Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-07-19

An explosion of dynamite, the direct
cause of which will never be known,
blew eight men to atoms at No. Stock
ton on Tuesday morning. Never in the
history of mining in the Lehigh region
did there occur such a frightful disaster,
and in no other Instance has it been re-
corded that a similar slaughter took
place in the anthracite coal field.
The names Of the victims are
Charles O'Donnell, aged 25, married
Andrew Sabol, aged 3S, married.
John Primbone, aged %, single,
John Keohledr, aged 90, single,
Anthony Moncavity, aged 25, single.
John krinock, aged 2S, married.
John Mateofski, aged A, married.
John Brizzon, aged 25, single.
Stockton No. s is simply a slope on the
surface, where coal mined is hoisted and
dumped into pockets, from whence it is
taken to No. breaker for preparation.
On account of the distance of No. from
No. 2, which is the colliery proper, it
has been the custom to take the explo-
sives used by the miners and company
workmen to No. s in boxes and distrib-
ute them at the bottom of the slope.
Here Charles O'Donnell was employ
ed as store-keeper. 1t was his duty to
distribute the dynamite and other ex-
plosives to the miners as they appeared
at the bottom in the morning.
The company miners and laborers
usually come in groups, and seven of
them came to O'Donnell for their supply
of explosives. Two hundred sticks of
80 per cent dynamite is the quantity
contained in box, and as few of the
miners wanted powder, is it supposed
that the entire 200 sticks were still in
the box and went off. Thirty per cent
dynamite contains 80 per cent of glycer-
inc, and this is the most powerful ex-
plosve used in mining With eight
men surrounding the box it can well be
imagined that they had but small
chance for their lives, and so it was.
No one remained to tell how it happened.
The nearest living person to where
the accident occurred was Driver-bov
kense. He, with several others, was
in the stable cleaning and harnessing
the mules when the explosion took
place. The boys and mules were knock
ed about promiscuously. The air was fill
ed with flying coal dust and debris. The
concussion was distinctly felt in all the
adjoining mines.
Where the storehouse had stood there
was pile of rock, coal and timber. The
workmen listened for a sign of life, but
all was still rs death. A closer glance
at the surroundings told the tale. Frag-
ments of human flesh were everywhere.
Protruding from the debris were legs
and arms of the victims. The sight was
slckening, and the men shrank from it.
The report by this time had spread
throughout the village, and hundreds of
excited men and women were rushing
to the mouth of the slope. The widest
excitement prevailed and the most
pathetic scenes were being enacted.
Mothers carrying babies pushed through
the crowd, crying and bemoaning the
loss of their loved ones. Strong men
stood back to make way for the bereav-
ed widows and orphans.
1t was some time before Superinten-
dent Roderick and Foreman Conner
Jones arrived on the scene. Then COM
menced the work of recovering the
bodies. Word was sent to Hazleton for
Undertaken Boyle. Owing to the man
gled condition of the men it was consid-
cred best to place the bodies in ice
boxes and send them direct to the un-
dertaker's morgue. Here the relatives
of the unfortunate men gathered in an
effort to identify the remains. With
the exception Of ODonnel all were so
badly mutilated recognition was impos-
sible. The remains of the seven Hun
garians were buried yesterday.
Deputy Coroner German will hold an
inquest to learn, if possible, the cause
of the accident.
Charles O'Donnell, the young man
who was in charge of the powder had
been handling it for years and was one
of the most careful and reliable en-
ployes of the company. He thoroughly
understood the deadly nature of the
powder and that the accident should
have been caused through carelessness
on his part is not believed He was
born and raised in the vicinity of Halle
ton, and was son of Manus O'Donnell,
of Old Sugarloaf, who at one time was
supervisor of Halle township. About
nine months ago he was married 10
Miss Annie Mcclure. He was a men,
Der of st. Gabriels 7. A. B. Society and
and also of Division 10, A. O. IL. His
funeral takes place this afternoon at
o'clock
See McDonald's So. .9S chenile,curtains.