The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-05-14
DROWNED LIKE RATS
A WaterspOut's Awful Work
in Hungary.
ONE HUNDRED MINERS DEAD.
Caught Without Warning in Their Pitl
By the Dsluge,

Lower Galleries of the Mines Completely
FIooded-Between 800 and 400 Men at
work-Exaot Loss of Life Cannot be As
csrtainsd Until the Shafts Are Pumped
out-The Emperor Sends Relief to the
Sufferers.
VIENNA, May IA. Dispatches from
waterspout which burst over the mines
near the city and flooded them, drowned
between 80 and 100 miners.
The flood came shortly after noon.
An hour before the waterspout burst
the wind, which had been from the
south, shifted to the east and drove up
over the mountains near Peesvarad a
huge mass Of clouds, at first %yellowish
gray but quickly deepening to dead
black. The clouds were whirled along
the crest of the mountains by the wind,
which rose to a gale until over the mou
tains skirting the coal fields on the north
they had assumed the form of an enor-
nous cone with its apex almost resting
on the mountain tops.
The men at the mouth of the pits
ceased work, and two gangs of men
from the pit nearest the mountain be-
came alarmed and refused to descend,
They started for their homes to wait for
the storm to blow over. Suddenly the
wind shifted to the north, the darkness
increased, aud the cone was swept di-
rectly over the colleries.
1t burst a momen later and the water
came down in a deluge, sweeping the
men from their feet, wrecking the
shanties and pouring in floods down the
shafts, Large buildings were swept
from their foundations, the roofs were
crushed in and furniture and tools were
carried through shattered doors and
windows by the wind and water. Sew
eral men standing at the pit entrances
disappeared in the first rush of the
food and are supposed to nave been
carried down the shaft with the water
and wreckage.
In the mines the full force of men
were aU work. The total number is
said to approximate 800 or 400. They
had absolutely no warning of the com.
ing disaster, as the men on the surface
had refused to descend after the water.
spout began forming. The lower gal.
leries in several mines are said to have
been completely flooded, although the
water did not rise TO the upper galleries.
In one pit there are fifteen dead; in an
other seven; in another nine, and so on
In other pits the woodwork and sides
were SO loosened by the falling water
and debris that no careful examination
has been made aud the details of the
loss are not to be asoertained.
The volume of water broke with &
rushing report that alarmed the whole
city, and within thirty minutes thous
ands of men and women were hurryine
out to the scene of destruction. Volun
teers were called for ut all the pits and
men from the night shifts were sent
down the shafts which had been lief
reasonably safe, to rescue their com
rades. The first descent was made il
the mine where about fifteen men wert
at work on the lowest level.
The men in the upper galleries were
found ~uninjured and were carried to tn,
top. Nobody in the lowest gallery was
alive to tell the story of the disaster
The mine vas flooded at that level anC
several bodies were found floating in thu
water and were sent up. No more car
be done before the pumping out Of the
mine.
The whole mining colony is In the
fields awaiting the results of the work
of rescue. Women sleep with their chill
dren upon the ground, intent upon get
ting the first news as TO the fate of their
husbands and brothers. The author
tiles of Fuenfkirchen have sent out fue
and food, and big fires have been bull
near the shaft entrances. A government
official has been despatched from Pestt
to help s%uperintend the relief of thos
rendered homeless or fatherless by tn,
storm.
Much of the machinery for pumping
out the mines was so damaged by tn
force of the food as to be practically use
less, and the companies have tele
graphed TO Pesth for new machines. TIL,
Department of the Interior has receives
dispatches hourly as to the progress o
the work, ana they are communicated Il
the Emperor.
An imperial courier has been dis
patched to Fuenfkirchen with the Em
peror's contribution for the relief of tn,
most pressing wants Of the stricken fam
lilies. This contribution is said to b,
5000 gulden, and a promise of more il
case the progress of the work of rescu
reveals greater loss of life than is nov
apprehended.