The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-07-18
BLOWN TO sIfREDs.
Miners Killed and Horribly Mnngied by an
 Explosion.


 Hazleton, Pa. Julyi7.-The most hor- ribie accident that has occurred about the mines in. this region took place at 8 Stockton mine this morning. Two hun. dred sticks of dynamite exploded among | a crowd of men who were preparing to go to their days work. All of these un- fortunates were shattered and torn to fragments. The exact number killed Is not positively known at this writing. but 1t is placed at between eight and | eleven!
 The true cause of the explosion will never be known, as none of the men are living. It occurred at about ! o'clock. The men were descending the slope at the time and distributing themselves in the various chambers and gangways where they are employed.
 At the bottom of the slope Charles o'Donnell, who looked after the explo- sives and supplies for the loaders and other company workmen. was busy deal ing out dynamite and caps to the load CTS and starters. The latter came to him in groups usually, and between eight and ten of these workmen were standing about him at the time. The driver boys. who had come down earlier. had already passed in the mule way and were cleaning and harnessing their teams in the stable which Is built In the Wharton gangway. about one hundred yards from the bottom of the slope. These boys were the only per sons who were in the vicinity at the time, and the first intimation of an ac- cident that they received was the ter rife report of the explosion.
 The concussion 1t caused was so se- were as to knock the mules and drivers about in the stable. The place was fill ed with dust and flying debris. All lights were extinguished. The men were demoralized for time and did not know which way to turn.
 Although the explosion took place about three hundred yards below the surface the shock was felt over an area of surface extending to the lumber yards. three miles south and in the ad- joining mine, Mo- Stockton.
 From the latter mine rescuing party rushed through subterranean passages to No. 8. AS these men approached the bottom of the ill-fated slope they came I'D with the drivers ard other laborers groping about in the darkness.
 Pushing forward toward the bottom, they came upon a scene which baffles description. Huge timbers were twist ed and torn and scattered about pro- miscuously. Rocks ana debris were everywhere. Over all was strewn hu- man flesh, legs and arms of the unfor- tunate victims, and srt n the jagged sides hung two shattered bodies. rt Not one of the several bodies was left ,suff1- ciently intact to permit identity. By this time the news became current on the surface. The nature of the ac- cident was evident and the widest excitement took possession of the will nlagers. Men and women fiocked about bthe dark slope mouth in hundreds. |. Wives and sweethearts of the unfortu- nate men ran saimlessly about crying for aid and for their loved ones
 Rescuing parties were formed imme-
 
 cred into the pit and on the return cage ascended the men and boys who had escaped the terrible disaster. These were covered with dirt and dust
 They were eagerly besieged by anx- ious friends, but to the friends of the men still below they could offer no con- solation. Telegrams were sent to Ha- zleton and surrounding towns. Many of the men employed in No. lived at Hazleton. and the report created great excitement in that city. Crowds of people hastened to the slope and added to the excitement, which was already agonizing.
 Superintendent Roderick was early on the scene and descended with a par ty of miners, and the work of collecting the remains commenced. From time to time men came up from below to get fresh air and revive their spirits.