The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-07-09
NANT|COKE
MINE HORROR
Three WOrkmCn Meet Death In a Terrible
Form.
TWO others FATALLY INJURED
While at Work Timbering to Stop a
Squeeze All Are Caught Like Rats
in Trap-Marvelous Escape Of
the Foreman-Brave Rescuers Risk
Their Lives to Free Their Dying
Comrades-List of the Dead and
Wounded.
NANTICoKE, July s

NANTlCOkE, July D.
IN HORRIBLE accident occurred, in
IAN the No slope Of the Susque-
IN hanna Coal company here yes
II VI terday afternoon, by which
three mon lost their lives. two were
fatally injured, ahd one, who iniracul-
ously escaped. was severely injured
The dead, are: Evan Adams, rock
man, Of Nanticoke. aged 32; leaves d
wife and one child; crushed to death.
Anthony Zourzwick, Polander, agsd
2S. unmarried, taken from undSr the
TALL, horribly crushed; died soon after.
George H. Hapney, aged 50, rock man,
married, has wife and Two children.
crushed about body and head, both
legs broken; died at o'clock.
The injured are: Joseph Washeliez,
Polandsr, laborer. unmarried, aged 81,
four ribs aud one arm broken and in
iured Internally, cannot live; John.
Zudic. Hungarian, laborer. aged 20,
married, skull fractured and Crushed
about body, cannot recover; George
Van Fsusen, leg broken and badly
bruised, seriously, but not fatally in
jursd.
HOW 1T OCCURRED.
The gang OF men under the charge
Of Foreman Van Fausen had gone into
the mine early in the morning to do
some iimbefiug in a tunnel, wnere q
slight squeeze was noticeable. The
roof had been thoroughly tested and
was thought to be perfectly. safe. Dur.
ing the morning there were no indica-
tions of the squRez, extending. The
roof and pillars were chipping slight
ly, but the workings were quieter than
they had b.eu for some days.
The men were to have quit work at
oon and gone outside for dinner, but
when their time was up they were just
standing the last timber and decided to
finish the job SO it would not be neees-
ssry to return to the place. The five
were directly In the face az the work.
ings, lifting the heavy prop aud Van
Fausen was standing o few feet be.
hind them directing the placing Of the
timber. 1t was just being put in posi-.
tion when the fall occurred. There
was not the slightest warning. A mass
OF coal fell with rush and the five
men were imm ediately buried out Of
sight and hearing. Van Fausen was
on the extreme edge Of the fall and
was hurled from under it by the con-
cussion, but not quite far enough, as
his left leg was caught under mass
OF coal and broken, while he was badly
bruised by flying pieces.
BRAVE REscUERs AT WORK.
Men in other parts Of the mine at
once rushed TO the scene and the work
of rescue was commenced. Van Fausen
was quickly extricsted and taken to
the surface Ho described before leav-
ing the mine just where the other men
were standing and the rescuers set to
work with will to get out the bodies,
for 1t was thought none would be-
alive After working for about three
hours groans were heard, and the men
redoubled their efforts and 5000 PARTLY
uncovered Anthony Z)nrzwick. He
was still alive, but unconscious. He
was horribly crushed, his head being u
mass Of broken bone and torn fash.
He died soon afterward
Abont an hour afterward the body Of
Evan Adams was recovered He had
teen so fearful crushed against the
side Of the tunnel that his body was
almost fat When the fall occurred
ho had been standing ready to drive IN
wedge Of wood between the prop and
the roof. When found the wedge and
hammer were still in bis hand, 30 his
death must have been instantaneous
Shortly afterward the bodies of
George Hanney and Joe Washeliez
were recovered; these men had fallen
under the prop which they had been
lifting, which fell against the side and
partly protected them. Tho masses of
coal had, however closed them In 80
tightly that they were badly crushed
by its weight and both were 30 seri
ously injured that they could not re-.
cover. They were taken out with
great difficulty and were carried to the
surface rs soon as possible.
II was nearly 5 O'clock before the
last man. John Zujic, was taken out.
He was standing against the rib and
was packed IN tight by the debris. He
would probably have escaped with his
life had not large piscs Of coal struck
his head, frasturing his skull, Ho was
unconscious when found.
Crowds Of people gathered about the
mouth Of the slope when the news Of
the accident spread through the town
and remained there until the last man
fakan nut