The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-10-09
Flight Of Forty-ive Workmen
from Raging Flames
Most Disastrous Fire in the
Western Coal Fields.
No Hope for. Those Who Couldn't
Escape.
Crying Women and Children
Gather Around the Shaft.

SHAMOKI1S, Pa Oct 9.-One workman
dead and four others closed in the mine
with all avenue Of escape cut off and the
most disastrous mine fire ever known in
the western anthracite coal fields now
raging at the Luke Fidley coIliery is the
result in brief of carpenters negligence.
Fifty-five other workmen who were en-
ployed in the mine at the time Of the ac-
cident had thrilling escapes as they
were compelled to grope their way
through smoke and noxious gases in
order to reach the fresh air in safety.
The four men who are still missing
have been smothered before this all
parts of the big mine are certainly filled
with smoke and deadly after damp.
The fire started in the airway Of No.
shaft late last night and Irwin Burlington,
whom the coIliery officials hold respOn-
sible for the disaster is dead His body
was not burned as death was due to suf-
location George Brown, a miner and
his Polish helper, Anthony Roberfi, Rob
ert, q driver boy from the Luxe Fidler
and another Polish laborer whose name
is not known by the mine officials are in
the mine and no hope is entertained of
recovering them.
The mine is now a mass of flames and
cannot be approached from any drec-
ton. IL il feared the inside workings
will have to be flooded, which means
many months of idleness to the 90J
ployes Superintendent Morris Williams
Of the Mineral Railroad & Mining com
paDy informed representative of
the Associated Press, that while Irwin
Burlington, John Anderson, Jr., and others
were engaged in retimt 1ring No. 1
shaft the former disObeyed orders by
lighting his naked lamp in the air
course for the purpose Of testing the
air.
"a spark set fire to the timber that was
as dry as powder and the current carried
the flames up and down the shaft like
lightning. Burlington was advised by
his fellow Workmen to make good his
escape, but he neglected to heed their
warning and returned to the bottom of
the shaft in order to exchange his gum
boots for his shoes.
This delay cost him his life and his
dead body was recovered in the tunnel
about o'clock this morning. Superin-
tendent Williams, Mine In
spectOr Edward Brennan, In
side Foreman August HEIR and Arthur
Kennedy. and all Of the under bosses at
the Fidler and Cameron mines formed
three relief parties and entered the mine
to rescue the sixty imprisoned workmen
by way Of the coal run workings through
the No. air way on the mountain and
down the new shaft.
The latter has proved a godsend to
the men as it is to this channe most Of
them owe their escape. The smoke
great rapldity, and alarmed the men and
boys doing night duty in the mine.
While the imprisoned men were ruahing
through the inside workings in search of
an air shaft for an outlet, hundreds of
their friends gathered about the mouth
OF the shaft
a. the fan house was destroyed by the
flames the cries and means Of mothers,
wives and sisters aud children OF the i'm
prisoned employees sent chiIls to the
hearts Of many hardy miners who were
waiting for an opportunity to assist their
doomed comrades.
Two Of the men we're overcome by the
smoke while making their escape, but
the coal run rescuing party succeeded in
carrying them out and restoring them to
consciousness
The gangs Of workmen cannot get to
any point near the hre on account or the
smoke and gas. and the flames cannot be
fought with any success. This mine
connects with the Hickory Swamp Col
liery of the Union Coal company. and if
IL has to be drowned out it will compel
both mines to shut down for a year or
more The Luke Fidler colliery is oper-
ated by the Mineral Railroad and Min
ing company. and gives EN- ployment to
800 men and boys.