Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-09-01
FATE OF MINERS.
'Thirty-Seven OF Them Perish in
an Oregon Shaft.
Fire Followed by Deadly Expioslon-
Four Killed In n Colorado MinS
and Two In a CoIiicry In
Pennsylvania.
NEARLY TWO SCORE SLAIN,

seven miners of mixed nationalities
were killed Friday afternoon by an
explosion in the Oregon Improvement
company's coal mine at Franklin,
King county, "a miles southeast of
Seattle. The miners were trying to
save the mines from destruction by
fire when the explosion occurred.
Franklin is a coal mining town on
the west slope of the Cascade noun
tains, and the usual heartrending
scenes were enacted about the en-
trance of the mines when n list of the
killed and missing miners was made
out. This is the mining district into
which colored eastern miners were
brought two years ago, resulting in a
running fight with the strikers and
several deaths. Negro and Swede
miners predominant among those
killed Most of them have families.
AT 12:45 a. m. fire was announced
by some of the drivers on the sixth
north level, and notice was given to
the men inside, who were working in
different places, some in the breast
about the level and others along the
gangway, as soon as it was known
there was fire.
Many of the men in the gangways,
suspecting what was coming, rushed
back to notify the miners further in
that fire was burning, while others
rushed out and reached the main shaft.
1t is certain that all the men in the
breast reached the gangway in safety.
In all about seventy men were at
work in the sixth level north, and of
that number about forty fingered
at breast 60, where the fire originated,
and made an attempt to put out the
fire. The breast was burning fiercely,
and before the miners knew it the fire
had communicated to breasts go and
81 and smoke began to issue from
breast 81 in that immediate vicinity.
Several OF those who fingered at the
burning breast 80 took warning and
fled, but all who remained were over
come and asphyxiated.
1t is evident all the men had time to
get out, for those who worked in the
further breast reached the shaft in
safety, while those who were nearest
the shaft and consequently more re-
moved from danger, perished. They
evidently believed they were in perfect
safety from the fire, but while they
fingered the smoke oozed out from the
outside place further south and the
bodies were all found south of breast
81. They were all found within a
space of 500 feet.
Several of those caught were not in
stantly killed and desperate attempt
was at once made by their comrades to
rescue them from the flames. The en-
mil m, tu of Fro LII in
aided to flood slope 90, in which the
bodies of the miners lay. When the
bodies of the dead miners were reached
many were found to be in line, as if
simultaneously overcome by sitting
smoke. Some had been smothered and
were not cut or even bruised. All were
dead before assistance reached them.
When the superintendent found it
necessary to call for volunteers to go
into the mine there was great excite
ment. The first man to volunteer was
George Smalley, negro, who, with
two others, was lowered down the
1,100-foot slope to the sixth level.
There he met men from the sixth level
south, who were doing all they could
to rescue men from the north end of the
level Other rescuers went down from
the surface and Smalley, C. C. Todd,
John Adams and John Morgan found
the body of the first man in the gang
way about 1000 feet in from the slope.
The body proved to be that of
John O. Anderson and was pulled
to the top of the slope The
arrival of Anderson's body on the
surface was the first intimation to the
men, women and children there that
anyone had met death.
At 3 o'clock the last of the thirty
seven bodies was recovered and then
the people began to quiet down. Many
of them We're completely prostrated
with their violent grief and devoted
their time to methodically caring for
the dead. The origin of the fire in
breast 81 is supposed to be due to spon-
taaeous combustion caused by refuse
and screening in the bottom of the
breast Stacking and catching fire.
ASHLAND, Pa, Aug. 25.-Two men
were killed and eleven injured by an
explosion of gas in the Gilberton col
liery near this place Friday afternoon
Those dead are William Birmingham
and. Frank Mccormick The explosion
was primarily caused by fall of coal
which became dislodged by the mining
operations. This released an immense
volume of gas and at the same time
forced it along the gangwayi to 6
distance of more than 1000 yards
sitting and choking the miners as il
swept along. Finally it reached 6
gang of miners who were working
with naked lamps, and instantly ig
nited. An explosion, which shook the
eartha and was heard by the people il
their homes above, followed. Flame:
and smoke burst from the mouth o.
tie pit, and inside and out there were
scenes of frantic terror. Rescuine
parties We're organized and the mer
were brought to the surface as rapidly
as possible. 1s
FATAL EXPLOSION.