The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-05-18


dent OF any note at the coal mines in
this place occurred at about 80
this afternoon. just after the afternoon
shift had gone on. A driver had just come
cut of the slope when q tremendous ex-
plosion occurred. The shock upset his
cars. knocked mules and driver down and
bruised q man standing one hundred
feet away. The report was heard
over q mile away. The mouth of
the slope was soon 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 is not actually
known, but it is known to be from forty
four to fifty. There is scarcely posi-
bility that one OF them escaped death.
One body was recovered in about
two hours, another an hour later, two
more at Z 80. All were terribly bruised
and indicated that death came instantly.
The floor of the city hall has been con-
verted into a morgue. The rescued bod
les are being viewed by crowds. A sad
feature OF the disaster is all
leave large families. Many of them are
in straitened circumstances. The scenes
about the mouth of the slope were sad In
the extreme, men, women and children
standing about in dazed condition. The
pitiful lamentations OF the negroes add to
the horrors.
The exact cause OF the explosion or cir
cumstances that led to it vii. probably
never be known since it is believed that
every miner who was,et work in the slope
at the time has persisted. 1t is not def
nitely known how many men were
in the vicinity of the disaster,
but it Is believed that between forty
five and fifty were on the three levels
that were affected by the explosion.
Large relief forces are at work and at this
time two bodies have been recovered.
These men were working nearest to the
opening and at some distance from the
point where it is supposed the explosion
occurred. Most of tile men were 1000
and 1000 feet farther in the slope and
in the immediate vicinity OF the
accident There is no doubt either in the
minds of miners or the company officials
that every man was instantly killed. The
RosIyn mine is one of the largest in the
state, supplying western divisions OF the
Northern Pacific and Union Pa
cific railroads with coal and
has a capacity OF 10000 tons a day.
The explosion occurred just as two gangs
were shifting at 80. The cause OF IL was
not known. Two bows who were In the
tunnel escaped, but they are the only ones
from either gang so far recovered. Reports
go far received indicated that the explo-
sion has closed up the shaft. that the mine
is on fire and that it is impossible to re-
cover the bodies. The company will for
ward forty collins from here by midnight
train.
The following is a list OF the men who
were at work on the three levels that were
affected and their conditions as to being
single or married men:
THOMAS HOLMES. married.
JOHN FOSTER, wife and baby.
PHILIP DAVIES, large family.
THOMAS REEFS. large family.
JOHN REES.
WILL ROBINSON, wife and baby.
ROBERT GRAIN, wife and two children.
GEORGE MOSES; leaves an orpsn ten years
old.l
A. POLLARD. colored, married.
JACK FURGUSON, large, family.
GEORGE BROOKS, family at Streator, Ill.
JOSEPH ELLSWORTH, Sr., large family.
JOSEPH ELLSWORTH, Jr.
JOHN LAFFERTY, single, aged sixty-hve.
owner of considerable property.
DANIEL MCCLELLAN, wife aud three
children.
RICHARD FORsYTHE. family.
GEORGE FORSYTHE. son Of above, single.
T. b. COOPER. married.
LISHF JACKSON, (colored) married.
SCOTT GILES, (colored married.
PRJISS LIVING, (colored) married.
ANDREW ERLANDER, wife and four chill
dren.
CHARLES PALMER, wife and child.
MITCHELL HALE, single.
MITCHELL RONALD, large family, brother
| of ex-Superintendent Ronald.
WINSTON STEELE, family.
Steele's SON was working with his father.
but came out on the last trip and escaped
by jumping out. He.was knocked down
bv the force of the explosion.
WILLIAM CAGUE, single. only support OF
mother and crippled sister.
FBEN OLSIFER, large family.
JOHN DANKS, Italian with family.
| JAKE WEATHERBY, late mine boss at No.
| 8, large family.
JOSEPH BREWEIIA family.
THOMAST. CONDOR. leaves wife and nine
children.
HARRY CAMPBELL, single.
JAMES HOUSTON, colored.
JOSEPH BENNETT, wife and two children.
| WILLIAM BENNETT. wife and three
children in Europe. He bad just gone in.
JOSEPH ISAIAY. son-in-law OF ex-Superin
| tendent Ronald.
] WILL PENHALS, married.
| SIDNEY WRIGHT, brotherof County Clerk
Thomas Wright. family, Omaha. Neb.
Eaten nv REAR