died In the very act Of sinking their
picks. Ten bodies were recovered OF
men who did not have seconds warn
ing of the fate hanging over them. All
who were killed in this locality, how
ever, had not met with instant death.
The bodies of two miners were found
who had apparently made frantic efforts
to escape from the pit. They had been
frustrated by the falling rock OF the
mine and their bodies were terribly
mutIated.
The rescuers are divided into two re-
lays. It is impossible for any Of the
volunteers to work tor any length OF
time as the mine is filled with alter
damp. The rescuers are showing the
effects OF the heavy work they have
done since yesterday, but they work
with untlagging energy.
1t is thought the bodies OF men who
were working in the inner receSses OF
the mine will never be recovered.
NooN-A dispatch just received from
Bridgend, sent later than the above
SAYS while band OF the rescuers
were working their way further into
the pit sound was heard that caused
the men to suddenly suspend opera
tlons. Eagerly listening, they awaited
a repetition OF the noise. Soon 1t
came, low and weak, but in sufficient
volume 10 make the rescuers know
that somebody behind the fallen rock
and earth was alive. With hearty
cheer in response the rescuers again
bent to their task with renewed energy.
Word was passed to the pit mouth, and
soon the welcome intelligence spread
around the district that some OF the
Imprisoned miners were yet hliVe, and
that they would be saved.
In a short time there was a scene OF
the widest excitement about the pit
mouth. Women and children, who
had stood about all day yesterday walt
ing to see II the bodies OF husbands and
fathers would be brought to the sur
face, ran to the pit, and In eager,
strained voices, asked the officials II
the news was true. When assured that
some OF the men were surely alive, the
scene was about as affecting as that Of
yesterday when everybody believed
that all had met their death.
Far below the surface Of the ground
the sturdy rescuers continued their diff
fcult task. Slowly they dug their way
forward, careful that the debris did not
fall upon them. At last they determin-
ed to change their mode Of operating,
and to dig sort Of tunnel. Some
times lying fat on their stomachs they
advanced while those behind kept the
tunnel clear. For many yards they thus
dug forward, cheered and encouraged
by the sounds heard now and then,
showing the survivors knew they were
approaching.
At last the separating bank OF rock
and earth fell inward and the rescuers,
still crawling, entered an open space in
which were huddled together a number
OF the miners who had been imprisoned
since yesterday morning. II was as
though the grave had given up its dead.
The rescuers found that most OF their
comrades had been badly injured and
burned. So serious indeed IL their con-
dition that special arrangements will
have 10 be made to get them from the
pit Appliances are being hastily pre-
pared TO raise the saved men from the
pit.
The after-damp is so bad that the
work OF rescue is often retarded, the
volunteers being driven out OF the ex-
cavations until the air improves. II Is
said that some Of the imprisoned men
were unconscious when found and 9TH
ers were in a dazed condition. IL Is
needless to say that everything possible
is being done, not only TO revive the liv-
ing but 10 recover the bodies OF the
dead.
At 1:3O o'clock this afternoon another
dispatch was received from Bridgeend
stating that thirty-nine OF the i'm
prisoned miners bad been rescued and
brought 10 the pit head. The scene
when they reached the surface was in
iescribable. When they were recognized
by their wives, mothers, sweethearts
the were frantically embraced and
kissed again and again. Their arrival
at the surface, though It brought JOY
to many hearts, brought deep sorrow
aud despair to others. 1t was painful
to witness the looks OF hopeless and de-
spair on the faces OF some OF the women
and children when they saw their bus
bands and fathers were among the
rescued