Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-17
Terrible Mining Disaster at Stock
ton, Pa, This Morning.
EXPLOSION OF STICKS OF GIANT POWDER
A Dozen Miners Were Blown to
Pieces.
WORK OF THE RESCUERS

HAZLETON. Pa, July 17.-Another mine
disaster occurred at Stockton. No. 8. today.
which, In detail. Is the most shocking which
ever took place in the Lehigh coal fields.
Two hundred sticks Of giant powder ex-
ploded In the midst Of a gang Of miners. and
not enough Of their bodies was left intact to
recognize them.
Stockton colliery Is about one mile east Of
this city. and Is operated by Linderman and
Skier. The mine Is but part of series Of
openings which that company operates In
the valley. and Is surrounded by hamlets
in which the miners live. On account of its
isolation from the main breaker, It has been
customary to send the dynamite and other
explosives in boxes to No. 8, and distribute
them to workmen at the bottom Of the Sec
ond shaft. as they appear in the morning
on their way to work.
3D. Charles o Donnell had charge Of this de-
partment. and It was his duty to distribute
to the company miners and starters the
dynamite and caps. The first men to go
down into the shaft this morning were the
drivers, and these are the only men who re-
turned alive from the opening. How many
men, or who they were who followed in the
next boat Is not definitely known. and, for
this reason. the exact number Of men killed
will not be known until list of the living
Is taken.
The drivers went into the stables to har-
ness their mules and 1t was while thus en-
gagged that the explosion took place. ChaS
ShLgert says he saw about a dozen men
standing abb Ut Old 1nnen receiving the
powder a moment before the explosion took
place The drivers were hurled about pro-
pltscuously. The men were paralyZei with
fright. and fearing explosion Of gas had
taken place and a collapse Of the entire
mine was about 10 follow they simply wait
Cd for death.
It was IN this position they were found by
some miners from No. 2. who FASTENED
through the subterranean passageways to
No. 8. As soon as lights were seen the de-
roralized drivers FASTENED to tho bottom
Of the shaft.
There q terrible sight met their gaxe
6trewn over the twisted and torn tfmbers
were fragments Of human flesh and bones
and limbs Of the unfortunats miners The
men were too sick to attempt to remove the
remains of the dead.
Rescuing parties were quickly formed and
headed by Superintendent Roderick a corps
Of miners descended into the mine. The
work OF recovering the bodies was at oncs
begun, but II was q difficult task. Frag-
nnents Of human flesh were found some dis
lance up the slope clingins to the rails and
des and sticking to the roof, while every
where were bones AMI limbs
At this hour not enough has been found
Of the bodies to make d recognition ros-
aibls II Is believed that at least q dozen
men were blown TO pieces
bringing I'D the Victims.
Later.-At 10 o'clock Foreman ShuSert
came up and gave out what information he
could To satisfy. the distracted relatives
of the unfortunate miners. The details Of
the disaster were too sfckening to be re-
peated and the widows AMI orphans had to
be satisfied with the simple statement that
al the men were dead.
Arrangements for bringing the remains
TO the surface were then made. Orders for
ten boxes were given to the under akers.
AT the bottom Of the slope different scene
was Transporting. As each fragment of hu-
man flesh was found II was taken to the
turnout. which Is a wide opening an impro-
vised table was erected there and the work
Of sorting out the pieces of flesh was put
in charge Of several men
As each limb and article of flesh was
brought cut II was washed and cleaned and
placed where 1t fitted with the body. After
all eId been arranged. the hoistlng to the
surface commenced In order that the feel
fngs of the relatives of the men might be
spared IL was arranged to hoist each box
10 the top of the tower. and from there
take them to their several homes.
As each box appeared on the surface an
aSonizinx wall went up from the multitude
u waiting Women tore their hair and
shrieks Of agony rent the air.
The officials did everything possible to
essuase their grief, but very little could be
done.
The names Of the victims are: Charles
O'Donneil aged twenty-five, married; An
drew Jabol. aged thirty-eight, married; John
frimbone, aged twenty-five, single; John
Koehleda, aged tventy-three, single: An
thony Morcavftz, aged twenty-five single:
John krinock, aged twenty-eisht married ;
John Mottefeski. aged forty-four, married:
john b. Rizzon. aged twenty-five. single.