The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-30
COAL MINE DISASTER.
More Than a Dozen Men Killed
Near Carmel, n. Y.
BY AN AVALANCHE OF ROCK.
The Dead Principally Italians Victims
Horribly Mangied-Pftifui Grief OF
Relatives OF the slain.

Carmel. n. V, Nov. 29.--An accident re-
sult!ng in the loss Of thirteen or fourteen
lives occurred at the Tlley-Foster mine
a little after o'clock this afternoon. tore-
man Patrick was descending INTO the PHI
10 take the time of two gangs of laborers,
numbering about thirty-lye men, who
were working at the bottom. when vast
weight OF earth and rock Sid with the
force of an avalanche from the mouth OF
the pit to the bottom, distance or S0V
feet The earth crashed over the men with
tremendous force. Out of one gang OF
eleven. only five came out alive. and three
of the men employed in another gang Were
taken out dead.
Among those known to be dead are:
Michael Cannon, foreman; Patrick II. Muir
tina, fireman; John Eagan, bridge house
keeper: Thomas Dennis. James smith. An
Austrian, name unknown. received nac-
ture OF the skull and will probably die.
The names of others killed are at present
unknown. Several of the workmen We're
severely injured. The cave-in caused the
greatest excitement, but gangs or men
were soon set at work to recover the bodies
of those under the mass of earth. super
inteudent Tompkins and Foreman Lynch
took charge of the work, ana up 70
o'clock five dead bodies had been brought
to the surface.
The accident occurred at Tiiley- Foster.
a small town located near GARNER. Inc
first intimation to those below was the
low. rlInbIing sound which preceded the
faI of the mass The shock came so sud
denly that few were able to reach places
Of safety. Half a dozen of the workers
who were directly under the ledge from
which the mass of earth fell were buried
under tons of debris. The fall was tre-
mendous, for great pieces Of rock and ore
were carried along In the avalanche. one
OF the first to be brought TO the surface
was Foreman Murtha. He was found near
the top, pinned down by a huge piece or
rock The rescuing party dug HIM out
and bore him, st.-l alive. to the fresh air.
Murtha was badly mangled. and his
clothes were nearly torn from his back
He was taken to his home. bat died after
reaching there. Aiurtha was married.
and his wife. along with the wives Of tho
other unfortunates, stood at the top or the
slope while the rescuers were at work.
All of the bodies are horribly mangled.
One by one the bodies were brought out
and carried to the carpenter shop. where
an awe-stricken crowd of people looked
upon the remains and uttered exclama-
tons of woe when the identity OF a vic
tim was made known. Some of those as
sembled sought anxiously after friends or
relatives supposed to be in the ruins in
the pit. Many accidents have occurred
at the Tilley-Foster. but none has been
attended by so great loss OF life as this.
William Ospell and four companions sue
ceeded in getting away by running. Five
Italians got out alive. One of the Italians
who went down on the car for the purpose
of rendering assistance was Killed Dy a
second fall of rock. Despite the danger.
Patrick II. Kelly and John McGinn de-
seconded the mine in the car. They sue
ceeded IN organizing the frightened men
who had not been killed outright, secured
tools and commenced to remove the bod
ies Mark Critchley was removed TO his
home suffering from a fracture OF the
spine. Patrick Burns was also taken to
his home. Both VIII recover. The bodies
believed TO be in the pit are those OF James
Fox. James Clark and four Italians. The
accident is supposed 10 have been caused
principally by the heavy rains. which
opened crevasses In many places. The
mine is owned by the Lackawanga Iron
and Steel Company. OF New York and
Scranton, Pa. Clinton Stephens IS the
contractor In charge and the men killed
and injured were In his employ.