New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-27
CLIMBING A WAY FROM DEATH
RETAIL COAL DEALERS TELL HOW
THEY ESCAPED FROM A NINE
vATOR STOPPED AND THE MEN HAD TO
TOLL Up THE SHAFT ON LADDERS
SINGLE FILE. TO GET AWAY FROM

|
TOLL Up THE SHAFT ON LADDERS.
| SINGLE FILE TO GET AWAY FROM
| THE DEADLY GASES.
| The party OF retail coal dealers who had such a
thrilling experience the Wikesbarre mine several
| days ago. returned to this city late Friday night.
| AT least eighteen Of them have taken solemn vows
to devote themselves hereafter exclusively to the
distributing end OF the coal business. and never
| again to monkey with the bowels OF the earth. Ow-
ing the bursting Of boiler. the fans which sup
| piled air the mine stopped. The elevator
machinery also parayzed. and the eighteen coal
dealers had to climb up the ladders in the shaft to
! escape from the deadly gases which gathered as
soon the fans stopped. The depth Of the shaft
up which the luckless crawed is estimated at
about 1910 feet by the miners. but there d.
verses OF opinion the subject.
The young lean and active OF the party have
agreed that five miles is conservative estimate Of
the distance they climbed. while the latest and
shortest-wnded explorers positive that the
bottom OF that mine is close to the centre OF the
EARTH and they are stu discussing the question
whether 1t would not have been better TO have gone
the other way and dug their way through to China.
The word OF coal Is not TO be questioned
whether he talks about weights distances. any
more than the word OF an ice man is 20 be doubted
or the word Of a fisherman to be impunged. People
can select any depth for the mine that suits their
fancy. between the limits Of five and 1000 miles
Patrick Curtis was one OF the party and he tod
Tribune reporter all about the affair yesterday.
II wasn't going dowp" he said. because Ia been
in mines a good many times. and didn't expect to
see anything new. But when the foreman said
Step the elevator. please and no one moved.
went forward and the first man aboard. Nine
Of down with the foreman. 1t took two
or three minutes to go down. The shaft was about
eight by ten feet. II divided in three parts.
shaft for the elevator. an air shaft and a ladder
ebaf dou IN ole bac
for another load. Most Of US had miners oil lamps
in our hands.
The foreman sent boy to get key to unlock
a door, The boy back and said he couldn't
get the key but that would have to back.
He said the foreman wanted the telephone.
We all went to the telephone and the foreman put
the receiver to his ear.
81 can't hear word you say he said.
"He listened closely minute and then hung up
the receiver.
I'VE have got to go out all he said
Everybody was excited and began to ask him
questions about accident lie just cool
l am now. All he said The elevator has
stopped; we must climb out to escape the gas
We'll you can imagine that there was a scramble
ahead abr lpe Of me and WISHED hadn't afterward
thought Of 1t after got to climbing Suppose
OF those 200-pounders should let go and come plump
wasn't any danger Of failing very FAR The ladders
went up Ike iire. - There was platform,
distance and then the next ladder going up on the
opposite side Of the shaft. The manholes in the
platforms were small and II was a wonder the fat
We'll, there wasn't much else; We just climbed
The miners kept coming in from the galleries and
Joining the procession. About 200 feet up overlook
some Of party who had not been in the first ele
load
""Where'd you come from? said I.
" we were In the elevator wher IL stopped, about
100 feet from the bottom they said. Then went
again one of the fat became exhausted
few words Of encouragement and held my lamp to
light his way for five six ladders. Then got
separated by some miners who came in from
gallery"
For nearly three hours this line OF men crawled
long the narrow shaft. single file, up the ladders.
The hardy miners accustomed to the darkness and
SCOT and hardship and dangers Of the mine. worked
their way upward In soical Silence. Their position
was perilous, for the poisonous gases might close
in upon them at moment, but they used
to such emergencies.
The visitors to the mine did not know the exact
nature Of their danger. and doubt all greatly
exaggerated II in their minds They were frequently
treasured and encouraged by the words and manner
of the miners who climbing with them.
The first man 10 reach the surface a. F. Rice,
and his appearance was greeted with a cheer. II
the first certain knowledge that the watchers
the mouth Of the shaft had that their companions
had not been sufocated by the deadly vapors. Then
the others emerged. one by one. the wives and
mothers OF the miners waiting anxiOus,y for them.
II than three hours after the accident
occurred that the last man reached the surface
The miners Joined their families. and went home
10 rest and sleep in order to be ready to down
the black hoe again soon as the machinery was
repaired The tourists went 10 their hotel to change
their clothing and 10 wash away the SCOT. one or
two OF them tainted on reaching the surface.
II object lesson not soon 10 be forgotten
OF the pers life and limb which attend the
mining Of the black diamonds" which they buy
and sell