St. Paul daily globe., 1895-11-30
TONS DESCEND ON MINERS FROM
THE MOUTH OF A
PIT.
OVER A DOZEN ARE KILLED.
A SUDDEN AVALANCHE CAME
WHILE THEY STOOD AT THE
BOTTOM.
FIVE OF THE DEAD TAKEN OUT
", the Scene of the Dis
aster.

CARMEL, N. J., Nov. 29.-An acci-
dent resulting in the loss of thirteen
or fourteen lives occurred at the Tilly
Foster mines, a short diStace from
Carmel, a little after 3 o'clock this
afternoon. Foreman Patrick was
descending into the pit to take the
time of the gangs of laborers, num-
bering about thirty-ive men, who
were at the bottom, when a vast
weight Of earth and rock slid with the
force of an avalanche from the mouth
of the pit to the bottom, a distance
of 300 feet. The earth crashed over
the men with tremendous force. Out
Of the gang of eleven only five came
out alive, and three of the men en-
ployed in another gang were taken
out dead. Among those known to be
dead are:
MICHAEL CANNON, foreman.
PATRICK H. MURTHA, foreman.
JOHN FAGAN, boarding house
keeper.
THOMAS DENNIS.
JAMES SMITH.
An Austrian, name unknown.
An Austrian, known as No. 394, re-
ceived a fracture of the skull and will
probably die. The names of the 9TH
ers killed are at present unknown.
Several of the workmen are seriously
injured.
The cave-in caused the greatest eX-
citement, but as soon as possible
gangs of men were set to work to re-
move the bodies under the mass of
earth. Superintendent Tompkins
and Foreman Lynch took charge Of
the work, and up to o'clock five
dead bodies had been bl ought to the
surface. Darkness prevented the
continuance of the work of rescue,
and it will not be until tomorrow
morning that further effort will be
made to clear away the ruins. 1t is
thought that all the others in the pit
are Italians and Austrians.
HORRIBLY MANGLED.
The first intimation of the accident
to those below was the rumbling
noise which preceded the fall of the
mass; but the shock came SO sudden
ly that few were able to reach
the workers, who were directly un-
der the ledge from which the mass
Of earth fell, were buried under tons
of debris. The fall was tremendous,
for great pieces Of rock and ore were
carried along in the avalanche. One
Of Ln y-in+ rn 10 I1r fn
the surface was Foreman Murtha.
He was found near the top, pinned
down by huge piece of rock. The
rescuing party dug him out and bore
him, still alive, to the fresh air.
Murtha was badly mangled and his
clothes were almost torn from his
back. He was taken to his home,
but a short distance away, but died
almost Immediately after reaching
there. He was married, and his wife,
along with the wives of other un-
fortunates, stood at the top of the
slope while the rescuers were at
work. All Of the bodies were hor-
ribly mangled the sharp edges of
the rock and iron tearing through
their clothing and peeling the flesh
from their faces and bodies. One
by one the bodies were brought out
and carried to the carpenter shop,
where an awe-stricken crowd looked
upon the remains and uttered ex-
clamations of woe when the identity
of a victim was made known. Many
accidents have occurred at the Tilly
Foster mine, but none has been at
tended by so great a loss of life as
this
William Ospell and four compan-
ions succeeded in getting away by
running. Five Italians also got out
alive. One Italian, who went down
on the cable car for the purpose of
rendering assistance, was killed by
a second fall Of rock. Despite the
dangers Patrick Kelley and ]. Nc
CHM descended the mine in the car.
They succeeded in organizing the
frightened men who had not been
killed outright, secured tools and
commenced to remove the bodies.
MISSING MEN.
The bodies believed to be in the pit
are those of James Fox, bachelor, bet
ter known as James Smith; James
Clark, a stranger, who began work on
Nov. 13, and four Italians, Nos. 13, SO,
331 and 234. The accident is supposed
to have been caused principally by
heavy rains, which opened the crevices
in many places. The mine is owned by
the Lackawanna Iron and Coal COM
pany, of New York and Scranton, Pa
Clinton Stephens is the contractor in
charge, and the men killed and injured
were in his employ.