Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-01-16
ANNIHILATED IN A mine.
Fuller Details Of the Disaster in
Indian Territory.
More Than One Hundred Known to Have
Been Killed and Many More Terribly
Injured--Crippled Miners.


Been Killed and Many More Terribly
Injured--Crippled Miners.
From the facts now at hand it is believed
TINT the killed in the terrible explosion in the
Usage Mine ut Krebs, /. Twill number fully
100, the injured lis, about one-half of whom
will probably die from the effects of their in
juries.
At the hour of the explosions o'clock
there was as near as can be learned about 400
men in til mine. They were the day shit,
md were just preparing to ascend when the
exI losion took place.
Six men who had already besn hoisted in
the cage had just stepped into the platform at
the side ofthe shaft. The cage was blown
through the roof of the tower and 500 feet into
the air.
A tongue of fame shot up the shaft and
Above the ground fully TO feet, which was
followed ly a terrible report, which was
heard for miles around ami shook all the
neighboring country SO violently that people
in the surrounding mining towns, four and
five miles distant, though an earthquake was
rocking the ground.
The men already above ground were pros.
trated by the force of the explosion, but did
not receive severe injuries. The scenes about
the mouth OF the shaft Immediately following
were fearful in the extreme.
WEEPING WIVES MOTHERS AND SISTERS
focked to the scene from the village at the
sound of the explosion, their faces blanched
with dread, and many of them hysterieal to
the point OF insanity.
The air-shaft, the only way of escape for the
tn'omed miners, was a point where the rela-
tves of the miners congregated.
Many OF the miners were able to make their
way out OF the tomb, and they were welcomed
at the surface by their waiting friends.
The injured were quickly taken to places OF
shelter and were teuderly cared for. One man
with a broken leg climbed all the distance OF
400 feet through The air-shsit and fell uncon-
sciOus as he reached the surface. Others who
we're terribly burned labored painfully up the
ladder, strips OF flesh falling from their hands
and arms as they 2rasped the ladder rungs.
- believed that fully one halt OF the Ell.
tomUed miners escaped by the air-shaft.
Many OF them, however, received mortal in
juries, and, although none of them are known
10 have died, il is believed that in some cases
death is not mr distant.
y
through the villages surrounding krebs.
Every physio an at once volunteered his ser
vices and hastened to kteGs TO do his duty Of
mercy. Hundreds of miners from the Braid
wood H., and McAllister Fields hurried tC
The scene TO do what they could in assisting
in the rescue of the eDlombed men and the
recovery of the bodies OF the dead.
THE WORK OF RESCUE
WAS begun at once. The work was terribly
hazardous, but the hope that some of tn,
unfortunate men might be rescued alive
spurred the rescuers on the many deeds o
bravery and possible selfsacrifce
The explosion had entirely changed tn,
topograph of the mine. Many tunnels wer,
closed entirely, and g, loose bouiders wer,
balanced perilously on shelves OF rock adjon
ing the alr-shait and the main shalt, which
breath of air might almost hurl down upoI
the rescuers.
There is one disheartening fact connected
with the search up to the present time ant
that is that
NOT ONE LIVE MINER HAS BEEN FOUND.
All the bodies so far recovered have beer
found to be burned, charred and manned il
almost every case beyond recognition. Ii
fully halt the cases identification has beer
possible only from either the clothes OF
the contents of the pockets. In some easel
limbs have been severed from their bodies by
the force of the explosion, and in others the
bodi,s have been burned to crisp and
charred almost beyond resemblance to the
human form.
There are two encouraging facts which urge
the rescuers on 10 the work. No fire followed
the explosion, at least there have been nj
signs of any, and there are known TO be live
men tntombed in the tunnel behind fallen
boulders. The rescuers can hear faint knock
ings and far off shoutings. They are digging
in the direction whence the sounds come, and
hope yet to rescue some of the men aiiye.
/ he wreck about the mouth OF the NINE and
Mt the bottom of the hosting shalt is so nearly
complete that the work is dreadfully slow.
All the bodies in plain view have beer
brought to the surface, but there are others
which can be seen partially hidden under
fallen bouders and masses Of debris. The
work of digging these from their graves goe:
steadily on, and frequently the cage is hoisted
containing the body of another victim.