Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-05-11
DEATH IN THE MINE.
Nearly Fifty Lives Lost by E1plo-
sion Of Fire Damp.
new HAMPSHIRE DEMOCRATS MEET.
Ex-Gov. Campbell Looking After
His Boom.
THE KENTUCKY DERBY
NEARLY FIFTY LIVES LOST.

Terrible, Explosion of Gas in the Coal Mines
Mt leosiyn, Washington.
RosLyS, WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE first ac-
cident of any motto at the coal mines in this
place occurred yesterday afternoon Just after
the afternoon shift had gone on. driver had
just come out Of the slope when tremendous
knocked mules and driver down and bruised a
man standing 100 feet away. The report was
heard all over the town u mile away.
The mouth of the slope was surrounded by
an anxious crowd, which grew in size every
minute. Hard rain was pouring down, but the
crowd needed not. The number Of men in the
slope Ii not actually known, but it is known TO
be from fortv-four to fifty. There 10 scarcely
any possibility that one of them escaped death.
Tho slope in which the explosion occurred
the proposed shaft will be sunk, and is
couple thousand feet in length. Sew
eral levels hive been worked in the
slope, and il IL conjectured that the
explosion occurred at some point on the fourth
Or fifth level. For the past two months more
work in this part OF the slope on
account of the unusual generation Of
gas, and the management is credited
with having exercised the usual precautions.
The air courses were in process Of construction
in the supposed vicinity of the explosion with
sno VI yoiihuS uuuuS. ~ 10 presumed
that when the two courses met the explosion
occurred.
Persons who were at the opening OF the slope
pronounced the conclusion terrible. 1t being
sufficient to throw coal car some distance from
point where it was standing near the entrance
Great volumes OF after damp and smoke rolled
from the entrance, making the approach dam
gerous. As soon as 1t was possible to enter men
set to work, but progress was impeded by
smoke and damp, which the tunnel continued
to emit. At 4:3o o'clock the first
bodies were reached. being those of
John Bone and John Campbell. After that the
work progressed more rapidly, and at 6 o clock
two other bodies were brought out. and at 7:3O
two others. all terribly burned and mutilated.
Those whose bodies were recovered are: Tom
Brennan, Tom Rees, A. Pollard, John Bowen,
H. Campbell and VIM Hague.
FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION.
As progress was made the frightful execution
Of the explosion became more manifest. TIM
bers were torn out for hundreds of feet and the
whole interior was fearfully wrecked. 1t is
thought fire was started in the lower level and
arrangements are being made to turn on water
as soon as the fact is developed.
Air fans are working to their full capacity
and every effort is being made to recover the
bodies Of the imprisoned men. All miners
in camp who are able to work have volun-
teered their services and men are work
ing constantly in shift. From the
fearful wreckage of the slope interior and the
doubt as to he existence of fire in the lower
level there is no way of determining how soon
all the bodies can be recovered. Several of the
bodies that have been taken out are badly
mutlated. In one instance the head was
severed from the body.
This is the second gas explosion that has oc-
CURED in the slope within the past two months.
The first resulted in the death Of negro
driver, to whose carelessness the accident at
tributed at the time. Ex-Supt. Ronald, who was
in the employ OF the company then, said the
slope work was dangerous to an unusual degree,
and recommended extraordinary precautions.
1t is stated that Acting Superintendent Harrison
has been very careful with the work, and eau
toned the men TO observe that their lamps were
| in proper shape when entering places posted as
dangerous.
At midnight fourteen bodies had been recov-
| cred and all identified. Work of recovery is
very slow account Of the large body of gas. 1t
is now almost certain that every man in the mines
| is killed and that the dead will reach forty
| eight.
SCENES AT THE MINES TO-DAY
Manager Kangley says last nights explosion
was caused by gas. which vase probably
| lighted by match or the careless use
of lamp. The true cause of the
| accident will never be definitely known, as
| no one has escaped to tell the story. Thirty
three or forty-three Of the miners imprisoned
| are married and their widows and families
| clamor wildly at the entrance to the slope.
| Many Of the families are entirely destitute.