Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-10-10
ENTERED THE COLLIERY.
FIRST MEN TO PIERCE THE GLOOM
OF EBERVALE MINE.
Superintendents Marley and Dunkerly
Go to the Bottom of the Third Lift.
Sketch of How the Workings Became
Flooded-Their Present Condition.


Flooded-Their Present Condition.
A correspondent of the Philadelphia
Press, in that paper last Monday, gave
an interesting account of the success OF
draining the Ebervale coliery, and the
condition in which the first explorers
found things where the water had reign
ed supreme for many years. The cor
respondent wrote as follows:
For the first time since being flooded
with water eight years ago the Ebervale
mines were entered by man. The ex-
plorers were Messrs. Marley and Dun
kerly, of Jeddo. This marks the sue
cess of the greatest piece of mine
engineering ever attempted in this
country. With the entrance of the men
to the bottom of the third lift the work
of the contractors ceased.
1t is now about eight years since the
creek broke into Harleigh mines. The
stream shortly after broke into Eber-
vale colicry. 1t came with such force
and so suddenly that the operators had
to exert themselves to get the mules out
OF the place, leaving mine cars, pumps
and machinery to be swallowed up by
the flood. The valley being practically
swamp the inflow became so heavy
that it was soon found impossible to
keep the mines clear and they were
abandoned. A. S. VanWickle at that
time operated the Ebervale mines on
lease.
IIa lni, 49, Iao
as the Eberyale workings. The pillars
between the two places are quite mar
row, and ten years ago, upon the advice
of the mine inspector, the two places
were connected by bore holes. These
are now supposed to be draining the
water from Harlcigh to Ebervale. 1t is
known that the first lift of the Hareigh
mine is clear of water, but the black
damp turks in the recesses in dangerous
quantities and cannot be penetrated
until ventilation is restored.
The vein there measures from 60 to
100 feet in thickness. 1t was this which
prompted the Union improvement Com
pany to accept the suggestion of pierre
ing the Milnesvile mountain with
water way and to eXpend three and one
half million dollars to carry it out
About four months ago the bore holes
connecting the mines with the tunnel
were put down and up to the present
time steady stream has been flowing.
During the time that the work has
been in progress very little was heard
from the projectors. Kemmerer & Co..
who operated the Harleigh mines at the
time of the flood, have since been in liti- |
CATION with MarRle e Co. The latter
have exercised an authority at Eber |
vale, while the Union Improvement |
Company seemed to prosecute the work.
The question of ownership has there
fore been disputed.
After the main tunnel had been con-
nected with Ebervale, another branch
was driven to Jeddo, connecting the |
mines there. Since then both operators
and contractors have watched the water
recede with anxious expectancy. AS it
went down inch by inch the progress
was noted. Volumes of black damp
were left in the recesses and means
to overcome the difficulty were devised.
A new fan was put in operation, and
the dangerous black damp was in this |
way removed, and the opening gradu-
ally filed with pure air, permitting the
explorers to enter and examine the in
terror.
For the first time this was possible.
Messrs. Marley and Dunkerley under
tha tasls Tho Slnna ,,itnhod OF n N
angle of fortyiive degrees. The road
bed was covered with mud slime, which
made the work extremely hazadous. As
the men continued on their way down,
the timber, rails and sills were found to
be in a fair state of preservation. Sew
eral small relies were found, which
workmen. in their haste, had abandon
ed, such as oil cans, a drill engineers
wrench, etc.
The bottom lift was covered deeply
with mud. The four pumps had on a
coating of mud, which probably made
them impervious to the acids and chemi
Gals, which mine water usually contains.
<rhe pumps, despite their eight-year
bath, are still in excellent condition.
They were overhauled and all parts ex
amined and found to be almost ready
for service. The pumps are said to be
the property of A. $. VanWickle.
The east gangway, which extends
1000 feet toward Jeddo, is in a fair con
dition. The timbers here are also well
preserved and seem sound enough to do
service for many years to come. Sever
al mine cars encounted were in much
better condition than those which have
been exposed to the elements on the
surface. Everything, however, was
covered with mud and muck. 1t will
take u great deal of work to clean the
openings and get them into shape.
Preparations for working the mines
are already in progress Who will oper-