The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-02-14

WlLKEsBAERE, PA, Feb. 1S.-Tho
mining town OF Plymouth is in mourn
ing tonight over terrible accident
that occurred in tho Gaylord collcry
this morning. Thirteen men, all citi-
zens OF that town, lost their livos while
in tho discharge OF their duties. Their
names are:
Mino Foreman Thomas Picton,
Thomas Jones, Richard Davis, John
Morris, James Kingdom, Thomas Merri-
man, Thomas Cole, Joseph Olds, Daniel
Lnughlin, Michael Walsh, Thomas
Leyshon.
All Of the victims, with the exception
OF two, leave families. Ono OF these lost
his wife only month ago and four lit
tie children survive them, consequently
tho disaster throws eleven widows and
thlrty.six children on tho worlds char
ity Tho Gaylord mine is owned by
Daniel Edwards, one OF tho wealthiest
operators in the anthracite region.
1t is operated by the Kingston Coal
Company, OF which Mr.. Edwards is
president. The best coal in the mine
was taken out years ago. Then it was
abandoned because it could not be op-
erated with profit.
About three weeks ago the company
decided to resume operations, and 4
party OF expert miners was sent into
the mine to make an examination.
They found matters in bad shape.
The experts gave 1t as their opinion,
however, that tho mines could be put
in good condition again with email
outlay OF capital.
The company decided to 60 on with
the work at once. Monday morning 4
large number OF expert miners, carry
ing safety lamps. entered the mine and
began the work OF clearing up the old
gangways and propping the roof.
A FATAL DESCENT.
Thoy had not been at work long until
n squeeze" came which compelled tho
men TO retrace their steps. Foreman
Picton, with twelve selected minors,
volunteered to 60 down this shaft and
SEQ what could be done. The descent
was made at 10 o'clock last night. Pic
toms object was to got as near aa posi-
bic to the most dangerous part OF whero
tho Squeeze was the greatest, in or
der to stay its progress by beaming the
roof with heavy timber.
In cases oil this kind tho men get MS
near as possible to tho cavo.in and by
tho insertion u! cogs and props eudeav-
or to break OFT the mass OF rock over
head to certain point, thus relieving
tho pressure on other portions of the
mine. 1t seems that in this instance
the efforts OF Picton and his men did
not prove success, rs the cave extended
lar beyond tho danger limit and much
greater distance than where tho men
expected to be safe ii they retreated at
the first indication OF tho heavy fall.
NONE ARE LEFT.
This is shown by the vast arca OF the
cave-in. No one is lett to tell the story.
The supposition is that tho men were
busily at work, timboring, when the
rocky roof came tumbling down upon
their heads, crushing them out OF sem
blance to humanity and putting wall
OF debris between them and the mouth
OF the shaft four hundred feet in thick
ness.
At first thore was some hope that il
the mon could be reached in rcasona-
bio time they could be saved. This was
false hope. however. The rcscuing
party had been in the mine only short
time when they were obliged to retreat
on account OF further caving.
a second rescuins party under Supt.
James W. Davis went down this shaft
this afternoon, but soon came back
thoroughly disheartened. end at 3
o'clock all hope OF rescuing the men
alive was given up. The news OF aban-
doned hope soon spread and the wives
and children Of the men in the mine
who had assembled at tho mouth OF tho
shaft expecting any moment to see
their loved ones brought up alive, set
up most pitiful cry OF distress.
Mothers wrung their hands and tore
their hair and little children wcpt bit.
terly. Two OF tho women tainted and
had to be carried away by friends.
Even stout-hoarted men who had
gathered ut the entrance OF tho mino
wept almost Us bitterly rs the father
loss children.
THE WORST FOR YEARS.
To-day's disaster is the worst that has
occurred in the anthracite region since
1885 when twenty-five men perished by
n cave-in in mine No. OF tho Susque-
hanna Coal Company at Nanticoko.
Their bodies wero never recovered and
monument marks the spot where tho
mon met their death.
Supt. Edwards said tonight that he
would take care OF the women and chill
dren whose husbands and fathers lost
their lives in to.day's calamity.
The mine, it is now believed, is total
wreck.
a Baltic ut TcGucIGnipn.
New YoRK, Feb. ia special to tho
Ilor13 fro,, tho Ni.v ~ SolroJa. royo. A