The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-02-16
THIRTEEN MEN ENT0MBBl).
TERRIBLE DISASTER IN ONE OF THE
KINGSTON COAL CoMPANY's MINES.

the Kingston COat Company at Ply
mouth, early Tuesday morning, either
crushing thirteen miners to death or
entombing them in living grave.
AT 7 o'clock Monday night fifteen
men went into the mine, the thirteen
unfortunates and General Mine Super
intendent George Picton and Stable
Boss George Brace. They proceeded
to what is called the No. plane, a
gangway commencing about 900 feet
from the foot Of the shaft and extend
ing upward, at pitch of eight degrees,
two thousand feet, connecting with
the upper working Of the same mine.
THE RESULT OF NEGLECT.
This portion of the mine was work
ed out some years ago, the company
leaving pillars of coal to support the
roof, OF late these pillars have, as
the miners say, been ''robbcd;" that
is, the company has been cutting them
down, in direct violation of the mine
law, thus getting good coal at little ex.
pense, while they weakened the roof.
Some few weeks ago the roof began
working" small chips flying off
and giving notice that unless mole
supports were put in a cave in would
occur. The company was rather slow
in taking the necessary precautions,
and it was not until day or so ago
that Mine Fol- eman Picton was mott
fed to begin timbering the weak roof.
Selecting twelve Of his most ex-
perienced miners he commenced
work that night. A stock of timbers
was already on hand and the party
teaching a spot about 1900 feet from
the foot of the plane prepared for
work, General Superintendent Pic
ton directed his son how to proceed,
and then left the party at 10 o'clock.
He then realized the danger of the
work before the men, and said !:
"Boys, if there is any sign of cave
In don't stop to see it, but for Gods
sake run out to safe place"
"All right" the men replied, and
set to work with will
A CAVE-IN.
AT o'clock Tuesday morning Sta
BILE Boss Brace left them and went out
to attend to his mules. At that time
the roof was chipping but there was
no pronounced indications of fall.
1t was about 3 o'clock in the morning
that the engineer in charge of the fan
felt that the air current was blocked,
and he realized something serious had
occurred He at once notified the fire
bosses, and while they went down the
mine to investigate Superintendent
John B. Davis and the assistant fore
man were sent for.
They quickly formed party of
miners, and, going down to the bot
tom of the shaft, proceeded up the
No. plane. Hardly had they gone
eight hundred feet when they were
driven back by fall, which, though
gradual, was quickly eating its way
forward This fall continued until S
o'clock in the morning, by which time
1t had reached point within five
hundred feet of the foot Of the shaft.
1t was o'clock before the news
was spread around the town by
the miners who came to work on the
first shift, and soon through the cold
gray mist of the early morning came
form after form to gather at the top
of the shaft to inquire anxiousIy fol
news from below. There was little tc
be had until an old miner, hardened
with the toll of years and yet soft al
heart as a child, came up from the
depths below and, with every word ac
cented with tears, told the story. II
was passed from lip to lip until II
reached the ears of every one of the
three thousand or more people who
stood there.
HOPING AGAINST HOPE.
The cave-in took place in what /:
known as the Five Foot, Seven-Foo
and Bennett veins. 1t covers an area
OF about mile each way and affects
the central portion of the town o
Plymouth. The surface has not be
come affected yet, with the exception
OF few cracks that are here anc
there visible. There is really little
hope of the men being taken ou
alive. They were almost in the centre
OF the gangway in which the fall oc
cured and the nearest outlet was 900
ieet away. Had the fall been gradua
and in front of them they would, per
maps, have been able to run out aheat
OF 1t to point of safety. If it started
In front of them they are shut in if i
occurred at once they are dead be
meath it.
RESCUERS AT WORK.
Nothing is being left undone in ef
iorts to reach them. A large gang i
now at work removing the fall and
making a Dacsauauav m the uapowa,