The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-14
BURSTABOVE THE COAL PITS.
PERHAPS 100 MINERS KILLED BY A
GIANT WATERFRONT

GIANT wATERsPOUE
seme whs Watched che Great Conc Conc
Down From the Mountains Swept Into
the PITS and Drowned with Their CON-
r.des There-The Lower Gaileri Flood.
"a Almost In m Instaat-Many Of the MIN.
era shsntaes wrecheA-Rescuers at Work
VIENNA. May 12-Despatches from Fluent.
kirchen In Hungary say that waterspout
burst over the mines near that city to-day and
flooded them. and that between 90 and 100
miners. II not moro. have been drowned.
The food came shortly after noon. The at
mosphere had been heavy and the tempera-
ture high all the morning. An hour before the
waterspout burst, the wind. which had been
from tho south. shifted to tho east and drove
up over the mountains near Peesvarad q huge
mass Of clouds. at first yellowish gray. but
quickly deepening to dead black.
The clouds wero whirled along the crest OF
che mountains by the wind. which rose to n
gale. until over the mountains skirting tho
coal fields on the north they had assumed the
form OF an enormous cone with its arex al
most resting on the mountain tors.
The men at the mouth OF the pits censed
work. and two gangs Of men from the pit near
est the mountains became alarm ed and refused
10 descend. They started for their homes to
wait for the storm to blow over.
Suddenly the wind shifted to the north, the
darkness increased. and tho cone was swept
directly over the collicrics. 1t hurst II moment
later and the water camo down in delugo.
sweeping the men from thei- feet. wrockins
the shanties. and pouring in floods down
the shafts. Large buildings were swept
from their foundations. tho roofs were
crushed in. and furniture and tools
were carried through shattered doors and
windows by the wind and water. Several men
standing ut tho pit entrances disappeared In
the first rush OF the food and are supposed to
have been carried down the shaft with the
waite. and wrecknge
In the mines the full force OF men were at
work. The total number Is said to have been
800 or 400. They had absolutely no warning
OF the coming disaster. as the men ON
the surface had refused to descend after
the waterspout began forming. The lower
galleries in several mines are said
to have been flooded. although the
water did not rise to the upper galleries. In
one pit there are fifteen dead: in another.
seven: In another. nine. In other pits the
woodwork and sides were SO loosened by the
failing water and debris that no careful exam
ination has been made. and the details Of the
loss are not yet ascertained.
The volume Of water broke with q rushing
report that alarmed tho whole city. and within
thirty minutes thousands Of men and women
were hurrying out to the scene OF destruction.
Volunteers were called for at all the pits and
mon from the night shifts were sent down the
shafts. which had been left reasonably safe. to
rescue their comrades.
The first descent was made in the mine where
about fifteen men were at work on the lowest
level. The men In the upper galleries were
found uniniured and were carried to the top
Nobody In the lowest gallery was alive to tell
the story Of tho disaster.
The mine was flooded at that level. and Sow
Oral bodies were found floating in the water
and were sent UP. No more can be done be-
fore tho pumping out Of the mine. 1t is re-
ported that the number Of the dead In this
mine may reach twenty.
At another pit the entrance OF the lowest
gallery was under water. and no bodies could
be found. On this level at least seven men
were at work. It Is the pit where the miners
refused to 60 down whom they saw the wnter-
spout coming. and therefore but one-third the
usual number were ut work.
In the pit, where nine men are known to
have been lost. there may be twenty or thirty
more dead. for the water rushed into the
two lowest galleries. 1t submerged the
there. In the other gallery no investi-
cation has been made. Although the
water in It is but two feet deep. the timbers
we're moved or shattered by tho force OF the
incoming flood and wreck. so that the rescue
party has feared to enter. Whether all or only
few were killed will not be known before to-
morrow.
At other shafts the number Of dead is esti-
mated all the way from ten to forty.
The whole mining colony Is in the fields to-
night awaiting the results Of the work OF res
cue. Women are sleeping with their children
on the wet ground. intent upon getting the
FIRST news as to the fate OF their husbands and
brothers.
The authorities OF Fuenfkirchen have sent
built near the shaft entrances. A Government
help superintend the relief OF those rendered
homeless or fatherless by the storm.
Much Of the machinery for pumping out the
mines was SO damaged by the force OF the flood
as to DO practically useless. and the compa-
chimes.
The Department OF the Interior has re-
ceivsd dispatches hourly as to the progress Of
the work. and they have been communicated
to the Emperor. An imperial courier has been
despatched to Fuenfkirchen with the En-
peror's contribution for the relief of the most
pressing wants Of the stricken families.
This contribution Is said to be 8 600 puldan.
and promise OF more in case the progress OF
the work OF rescue reveals greater loss Of life
than 10 now apprehended.
THE ROBBERY OF THE WAT sun,r