The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-05-20
NINE HORROR.
Awful Explosion In a Washington
Coal Mine.
Forty-two Men Suddenly Hurled to Their
Death-Not One In the Fatal Trap
Escaped-Complete List of
the Dead.

RosLYN. Wash, May 11.-Yesterday
afternoon terrible gas explosion oc-
CURED in the slope of mine No. of the
Northern Pacific Coal Co, at this point
in which the loss OF life has exceeded in
number that of any other disaster that
has ever been chronicled in the north
west
Fortv-tvo miners were killed in the
explosion. The men were working on
fourth level Six bodies have already
been taken out The following Is an
authentic list Of the men who were at
work on the three levels that were af-
fected and their conditions as to being
single or married men: Thomas Holmes,
married: John Foster, wife and baby;
Philip Davies, large family; Thomas
Rees, large family; John Pos: win Rob-
inson. wife and baby; Robert Graham,
wife and two children: George Moses,
leaves an orphan 10 years old: \. Pol
lard (colored). married: Jack Gerguson.
large family; George Brooks, family at
Streator, Ill: Joseph Ellsworth. Sr.,
large family; Joseph Ellsworth. Jr.:
John Laffertv. single. aged 65. owner of
considerable property: Dan Mcclellan.
vile and three children: Richard For
sythe. family: George Forsythe. son OF
above. single: 7. B. Cooper, married:
Lishe Jackson (colored). married:
Scott Giles tcolored). married: Russ
Living (colored). married; Andrew
Erlander. wife and four children;
Charles Palmer. wife and child; Mitch
ell Had, single: Mitchell Roland. large
family. brother of eX-Superintendent
Roland: Winston Steele. family; Steele
son was working with his father, but
came out on the last trip and escaped
by jumping out: he was knocked down
by the force Of the explosion William
CaCue. single, only support Of mother
and crippled sister; Eben Olsife-. large
family: John banks. Italian with fam
lily: Jake Weatherbv. late mine boss az
No. 3, large family: Joseph B-eweli,
family: Thomas Tienden. leaves a wife
and nine children: Harry Campbell,
single: James Houston. colo-ed: Joseph
Bennett. wife and two children: WILL
lam Bennett. wife and three children
IN Europe; he had just gone in. Joseph
Isnay, sOn-in-law % ex-Superintendent
Roland: VIII Penhals, married. Sidney
Wright, brother Of County Clerk Thomas
Wright. family.
The exact nature OF the explosion or
circumstances that led 70 it viii prob
ably never be known. since il Is be-
heved that every miner who was at
work IN the mine at the time has per-
isheI
1t Is not definitely 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 We're affected by the explosion
Large relief forces are ct work and
az this time six bodies have been re-
covered These men were working
nearest 70 the opening and at some dis
ta1ce from the point where it is sup
posed the explosion occurred. Most of
The men were I.5o9and :. coo feet further
in the slope and IL the immediate viciu-
ity Of the accident There Is no doubt
II the minds OF miners o. the company
Ctsi.ials that every nan was instantly
killed
The Ecslvn mine i one Of the largest
II the STATE. supplying the western di-
visions OF the Northern Pa-ifi, and
Union Paeinc railroads with coa,. and
has q oara -ity a. 2e.0)0 tons 4 day.
Tn explosion occurred Just Is two
gangs were shifting q $50 o'clock. The
cause u l. : unknown. The two boys
who were II the tunnel escaped. but
they are the Only ones from either sang
$ far recovereL Reports - far re-
ceivcd in,,i1ate that tn explosion has
closed I'd the shaft. that the mine i on
fire and that i Is impossible Il recover
TIE b lis Tha company wiz forward
forty cotfi-S from Seattle By the mid
night train
The larger portion OF the probable
victims leave large families Work had
been very scarce f5- the past few
months and he me1 had Just gos to
v0-.l steadily.