Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-04-28
THE DEATH-ROLL NUMBERS ELEVEN.
Thrilling Story of the Terrible Fa-
tally at the Lyttle Mine.

Thrilling Story of the Terrible Fa-
tality at the Lyttle Mine.
A Race win Death IN which Some
We're Successful, But Others Fell--
william Hell Braveiy Rescued by Fore
man Adams.
PoTTsvILLE, Pa, April 21.-'rhe
exact number of men imprisoned by
the Lyttlo colliery minc flooding near
Alincrsville has been ascertained to be
10. The water broke in AZ about 4
o'clock yesterday afternoon and after
six hours Of agonized Imprisonment
William Bell and James Dolbin, who
had fed TO high portion of the mine,
were rescued through the heroic efforts
of their fellow wurkingmen.
The unfortunate men who are still
| imprisoned arc undoubtedly drowned,
MS they have no chance Of escaping like
the two rescued Tho water broke in
from the No. chute and flooded the
mine so quickly that they could not
escape.
At its highest point the water reached
200 feet up the slope and it will take a
day or two TO remove sufficient to reach
the places where the men are imprisoned.
The water Is supposed to have come
from the old Mcdonald working, If
which the records are imperfect.
PoTTsyrLLE, PA, April 2l.-'rhe scene to.
day at the mouth o. the Lyttle coal mine.
near Minersville, where the deadly flood
occurred yesterday, was painful i'll the
extreme and pathetic withal. 1t is now
known that IL men arc entombed by the
rush of the waters. and there is scarcely a
hope that one survives. though the rcscuers
are still bravely working,
The names Of .he men supposed to have
been drowned are: James Dolbn of For
estville. Thomas Buggy of Black Heath,
John W. Zerbey Of Llewellyn, Albert
Sebella, Natzi Percna, Frank Vcgetta,
Peter Maketo, Peter Olivcsti, Joseph
Fietta, Vincent Vercuru, Domnick
uquilla, Italians, residence Minersville.
All the above were single except Zcrbcy,
who leaves a wife and five children.
A RACE FOR LIFE.
Mine Foreman Adams and Dolbin were
going to the face Of the West Primrose
vein when the water burst through the
gangway They both started at breaf,.neck
speed for the bottom Of the slope. Adams
reached it in safety but Dobin was
caught by the rush Of the angry waters
and was swept to his death.
Adams called 10 five other workmen to
flee, and they also started for the bottom
Of the slope, where they leaped into the
snn-Doat, and the signal was quickly given
to hoist, but before the engineer had time
to start the machinery the water was upon
them, and the boat was filled with water.
They chung to the rope, and the boat with
its heavy weight began to ascend
II had not gone far. however, when the
| rope broke close To the boat and il went
crashing to the bottom, while the men
grasped the rope and We're dragged up the
incline, but all escaped death and none
were very badly injured
FOREMAN ADAMS BRAVE WORK.
Foreman Adams Immediately collected a
number OF men together, and the work of
| reScuing the imprisoned miners was com
mcnccd. y was impossible to reach them
through the slope way, so he tied stout
/ rope about his body and was lowered down
the air shaft into the dark abyss below.
| This shaft is SO feet, and before he had
descended 80 feet he heard voice crying
| for help.
Half an hour later the rcscuing party
reached the miner, who proved to be
| William Bell. He was crouchng on what
is known to miners as Saddle" II is d
pillar which separates a breast. the top OF
| which lies close to the collars. Bell, Zerbev
and Buggy were together at the time ol
the Hood and they dashed for the saddle
but Bell was the only one that reached it,
The others were caught in the mad waters
and drowned.
BELLS STORY or HIS RESCUE.
! Bell to-day told his experience in these
| words; Yesterday was my second DAYS
work at the colliery. Thomas Buggy was
my 'butty.' We were on our way out
having completed our days work. I'heard
! William Adams the boss, call that the
water was coming. | then called to Buggy
e. throw away his cans and tools and rum
The noise was so great that did not know
whether he was behind me or not, as both
Of our lamps had been extinguished by
the damp.
when the excitement was over found
myself on the saddle. several feet above
the water. ! thought that by remaining
there relief would come soon. II took me
about three minutes to cover the distance
from where was when first learned Of
the danger to my place of safety. The
water, however followed me closely. and
was only u few feet below me From my
height J could hear the water rushing IN
dld not know what became Of Buggy
and knew nothing OF the whereabouts d
the others.
= was there but short time when
began to rap; shortly afterward | heart
rapping, as of some one drilling hole.
surmised that my signal was heard, an,
parties were striking TO uni hole through
The Solid rock TO reach me. Several snut
We're fired. | continued rappng every
now and then. Hope came, and | neve
fnltered, but kept my presence of mint
throughout. The water began to reced
after several hours, and WORK ceased at til,
hole.
1T was then hut Il half hour before III,
heroic band Of rcscuers, headed by lusid,
Foreman William L. Adams, my brothe
Dave John Jenkins. my brotherin-law
John Schopp, and a Hungarian who's,
name do not know came 10 my relief.
was about % feet from the airshaGt.
heard llolbin call and answered him. |
WAS about half past 10 when reached til
surface and then went home.n
Hell To-day joined the rescuing party.
y il believed that the water whicl
caused lie catastrophe was imprisoned Of
the Little Diamond gangway connectel
with The Mcdonald workings, which hay
been idle several years. The presence o
this water was known to the miners in til
J district, but they had no idea for ii bein
III such dangerous proximity to thci
workings, Men have been engaged fp
some time past in sinking Slope to thi
Sanswy in order to remove the water
. ana holes were IL be opened in few days
Two NIen Killed by u Train.
AuBuRN, N. ", April 22.-Hoy
4 IL =