The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-07-18
MINERS TORN TOATONS
Two Hundred Sticks of Giant
Powder ExplOdes.
EIGHT MEN REPORTED KILLED.

rhs Accident Occurred at the Stockton
Mine At Hazleton, Pa, and Is the Most
Shocking which Has Ever Taken Place
In tho Lshigh Coal Fields.
HAzLEToN, Pa, July 1s.-Another mine
disaster occurred at Stockton No. yes
terday, which in detail is the most shock
ing which ever took place In the Lehigh
coal fields. Two hundred sticks Of giant
powder exploded in the midst of a gang
Of miners, and not enough Of their bodies
was left intact to recognize them.
The names Of the victims thus far known
are! Charles O'Donncll, aged %, married;
Andrew Jabol, aged 3S, married; John
Prim bone, aged ,, single; John Koehleda,
aged 2S, single Anthony Morcavitz, aged
b, single; John Krinook, aged 2s mar
fied; John Motefeski, aged A, married;
John Brizzou, aged 25, single.
Stockton c0lliery is about one mile east
II this city aud operated by Lnderman q
bkeer. The mine is but part of a series Of
openings which the company operates in
the valley, and is surrounded by hamlets
In which the miners live. On account of
It's isolation from the main breaker it has
been customary to send the dynamite and
|
tribute them to the workmeu at the bot
tom Of the second shaft as they appear in
the morning on their way to work.
Charles O'Donnell had charge of this
| department, and it was his duty to dis
tribute to the company miners and start
ers the dynamite and caps The first men
to go down into the shaft were the drivers,
and these are the only men to return alive
| from the opening. How many men or
who they were who followed in the next
boat it is not definitely known, and for
this reason the exact number Of men
/ killed will not be known until a list of
the living is taken.
The drivers went into the stables to har-
ness their mules and it was while thus en-
| gagged that the explosion took place.
| Charles Shugart says he saw about a dozen
men standing about O'Donnell receiving
| the powder a moment before the explosion
took place.
Rescuing parties were quickly formed,
and headed by Superintendent Roderick,
corps of miners descended into the
mine. The work Of recovering the bodies
was at once begun, but it was a difficult
task Fragments of human flesh were
| found some distance up the slope cling
| ing to the rails and ties and sticking to
the roof, while everywhere were bones
and limbs.
| ! The scenes on the surface were heart
rending. Mothers, with babes in their
arms, pressed closely over the mouth OF
the dark opening, and it was finally nee
essary to rope off the entrance to the slope
in order to prevent the frantic women
from climbing down the slope and being
| dashed to death.
| Arrangements for bringing the remains
| 10 the surface were then made. Orders fol
ten boxes were given to the undertakers
At the bottom of the slope a different
bcene was transpiring. As each fragment
bf human flesh was found it was taken t
the turnout, which is a wide opening Al
lmprovised table was erected there, anC
ne work of sorting out the pieces of fesl
tyas put in charge of several men. A,
zach limb and article of flesh was brough
put it was washed and cleaned and PLACED
where it fitted with the body As eacl
boX appeared on the surface an agonizinl
| wall went up from the multitude in wait
ing. Women tore their hair, and shriek
if agony rent the air.