The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-01
miners NARROW escape
Fight Their Nay Through Flames aad
Sitting Smoke.
FOURTEEN MULES SUPFOCATED
Pump Runner uives the Alarm and 10
comes Unconscious Shaft.
In Peckvillc. the Scene Of . FierSe
Fire - Thrilling Experience.

Soon after the night shift went to
work In the Sturges shaft Of the New
York and Scranton Coal company at
Peckvllle, last night, fire broke out In
the pump house. and the fourteen
miners who constitute the shift We're
only saved by the bravery Of the pump
runner. Edward Williams.
Fourteen mules suffered the fate that
might have been the lot Of the miners
had they not received the timely warn
ing that they did.
Williams. who was badly burned
about the face and suffering a partial
collapse from the effects OF the smoke
and the excitement and exertion which
he underwent. was in a semi-conscious
condition up to the time Of this writing.
and the story OF the origin OF the fre
could not be fully learned. 1t appears.
however. that the fire was started by an
electric light wire. and that upon dis
covering II Williams attempted to ex-
tlusuish Il unaided. he being the only
person a, the foot OF the shaft at the
time.
Dashed Through smoke aud Flame
Finding that his efforts would prove
futile he made dash through the
smoke and flames to open the mule
barn door. which adjoined the pump
house. but he was driven back by the
fire. and. with his face badly burned.
he turned his attention to the men who
were working at a distance OF about
half a mile or $500 feet from the foot
OF the shaft, and on the opposite side
from the fire.
Frank James. a driver. and Charles
Rowles. leader, were together In the
main gangway when they saw a light
advancing rapidly toward them. and 4
moment later heard the startling cry
OF fire" At the same instant the light
disappeared. Rushing to the spot they
discovered the pump runner where he
had fallen. his lamp extinguished by
the fall and he unconscious stretched
out across the track.
Picking up the senseless form be-
tween them they fastened to alarm the
other men who We're scattered about
in various chambers. When all had
been given the alarm they banded to-
gether and made for the foot. The
smoke grew dense as they advanced
and by the time they reached the car
riage it was sitting. They were quick
ly raised to the surface through the
dense volume Of smoke that poured
through the shaft, which was verita-
Bile chimney for the blazing furnace be-
low. All reached the pure air in safe
ty, but almost suffocated.
Blue Ridge Gave the Alarm.
During the time that the engineer Of
the Sturges' shaft was engaged In
hosting the men, the engineer at the
Blue Ridge colliery, seeing the smoke
issuing from the Sturges, and having
heard no alarm, sounded the breaker
gong, which soon brought the whole
settlement to the mouth Of the shaft.
The mine ambulance was hurriedly pre-
pared and doctors dispatched for. None
OF the men needed particular attention
with the exception Of Williams. whose
case was found to be very serious. He
was conveyed to his home, In Peckville.
and at last reports was no better. He
was In a state Of utter collapse and
suffering from the burns on his face.
It Is thought, however. that he will
ultimately recover.
Superintendent Henry Chapman was
among the first ON the scene. He i'm
mediately set to work to extinguish the
fire, and with the cooperation Of In
side Superintendent Sab Williams. OF
the Blue Ridge. organized a gang to
attack the fire by way OF the air shaft.
Matt Walker, George Movies. Nerron
Williams, James Davy and Moses
Howells volunteered to accompany the
two superintendenits.
BY stopping the fan when the men
reached the bottom the air course was
changed and they were enabled to APP
proach the fire with the current at
their backs. The Wilson Hose COM
pany. OF Peckville. which had respond
ed To the alarm. let their hose down the
shaft and soon strong force of water
was being thrown on the fire, which
had now become double fierce, as the
grainary adjoining the pump house had
also taken fire.
Firo Under Control.
fssss 10 o'clock the men came TO the
surface and announced that they had
prevented the fire from communica eating
to the COAL The barn also escaped de-
struction. but the fourteen mules were
found suffocated. They were dead be-
fore the flre-fghters reached the place.
Williams. the injured man, was mar
ried only last Wednesday. His father
I'D Williams, ID q cripple. having re-
ceived q permanent injury to his back a
dAmber Of years ago in q mine accident.