The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-02-14
WILKEs-BARRE. Feb. Is

WILKES-BARRE, feO. lo'
m N EXTENSIVE cave-in occurred
IAN at the Gaylord mine of the
IA\ Kingston Coal company at Ply
Ii U Mbutb this morning. A large
number of miners aud laborers were at
work under section of the roof which
was for some time past has been con-
sidered very weak. After shot had
been fired and without any warning
whatever the roof, consisting of rock
aud coal, fell into the mine with
heavy crash.
As far as can be estimated the cave
in carried about thirty acres OF land,
1t is not known as yet whether any OF
the men were killed outright by the
falling debris, but it is known that
thirteen of them are hemmed in in one
of the gangways
REsCUING PARTIES AT WORK.
The first rescue party went into the
mine at 6 o'clock and others have been
working heroically during the entire
day. A number of mine foremen and
their assistants led by John B. Davis,
superintendent of the Gaylord work
ings, who have been in the mine all the
afternoon, came out at b o'clock and
report that all, the outlets in the
mine are closed, also the rock tunnel
and all the entrances The cavern is
now reported to have taken place in
what is known AS the 5.foot vein, z foot
vein and Bennett veins. The cave-ln
covers an area of about mile, it hay-
ing extended since noon today, and at
fects the central portion of the town of
Plymouth.
A few cracks can be seen on the sur
face, but this has not become affected
as yet The rescuing party was
obliged to retreat on account OF the
further caving IN of the mine, The
crashing of the immense rocks as they
came down, the rolling and the rumb-
ling of the many falls and the rush and
roar Of the wind by the concussion
forced the men to retreat to the sur
face Men OF all classes who are fa-
miliar with mine working are at the
scene of the disaster and their willing
hearts and strong arms are ready to go
into the mine whenever the word is
given to aid in rescuing the entombed
timbermen if such is possible.
AN INTIMATIoN OF DANGER.
The thirteen timber men who went
into the mine aud now are imprisoned
there, were warned yesterday that there
was danger ahead. but they were of
the opinion that the danger was not
sufficient for them to stay out. They
said, however, to the hosting engineer
as they went downRthe pit, should
anything occur you will find US in the
Big Branch in the Bennett vein." This,
however, is also closed, aud there is no
way to reach them.
The section of the mine in which the
men are imprisoned is II portion of the
Baltimore vein, which at this point is
very thick, and they were engaged in
placing large timbers 30 as to prop and
support the roof.
The names of the unfortunate men
who are imprisoned are as follows
Thomas Picton, mine foreman; Thomas
Jones, James Ords, Daniel Morgan,
Thomas Leyshon, Richard Davis,
Thomas Cole, Peter F. Mclaughlin.
Michael Walsh, John, Morris, John
Arne, James Kingdom, Thomas Cole,
All tl6 men were mhITleu except
Thomas Leyshon, who is single man,
and Daniel Morgan, who is widower.
SCENES ABOUT THE SHAFT.
The scene Jout the mine late to.
night is hearGrending and from the
present outlook there will be at least
eleven widow and plenty Of orphans to
suffer the loss of their only support.
The officials are hard ut work to devise
some plan or means CT rescue, and in
order to get at the men they will have
to penetrate through 400 feet of solid
coal and rock 1t is believed by the
superintendent and Others that the
imprisoned men are on the "big plann'
in the Bennett vein, which is about 70(
feet from the foot of the shaft
It will be several days and the most
heroic work must be done before the
men can be reached and there fate as
certained.
The work of digging their wa,
through the coal from the foot Of tn,
shaft to reach the entombed men be
gan this evening 1t is not known hoy
long it will take, and it is possible tina
they will never be reached or found.