The Lamar register., 1894-10-13
sMorHsREp in A MINE.
Five Men Lose Their Lives Result
of One Mans CrreIessness.


Shamokip. Pa. Oct. 9-one work
man dead and four others closed in
the mine. with all avenues of escape
shut OF. and the most disastrous mine
fire ever known in the western anthra-
cite coal fields now raging at the Luke
. Fidler collicry is the result, in brief,
OF carpenters negligence. Fifty
five other workmcn who We're en-
ployed in the mine at the time Of the
accident had thrilling escapes, as
they were compelled TO grope their
way through smoke and noxious gases
In order TO reach the fresh air in
safety.
The fire started In the airway of No.
shaft late last night. and irwin Buf-
fington, whom the colliery officials
hold responsible for the disaster Is
dead. His body was not burned. as
death was due to suffocation. George
Brown. miner. and his Polish helper.
Anthony Boberttik: Robert. driver
boy; Luke Eidier and another Polish
iaborer. whose name is not known by
the mine officials, are in the mine, and
no hope Is entertained OF recovering
them. The mine Is now mass of
flames and cannot be approached from
any direction 1t is feared that the in
side workings will have to be flooded,
which means many months of idleness
10 the 300 employees.
Superintendent Norris Williams OF
the Mineral Railroad and Mining Co.
Informed u representative OF the Asso-
ciated Press that while Irwin Buffing
ton, John Anderson. Jr., and others
We're engaged in retimbcring No. /
shaft. the former disobcyed orders by
lighting his naked lamp in the air
course for the purpose OF testing the
air. A spark set fire TO the timber that
was dry rs powder. and the current
carried the flames up and down the
shaft like lightning.
Burlington was advised by his fellow
workmen to make good his escape,
but he neglected TO heed their warn
ing and returned to the bottom .of the
shaft to exchange his gumboots for his
shoes. This delay caused him his life
and his dead body was recovered In
.he tunnel about ) o'clock this morn
Ing.
The smoke spread through the in
side workings with great rapidity and
alarmed the men and boys doing night
duty In the mine. While the impris
oned men were rushing through the
inside workings in search of m air
shaft for an outlet. hundreds OF their
friends gathered about the mouth of
the shaft. and rs the fan house was
destroyed 10y the flames. the cries and
means of mothers. wives and sisters
and children OF the imprisoned en-
ployes sent chills through the hearts
of many hardy miners who We're wait
ing for an opportunity to assist their
doomed comrades. Two OF the men
were overcome by the smoke while.
making their escape. but the coal-run
rescuing party succeeded in carrying
them ont and restoring them 10 con-
seriousness. The gangs Of workmen
cannot get to any point near the fire
on account of the smoke, gas and
flames. and the lire cannot be fought
with any success. This mine connects
with the Hickory swamp collicry of
the Union Coal Co. and 1t will have 10
be, drowned out. which will compel
both mines 10 shut down for II year
or more. The Luke Fidler colliery is
operated by the Mineral Railroad X
Mining Co. and gives employment e.
.iNH vgn and h t-s