The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-02-14
The Mining Town OF Plymouth. Pa.
Mourns Because OF a Terri
bic Accident.
Thirteen Miners Entombed Behind
Wall Of Debris 400 Foot
Thick.
No Hope Of ReseuinE Any OF Them Alive
len widows and Thirty-siE
Orphans.

WmKEsnARhF Pa. Fsb 13. Tho mining
town Of Plymouth Ia in moui ming tonight
over a terrible accident that occurred ia
the Gaylord collierY this morning. Thir-
teen men, all oitlzsna Of that towa. lost
their lives While IN the disohargs Of their
duties. Their names are; Mine Foreman
Thomas Pioton. Thomas Jones. Richard
Davis, John Morris. James Kingdom, Thos.
Merfiman. Thomas Cole. Joseph Olds.
Daniel Morgan. John Hammer Peter =.
Mclaughlin, Michael l.. Walsh and Ihos.
Leyshon.
All the victims. with ths exception Of
two. leave families. One lost his wife only
a month ago. and four little children sur-
vivs them, consequently the disaster throws
ten widows aud thirty-siE children on TIE
worlds charity.
Iho Gaylord mine is owned by Daniel
Edwards. one Of the vsalthiest operators
in the anthracite region. Il ii operated By
the Kingston Coal company, OF which Ed
wards ia president. The best coal IN tie
mine VAS taken ont years ago. Then 10
was abandoned because it could not be
operated with profit. About three weeks
ago the company decided TO resums opera
tions. and a party OF expert miners we're
sent into the mine 10 make examination.
They found matters in bad shape. The
last men At work In ths collieTv had
"fobbed'' the pillars supporting the roof
until they we're very thin. great many
falls had taken place. Passages we're
blocked by debris and the air current poor.
Mining experts gave she opinion. how
ever, that the mine could be put in good
capital. The company decided 10 90 on
with the work at once. Monday morning a
large number OF expert miners. carrying
safety lamps, entered the mine and began
the work OF clearing up the old QnnRWaya
aud proppinR the roof. They had not been
az work long until ''squeszs" came.
which compelled the men To retrsce their
steps.
FoTsman Picton. with twelve selected
miners volunteered 10 90 down the shaft
aud see what could be done. The descent
was made az 10 O'Clock last night. Pie
tons obieet was 10 gst - near as possible
20 the most dangerous part where ths
"aqueezs" was the greatest In order to stay
progress by beaming ths oof with heavy
timber. The efforts Of Picton and the men
did NOS prove . success, aa the cave Extend
ed far beyond the danger limit and a mt uch
greater distance than where the men ex-
pectsd 20 be safe II theT TstFsated 81 she
hrst indication of q heavy fall. This is
shown by the vast ar OF the oavs-in.
No one IL left 80 tell the story. The sup
position 10 that the men were busily az
work timbsring when the rock Toof came
tumbling down upon their heads. crushing
them out Of ssmblancs 20 humanity and
puttizR a wall of debris between them and
the mouth of the shaft 400 feet in thickness.
AZ frat there was some hope that II the
men could be reached in reasonable time
they could be saved. This was a false
hope, however. 1he rescuing pariy had
been IN the mine only "a shsTt time when
they we're obliged TO retreat on aeeount OF
further caving. A second rsscning party,
under Superintendent James W. DaviL
went down the shaft this afternoon. but
soon came bsok thoroughly dishsartensd.
and ~ three o'clock all hope of resouing
the men alive Was given up.
News OF the abandoned hope soon spread.
and the wives and children of the men ia
tho mine who were assembled a. the mouth
of the shaft expecting 10 sss love q
ones brought up alive. set up . most pltiful
CRY Of distress. I've women tainted anu
had TO be carried away by friends.