Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1892-01-16
A DEADLY BLAST.
Horrible Result, OF an ExpIosion In an
Indian Territory Mine-Forty-Nine Dead
Bodies Taken Out, aud 1t Is Thought
the Death-Iist Will Roach I3O.

Horrible Result, OF AN Explosion in an
Indian Territory Minc-Forty-Niue Dead
Bodies Taken Out. aud 1t Is Thought
the Desth-Iist VIII Reach I30.
SOUTH McALLIsTER, l. T., Jan. o.
The horrors of the Diamond mine dis
aster at Braidwood, ILL.,, about eight
years ago, were reenacted here Thurs
day night and Friday except that in
this instance fire instead of flood was
the instrument of destruction. AS
the miners were preparing to leave
shaft No. II at Krebs, 5 miles
from here, operated by the Usage Coal
& Mining Company. shortly after 5
o. slock Friday evening, q terrific ex-
plosion occurred spreading death
among 400 or more miners at work.
| L. is impossible at present to
obtain any accurate information
as to the number of the lives lost
or persons injured, but it is known that
at least 100 men are eptombed in the
mine, and it is only possible to- ascer-
tain their number by a canvass from
house to house, which is being made by
a committee appointed for the purpose.
A careful estimate by Assistant Man.
ager Krebs places the dead at 13O and
the injured at 300. Of these at least
100 will die, as they are burned so that
the flesh is dropping from their bones.
AT II o'clock Friday night forty-nine
bodies had been recovered from the
shaft OF these twenty-three had been
identified.
The explosion occurred about p m.
Thursday, at which time there were
| al, ut ~, bo min
They were the day shift, and were just
preparing to ascend when the
explosion took place. Six men
who had already been hoisted
in the cage had just stepped
on the platform at the side Of the
shaft. The cage was blown rough
the roof of the tower and so feet into
the air. Flames shot up the shaft and
above the ground fully 100 feet, which
were followed by terrific report
which was heard for miles around and
shook all the neighboring country vic
lently.
The men already above ground were
FRUSTRATED by the force of the eXplo
sion. but did not receive severe inju
ries The scenes about the mouth o
the shaft Immediately following were
fearful in the extreme.
Many of the miners were able Il
make their way out of the tomb, ant
they were welcomed at the surface by
their waiting friends. The injured
, were quickly taken to places o
shelter and were tendcrly cared for
One man with broken leg climbed al
: the distance Of 400 feet through the air
, shaft and fell unconscious as he reached
the surface. Others who were terribl,
.. burned labored painfully up the ladder
strips of flesh falling from their hand
. and arms as they grasped the ladder
rounds.
No attempt can yet be made to eS
plore the mine. At every landing dea
and dying are taken out. Many bodie
are so burned that they are not recog
: nizable by anyone. Fully fifty hav
: been taken out still alive and placed i
q the nearest homes, but of these fiv
, cannot live. The burns are all of wild
9 area, not to speak of the effects of tn
!, inhalation of gasses by the unfort,
o mates. There are now thirty bodies i
3 the blacksmith shop awaiting dispose
|. or Identification.
'' lhere are TWO encouraging 1ac|
!. which urge the rescuers on to th
work. No fire followed the explosio
y \ at least there have been no signs {
T. any-and there are known to be liv
men entombed in the tunnel benin
4 fallen bowlders The rescuers can hea
n faint lnockings and far off shouting
= They are digging in the directio
i whence the sounds come and hope W
. to rescue some of the men alive.
/ The mines have long been regarde
u as dangerous, as there are few escape
g and the ground is very gasy. The e:
It act cause of the fearful catastrophe
q not known as yet, but it is believed |
u those who escaped to have been cause
q q by premature explosion, which toe
place before the usual safety preca
2 tions could be taken.