The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-07-27
PITTSTON. July 26

n MOST frightful accident occurred
IAN at West Pittston this morning tina
Iu\ has cast gloom over this whole
II Y community, the taking away o.
two prominent citizens in horrible
manner A number Of officials con
nected with the Lehigh Coal company
who have been on tour Of inspection
arrived at the Exeter mines al
10 o'clock a. m, which is one oi
the compsny's collieries located on the
outskirts of West Pittstou. The purity
comprised Colonel Addison G. Mason,
division superintendent of the Lehigu
Valley Coal company; William Will
son, inside foreman at the colliery,
both of West Pittston; Robert S Mer'
cur, assistant division engineer. oi
Wilkes Barre; Joseph Burrell, au in
structor OF mathematics in the Lehigl
university, and Jacob Gates, a miner
acting rs guide.
After having inspected the working;
they started for the surface and got
upon the mine cage. The engineer was
signalled to hoist, and when they WERE
about fifty or more feet from the bot
tom the cage guides in the shaft gave
wav and the bottom fell out, which
precipitatsd them all to the sump be-
low. Gates. who is an old miner, fel
the timber swapping and before it gave
way he grasped the side OF the bunting
and held ON until he was rescued from
his perilous position. Colonel Masor
was instantly killed by the shock. The
deceased was 55 years of age aud one oi
the best known mine officials in thi!
state.
'.' COLONEL MAsoNs CAREER.
During the late war he was noted fol
his bravery at the battle Of South
Mountain and other engagements, h.
was selected by General Robert E
Meade as q member of mis- staff, and a
the time of his death was an honored
member Of the Loyal Legion. II,
leaves wife, two daughters and one
son.
Inside Foreman Wilson was seriously
injured and died this afternoon. He
was 45 years of age. He also leaves /
wife and two children.
Robert S. Mercur is single man
He was removed to the hospital, wner,
he ia suffering from broken ankle. d
scalp wound and serious commissions
about the body. He was unconscious
until late this afternoon. 1t is though
that he will recover.
Joseph Bnrrell was also sent to tn
hospital. He received contusions abOu
the body and is badly cut on the fac
and neck He was able to walk from
the shaft TO the ambulance. but sool
became weak. He will recover in a few
days.
The party were ascending the al
shaft wnen the accident occurred, n
the main shaft was undergoing repairs
The air shaft has not been used as
passage for number of years, AM
this accounts for the condition of af
fairs. In 1870 twenty men and boy
were suffjcateI by gas in this colliery
cau5r1 by the burning down of tn
breaker.
HOW THE NEWS TRAVELLED
Another account Of the accident says
Not until the root of the cage, wit
Workman Gates astride Of it, NOR
dead than alive from fright. reache
about fifty feet from the top did th
news OF the terrible calamity b, com
known. A bucket was instantly pro
cured and attached to the rope. Wit
several of the workmen 1t was lowered
into the mine.
Superintendent Thomas, OF the Elk
ter shaft, close by, which is also owns
by the same company, and other oil
ficials hastily procured a bucket sue
as is used for sinking purposes and
party Of rescuers were lowered to thu
bottom, 270 feet The rescuers OF
reaching the bottom found sad spec
tacle to gaze upon. Messrs. Merce
and Burrell had to all Appearances es
capped uninjured. They had removed
Superintendent Mason and Wilson int
the mine opening at the foot OF TIL
shaft. An examination made discl oset
the fact that both men were fatally in
jured and preparations to remove then
wore at once begun.
Just twenty-five minutes after th
accident the injured men were upo
the surface. Colonel Mason's conditio
showed his end was near and he wa
borne on stretcher to his homo on th
hill, but few hundred yards distant
The entry of his msngled and bleedin
body brought as 1t was into his pleas
ant home which he had taken leave @
but few hours before was o sad spat
tacls to behold. But few minute
elapsed, barely tims for him to bid h
loved ones good by. ere his spirit too
Its fight.
Foreman Wilson was taken to hi
home on the East Side. His injuries
while not apparent, were serious, as a
examination revealed that he had bee
injured internally. The physician
administered opiates to relieve hi
pain. He fingered until 23O p. III
when he died.
Messrs Mercur and Burrell were re
moved to the hospital Their condi,ic
was found to be nothing serious The
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