St. Paul daily globe., 1894-07-18
TORN into SHREDS,
Eight Miners Are Quickly
Blown Into Eternity.
KEYSTONE MINE HORROR
Two Hundred Sticks Of Giant
Powder Exploded.
BODIES RIPPED TO PIECES
Women Tore Their Hair Amid
Shrieks Of Agony.
TERRIBLE SCENES OF SORROW.

HAzELToN, Pa, July 1.-Two hun
dred sticks of giant powder exploded in
the midst of gang of miners at Stock
ton Colliery No. today. and not enough
of the mems bodies was left for identi-
ication. On account os the distance of
the Stockton collIery from the main
breaker. 1t has been customary to send
the dynamite and other explosives in
boxes to No. and distribute them to
the workmen at the bottom of the sec
ond shaft as they appear in the morning
on their way to work. 1t was Charles
ODonnelPs duty to distribute the dyna-
mite and caps. The first men to 90
dowD into the shaft today were the
drivers. and these are the only ones to
return alive from the opening. How
many men or who they were who fol-
lowed in the next box will not be known
until list of the living is taken.
The drivers went into the stables to
harness their mules, and it was while
they were thus engaged the explosion
took place. Charles Shugert says he
saw about dozen men standing about
O'Donnell, receiving their powder.
moment before the explosion too <
place. The drivers were hurled about
promiscuously. The men were para
lyzed with fright. and fearing an
EXPLOSION OF GAS
had taken place, and that collapse Of
the entire mine was about to follow.
they waited for death as though para
lyZed. 1t was in this position that they
we're found by some miners from No. 2.
who hastened through the subterranean
passageways to No. 8. AS soon as lights
were seen, the demoraliZed drivers
hastened to the bottom of the shaft.
There the terrible sight met their gaze.
Strewn over the twiste.l md torn t. M
bers were fragments of human flesh and
bones, and limbs of unfortunate miners.
The men were too much affected to at
tempt to remove the remains of the.
dead. Rescuing parties were quickly
formed, and, headed by SGpt. Roderick.
corps Of miners descended into the
mine. The work OF recovering the
bodies was at once begun, but 1t was a
difficult task. Fragments of human
flesh were found some distance up the
slope, clinging to the rails and ties and
sticking to the roof. while everywhere
were bones and limbs. at this hour
not enough has been found of the
bodies to make recognition possible.
1t is believed that at least dozen men
are blown to pieces. After surveying
the work of destruction Foreman Shu-
CART emerged
FROM THE PIT
and instituted preparations for bringing
the remains OF the victims to the sur
face The disnembered fra2
were put together as we'll as possible at
the bottom of the slope. After all had
been arranged the hosting to the sur
face was commenced. In order that the
feelings of the relatives of the men might
be spared it was arranged to hoist each
box to the top OF the tower and from
there take them to their several homes.
AS each box appeared on the surface an
agonizing wall went up from the multi
tude in waiting. Women tore their
hair, and shrieks of agony rent the air.
The officials did everything possible to
assuage their grief, but very little could
be done. The names of the victims so
far as known are:
CHARLES O'DONNELL, aged twen-
ty-five, married.
ANDREW JABOL. aged thirty-eight.
married.
JOHN PRIMBONE, aged twenty
two, single.
JOHN KOEHLEDA, aged twenty
three, single.
ANTHONY MoRCAvITZ, aged
twenty-five, single.
JOHN KRINECK, aged twenty-eight.
married.
JOHN MoTEFESKI, aged forty
four. married.
JOHN BRIZZoN, aged twenty five,
single.