The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-11-29
death SUDDEN AND QUICK
Three Men Killed BY a Fall of Rock
in Pine Brook Shaft.
SLAB WEIGHED FIFTEEN TONS
John b. Jones, Thomas ], Cawley and
Edward Egan Meet Sudden Death.
The Latter Lived Half Hour
After Being Brought Out.

Suddenly and swiftly three men were
crushed to death by fall OF rock in
the Pine Brook shaft of the Lacka-
wanna Iron and Steel company at .
O'Clock yesterday afternoon. Their
names are:
JOHN B. JONES' aged 45 years, miner,
married, but without any children, and
living at 500 Harrison avenue.
THOMAS ]. CAWLEY, aged % years, la
borer, unmarried, and boarding at AIS
Luzerne street.
EDWARD EGAN aged 40 years, laborer,
unmarried and boarding at 446 Phelps
street.
Jones and Cawley were instantly
killed, but Egan lived for a half hour
until he was removed to the engine
room, and was about to be placed in the
Moses Taylor ambulance when he
breathed his last. All three were ter
ribly crushed, their bodies were twisted
out of shape by the weight Of the heavy
saddle or "bell' of rock that dropped
on them.
Apparently it was an unavoidable ac-
cldent, ranking in the list Of distress
ing casualties that every now and then
happen in the best regulated mine.
Where the men met their death was at
the face of Jones' chamber in the Dun
more vein on No. 2 lift, and 1t lies
underneath Capouse avenue, about
midway between Ash and Poplar
streets. The vein of coal runs on an
Htra nLn ;nht
inches of bottom rock is blasted to
make a proper height for the mules.
Cawley labored with Jones and Egan
labored with Michael Mulligan in the
adjoining chamber.
They Were Seated Smoking.
4 Jones and Cawley had cleaned up the
face of their chamber and were getting
it ready to allow the rocksmen to lift
about ten feet of bottom rock. They
We're sitting close to the face of the
chamber taking a rest and enjoying a
smoke. Egan came over from his work
and joined them. He had not been
more than two minutes seated with
them when the fall came that ended
their lives. Mulligan, in the next
chamber, heard the crash and called
| out, but received no answer. When he
went through the cross-cut to see II
there was anything wrong he saw nc
light at the face of the chamber, and
upon investigating he found the three
men covered beneath the slab. Egan
was alive and muttering family. HELP
was quickly at hand and the rock was
first lifted from him and he was hur.
riedly taken to the surface. In thS
meantime the Moses Taylor ambulance
was summoned, but Egan's life hat
closed before the doors were shut, just
as they had lifted him on the mattress
A half hour was spent in releasing the
/ bodies of the other men and after thai
| was done they were placed in a car anC
/ brought to the foot of the shaft, few
minutes later being hoisted to the en-
gine room, where they were placed il
ambulances and brought home.
What Foreman Powell Says.
A Tribune reporter had a talk witt
John H. Powell, inside foreman of the
! shaft, and his version of the case i.
that 1t was an unavoidable accident
an unfortunate occurrence that is deep
| ly regretted by him. The men were a
work all day; they had gone on at
o'clock in the morning, and had finished
their shift and were soon to get read,
for home.
Foreman Powell believes that the,
had not fred a blast for a good Will
before, as the place was clear of coal
They were sitting at the face of tn
breast with their backs to the pilla
just as miners are often in the habit o
doing, taking a short rest and enjoyin!
a smoke. Egan came over and entered
into conversation with them. Withou
the warning Of an instant they wer
crushed beneath the slab Weighing up
ward of fifteen ton. 1t was about fee
wide, l6 feet in length and in the cente
at its thickest point was not more thai
inches solid. 1t was, what is common
ly called in the phraseology of tn
mines, Saddle"
Those who are conversant with tn
working Of coal know that after the Goa
has been mined from a chamber 70
often times year afterward the roo
will appear solid and no sign of DANCE
is observed. Some morning when visi
Is made to the chamber the roof may b
found covered with one or number
perhaps, of those saddles or bells.
They Have No Support.
They are simply stuck up in the roc
without any support and are liable a
any time to fall without the least warn
ing. All Of the men that were kille
were practical employees and ha
worked at the Pine Brook shaft fe
years. Jones was engaged there sine
he was little boy and was one of tn
most experienced miners in the shat
Cawley and Egan had been employe
there for the past ten years
Foreman Powell notified Mine II
spector Blewitt who has charge owe
the district and the latter may perhar
make an investigation today. N
coroner's jury was empaneled, the la
providing that the mine inspector mu!
first investigate and If he sees fit to o.
der the coroner to empanel a jury h
may do so.
The mines suspended operations 6
. soon as the accident was reported
Foreman Powell.
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