The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-06-20
THE DISASTER AT TROPPAU.
NUMBER OF DEATHS DUE To THE
NINE EXPLOSION is 232.
Engineer F(ohOut's Close Call for Fsis
Life While at the Head of n Rescu-
ing Parfy-The Mine still Burning
Floods Add to the Ruin.

TROPPAU, Austrian Silesia, June Is
OF life is reported from Karwin. An ex-
plosion of fire-damp has taken place IN
the Johann and Franziska mines, at thar
place. Over one hundred and fifty mi
ners are said to have been killed. Both
the mines were on fire when the dispatch
was sent, the ventilator shafts were de-
stroyed, and the fire was spreading in all
| directions. The Johann and Franziska
mines are owned by Count Won Larisoh
Later-The Official report places the
number of killed at 1S9, with twenty per-
sons fatally injured The rescuing party,
| which perdshed this morning, was com
posed of ten persons. Fourteen bodies
have already been recovered.
There were five distinct explosions, the
last one occurring shortly after O'Clock
this morning. The galleries Of the mines
| are still on fire and it is believed that
the majority Of the bodies Of the killed
| will be consumed.
TROPPAU, Austrian Silesia, June16.-
| The official estimates Of the extent Of the
disaster caused by the explosions Of fire
damp on Thursday night in the coal mines
at Karwin say that 2O4 miners are miss
ing and that only twenty bodies have
| been recovered. OF the miners who met
their death by these explosions los were
married men and they leave 400 children
to mourn their loss. Experts who have
examined the pits declare that they were
| in a dangerous condition weeks ago.
TROPPAU, June 1.-THE total num-
| Der of deaths resulting from the explo-
sion that occurred in a mine near here
few days ago is 232. Engineer Ko-
hout, the sole survivor Of the party that
went to attempt the rescue Of the mi
ners said, today, that he heard the fear
full explosion on Thursday night. He
| Immediately rushed to the pit-hole,
from which a dense smoke and cloud
| Of coal dust belched forth. He formed
party and descended 500 feet into the
mine. They entered the fourth level,
where they found the bodies of twenty
four miners and several dead horses ly-
ing at the entrance. The gallery was
| blocked with fallen beams and coal
| While waiting for reinfOrcements fif-
teen survivors issued from the well
leading from the fifth level. They were
almost exhausted and in a dazed condi-
ton, but all joined in the work of res
| cue. Herr Kohout returned TO the main
shaft and signalled for assistance. Sud
denly another terrific explosion oc-
| CURED, hurling the wagons together and
| throwing Herr Kohout to the ground.
His hat fell down the shaft but he
| clutched the door, which prevented him
going down al so. The lamps In the lev
el were extinguished. Herr Kohout held
| a handkerchief to his mouth and this
| prevented him from being choked TO
death by the after-damp. He was, how
ever, gradually losing his senses, when
| the cage, in which the pit men were
| fleeing from the lower level, rose in the
shaft. Herr KOhout shouted and was
| taken into the cage and raised to the
surface. A second party descended into
the mine, and bravely entered the gal
| leries. They found all the first rescue
their explorations and although they
were badly burned recovered some
bodies, most of which were unrecogniz-
| able.
The mine is still burning. and it will
not be possible 70 resume work for six
months. The victims were buried this
afternoon, and the services were marked
by many distressing scenes.
The whole district yesterday was
flooded by the overfiowing of the Wis
tula river. The bridges at Karwin and
Darkau were blocked, and several 9TH
ers were destroyed. The town Of
Schwa.zwassa was inundated. Soldiers
| have erected dams TO prevent further
damage, but the floods are now sub
siding