Morris tribune., 1892-01-13
OVER A HUNDRED DRAD.
TERRIBLE MINE EXPLOSION IN the
INDIAN TERRITORY.

At Least 400 Miners Were at WsSk
When the Explosion Occurred - The
Number of Dead Placed at 100, While
As Many More Are Stin Entombsds
Shaft.
SOUTH McALLIsTER, I. T., Jan. g.
The horrors of the mine disaster at
shaft No. II, of the Usage Coal and
Mining company at Krebs, FIVE miles
from here, is much worse than at first
reported. At least 400 miners were ct
work ut the time the explosion occurred.
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 still en-
tombed in the mine, while it is gener-
ally conceded that the dead now number
close to 100 and the injured about as
many moro, great many Of whom
have no prospect of recovery. Physi-
clans from the neighboring towns and
cities have rendered their services and
are worked to their utmost in caring for
the injured. Miners from neighboring
coal fields have focked in by every
train during the night and day, tender
ing their assistance and heroically vol
unteering to enter the gloomy shaft in
which SO many of their comrades have
persisted, and in which perhaps death
even awaited them on account Of th .
loosened boulders which the shock T
the explosion left upon a fimsy balano >
and which a breath of air might pro :
oipitate upon them.
The MeA,fister Mines
dot the prairies at intervals from .
quarter to half a mile and each is sur
rounded by the usual cluster of novels
which serve the purpose of homes to
the minors. These homes present
pathetic picture. There is not one of
them which does not mourn the loss of
either member or friend. Those who
have recovered their dead, though their
agony is pictured in their faces, see N to
experience silent content in COM pari-
son with the many who are still thr ong-
ing around the mouth of the dis mal
hole awaiting the tidings of loved ones
who are still eatombed. Very little. has )
been accomplished by way of relie ving
those who may still be alive and hen !met
in by falling walls. 1t is probable tha
a week will elapse before all the me
can be reached. Many of the1n n ,
doubt are still alive, but they are shu t
off from egress and must remain 50 un
til they can be reached by outside help
The Cause of the Catastrophe
is unknown, but it is supposed that ctm.
trary to the custom and rules of tins
mines some miner fired blast witho ut
authority, the blast igniting either t be
gas or coal dust and causing the expl o.
sion, which was terrific. One of t he
hoisting cages had just come to the ST u
face with six men aboard. AS the IL st
man stepped from the platform he
cage, propelled by the explosion, sh OF
up through the roof, fifty or sixty fe nt
above, while the flames went skywa1 II
100 feet or more, followed by a repol 4 =:
which was heard for miles. Nearl
half the men employed in the mins
escaped by climbing the air shaft. One
man whose leg was injured by the ex-,
plosion climbed the entire 45O feet to
the top of the shaft. Others climbed
whose flesh was 80 badly burned that it.
would strip from their hands as they
clasped the ladders. One father started
his son to the top on the last cage, land
ing him safely, while he himself penA
ished bv remaining behind.