Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-06-26
FIVE MEN MEET DEATH.
TERRIBLE EXPLOSION OF GAS AT
NO. 1 SHAFT, NANTlCOkE.

oic"e DA"SoAhy ny AhOih
Five miners were killed and three in
jured by a terrific explosion of gas in the
No. l shaft of the Susquehanna Coal
Company at Nanticoke on Thursday
evening. The dead are:
John Smith, miner, aged "a, married,
wife and five children.
Frank Benick, doortender, IA years.
William Schultz, 1aborer, aged %.
George Barre, unknown Polander,
aged about 81.
Abe Walker, aged 33, miner, married,
wife and three children.
The injured are:
John Gwent, driver boy, burned about
head and arms, seriously.
John Meisgable, miner, burned on
head and breast.
Frank Giewiscki, laborer, badly burn
ed on head.
The explosion was terrific and swept
everything before it; the tracks for some
distance were torn up and the iron
twisted into every imaginable shape.
Huge props were blown about like
straws. Cars loaded with coal were car
ried down the gangway like paper bags,
tearing down props and timbering, and
in the midst of the general devastation
the eight unfortunate men were hurled
about, crushed, torn and burned by the
fierce force and torrid flame of the ex-
plosion.
The blast was heard throughout the
mine and the men in the sother work
ings, not knowing the extent of the acci-
dent, made a rush for the main shaft
and were drawn up the 900 feet to the
surface as quickly as the powerful en-
gines could hoist them. At the top of
the shaft, out of danger, order was soon
restored, and the hardy workers who, a
few minutes before had rushed from
their breasts, volunteered as rescuers
and were formed into relief parties of
ten each.
TO THE RESCUE.
Under the direction of Inside Superin-
tendent Morgan they re-entered the
mine and very slowly and carefully,
taking every precaution to guard against
another explosion, they proceeded to-
ward the scene of the accident. The
effects of the explosion were confined to
the lower gangway and the rescuing
party had little trouble in reaching it.
Here, however, they met with great
difficulty. After damp in large quanti-
ties had gathered and its suffocating
fumes were gradually rising to the other
workings.
Superintendent Morgan realized that
if any of the men in the gangway were
still alive they must be rescued at once
or they would be suffocated. Calling
for volunteers he headed four of them
and, extinguishing their safety lamps,
they made gallant dash into the black
and devastated gangway shouting at the
same time.
One or two faint cries answered their
calls and they heroically forced their
way over piles of broken ears, torn-up
track, loosened pillars, fallen rock and
coal until the injured men were reached.
But the rescuers were so weakened by
their hard work and the foul air that
they had not strength to return with
their burdens and for time it looked
as il all were doomed, until one of the
men found sheltering spot and here,
brushing out the suffocating after damp
with their coats, they managed to obtain
good air, and were somewhat revived.
FIGHTING THE AFTERDAMP.
Then they gradually worked their
way back to the upper gangways, safely
carrying the three injured men upon
their shoulders. So dense was the after
damp that every few yards they were
obliged to stop and fight it with their
coats to obtain air, and when they final
ly reached their waiting comrades they
were completely exhausted.
They, with the injured, were carried
to the surface, where physicians were
waiting, and the men revived. The
others of the rescuing party then made
dashes into the gas, cropping around on
their hands and knees for the dead
bodies. The work was most dangerous
and several of the volunteers were over
come and had to be taken to the surface.
One by one the bodies were found and
brought out until all had been recovered.
own erDrrvop'c uropv
John Meisgable, one of the least se-
verely injured, was able to talk, He
said he was working in breast near the
face of the gangway when the explosion
occurred. He did not know what caused
it, but supposed one of the five dead
men, who were working some distance
further in, ignited the gas with his
naked lamp. He did not know how the
gas collected, but said he believed one of
the doors was left open and the air cur
rent changed. The injured will recover.