The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-07-18
MINERS TORN T0ATOMS
Two Hundred Sticks of Giant
Powder Explodes.
EIGHT MEN REPORTED KILLED.

The Accident Occurred at the Stockton
Mine at Hazieton, Pa, and Is tho Most
Shocking which Has Ever Taken Place
fu tho Lehich Coal Fields.
HAZLRToN, Pa, July 1s.-Another mine
Disaster occurred Mt S,tp'5ton No. yes
terday, which in detail is the most shock
ing which ever took place In the Iehigh
coal felds. Two hundred sticks Of giant
powder exploded in the midst of gang
Of miners, and not enough Of their bodies
was left intact to recognize them.
The names Of the victims thus far known
ere: Charles o'DonuclI, aged 20, married;
Andrew Jabol, aged SO, married; John
Prlmbone, aged %, single; John Koehleda
aged 2s. single; Anthony Morcavitz aged
Is, single; John Krinock, aged 2s, mar
ried; John Motefeski, aged A, married;
John Brizzon, aged 25, single.
Stockton colliery is about one mile east
Of this city and operated by Linderman g.
Skeer. The mine is but part OF series of
openings which the company operates in
the valley, and is surrounded by hamlets
In which the miners live. On account of
Its Isolation from the main breaker 1t has
been customary to send the dynamite and
other explosives In boxes to No. Sand dis
tribute them to the workmen Mt the bot
tom of the second shaft as they appear in
che 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 aro-the only men to return alive
from the opening. How mauy 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 q list of
the living is taken.
The drivers went into the stables to har-
ness their mules and 1t was while thus EN-
gagged that the explosion took place.
Charles Shugart says he saw bout dozen
men standing about O'Donnell receiving
the powder moment before the explosion
took place.
Rescuing parties were quickly formed,
and headed by Superintendent Roderick,
q corps of miners descended into the
mine. The work Of recovering the bodies
was at once begun, but 1t was 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 slops
in order TO prevent the frantic women
from climbing down the slope and being
dashed TO death.
Arrangements for bringing the remains
TO the surface were then made. Orders for
ten boxes were given to the undertakers.
At the bottom Of the slope n different
soene WIS transpiring. As each fragment
Of human flesh was found it was taken to
che turnout, which is wide opening. An
improyised table was erected there, and
The work of sorting out the pieces of flesh
WAS put in charge of several men. As
each limb and article of flesh was brought
out it was washed and cleaned and placed
where it fitted with the body. As each
box appeared on the surface an agonizng
wail went up from the multitude in wait
ing. Women tore their hair, and shrieka
bf agony rent the air.