The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-02-14
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Thirteen Men Overwhelmed in
. Plymouth, Pa, Collisry.
1hsy We're TfnbsSing . Wsrks1-Ous
Mise. Rrspsxassry - Rsspssiag. SD
the Reef Csus Crashing Dswn.

town CT Plymouth 10 in mourning tonight
over . terrible accident that occurred in
the Gaylord coIlieFy this morning. Thif-
teen men, al citizens Of that town, Lost
their lives while In the discharge Of their
duties. Their names are:
NINE FosExAs THonAs PIcroB,
THOMAS JoSEs.
RICHARD DAVIS,
JoHs MoRxrs.
JAMES KIsspoM.
THOMAS MKannAH.
THOMAS Cote,
JOSEPH 0Eps,
DANIEL MoRsAx,
JoHs HAMMER,
PErxR 8. McLAueHLIS,
MfcHEAI l. WALSH,
THOMAS LEYsHoS.
All the victims, with the exception of
two, leave families. One lost his wife only
q month ago, and four little children sur
vive them. The disaster throws ten
widows and thirty-six orphans on the
worlds charity.
The Gaylord mine 10 owned by Daniel Ed
wards. one Of the wealthiest operators in
the anthracite region, and il operated by
the Kingston Coal Company, of which
Edwards 10 president The best coal in
the mine was taken out years ago. Then
IL was abandoned because it could not be
operated with profit. About three weeks
ago the company decided to resume opera
tons, and . party Of expert miners was
sent into the mine TO make an examina-
ton. They found matters in bad shape.
the last men at work in the coliiery had
robbed" the pillars supporting the roof
until they were very thin. A great many
ails had taken place. The passages were
blocked by debris, and the air current was
poor. Mining experts gave the opinion,
however, that the mine sould be put in
good condition again with q small outlay
Of capital. The company decided to 60
on with the work at once. Monday
morning . large number of expert
miners. carrying safety lamps, entered
the mine and began work clearing
up old gangways and propping the roof.
They had not been at work long until q
squeeze" came which compelled the men
to retrace their steps. Foreman Picton,
with twelve selected miners. volunteered
to 60 down in the mine and see what could
be done. The descent was made ct 10
o'clock last night. Picton's object was to
get 40 near az possible to the most dan
gerous part, where the squeeze" Vas
greatest, in order to stay ITS progress by
besming the roof with heavy timbers.
Picton and his men did not prove success
full, rs the cave extended far beyond the
danger limit and . much greater distance
than where the men expected to be safe
II they retreated ct the first indication
Of heavy fall. This is shown by the vast
area of the cave. and that no one IL left to
tell the story. The supposition is that the
men were busily 1t work timbering when
the rock roof came tumbling down upon
their heads, crushing them out of SEM
blance to humanity and putting wall Of
debris between them and the mouth of the
shaft 400 feet in thickness.
At first there was some hope that If the
men could be reached in . reasonable time
they could be saved. This was a false
hope. however. as q rescuing party had
only been in the mine short time when
they were obliged to retreat on account of
further caving. A second rescuing party,
under Supt. James w. Davis, went down
the shaft this afternoon, but soon came
came back thoroughly disheartened. and
at o'clock all hope of rescuing the men
alive was given up. News OF the aban-
doned hope soon spread. and the wives
and children of the men in the mine, who
had assembled at the mouth of the shaft
expecting at any moment to see their loved
ones brought up alive. set up most pitt
full cry Of distress. Two women tainted
and had to be carried away by friends.
There was only one way the men might
have escaped instant destruction. but only
to meet death In slower form by i'm
prisonment and starvation. Opening from
the gangway are number of cross head
ings leading to an old gangway. If the
men had few moments warning they
are possibly now in these workings wait
ing for help. The distance to this old
gangway from the foot of the shaft is about
800 feet through closed up passages. which
must be reopened and retimbered before
they can be traversed. Gangs are
working with feverish haste. and
hope to get through by midnight If
the men are not there. 1t is thought there
was possibility of their having had time
20 escape in another direction into other
workings. and efforts to reach these places
are also being made. Inside Superinten-
dent Picton, whose son was in charge os
the party, says he will not give up bona
until the dead boiies are h-nuoht a,t