The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-10-30

swiikesbarre, Pa, Oct. ga terrible
explosion OF gas occurred In No. mine OF
the Lehigh and Wilkesbarre Coal Com
pany. South Wilkesbarre. between
and 2 O'Clock this afternoon. Six men are
known to be dead and three injured. II
Is yet unknown how many were In the
mine at the time of the explosion. but
twelve are missing and II Is believed ell
OF these have perfshed. The dead who
have been brought TO the surface are:
Wm. II. Jones. first boss; John aosephs.
assistant mine foreman; others known TO
be dead. but who cannot be reached be-
cause OF the mine damp are: Thomas
Owens, miner William Lacey. rock
miner: James Herpon. laborer: Joseph
Worth. fire boss. The injured. so far az
known are: David Williams. overcome
by fire damp: John Davis. overcome by
black damp.
The cause of the explosion will prob
ably never be known Usually there were
800 TO 500 men employed In the mine. Had
they all been at work when the explo-
sion occurred the loss of life would have
been very large. The only men in the
mine this afternoon were the company
hands and bosses. who were at work in
the rock tunnei. changing the air course.
The place was very gaseous. and the msn
worked with safety lamps. II . believed
that the gas was tgntcd by blast. Da~
vid Williams, the driver boss. was AT the
head OF the stope. so feet away. when
the explosion occurred. and was hurled
some distance and injured. He was the
only ono in that vicinity who escaped
alive.
The explosion was so seyere that II was
plainly felt AT the mouth OF she shaft. The
roof of the fan house was blown OF. and
all the air ways and bratfice inside were
wrecked and blown away. The alarm was
promptly given, and hundreds of men.
women and children rushed TO the head OF
the shaft. The grief Of the women who
had husbands. sons or brothers In the mine
was hearfreBding.
The work OF organizing rescue gangs
was begun without delay. IL was "A peri
lous undertaking as the sequel proved.
but no man faifered. Fire Boss William
r. Jones and Assistant Mine Foreman
John Jcxepns selected the men for the
first party, and themselves led the way.
All were overcome by the dread after
damp. but not until they had found Driver
Boss David Williams.
All except Josepss succeeded In reaching
the foot OF the shaft. and were removed
TO the surface, but the fire bo*z. william
r. Jones' succunbed 10 the deadly fire.
damn. and died in half an hour after be-
ing brought out. despite the Efforts OF
doctors 10 save hiN life. John Josephs. the
other hero. bscame separated from the
trzf party. ana the $FEgB1 Frr~tsks3E patty
found his body and removed II 10 the sur
face az z.so o. clock.
A number OF company men who were
working In different part OF she snaft,
reached the surface by the No. smart
and also by another opening
II Is thought possible 70 reach the four
men In the rock tunnel when the air cur
rents are opened Large streams OF water
were sent Down the shaft 10 establish a
temporary air current. while the work cf
rescue was In progress. superintendent
awaii believes there may be six men In
side, but miner insists there are twelve.
I. is supposed ali are dead The sescne
party OF twelve men Ia charge of Mine
FOREMAN John r. Jones' Is slowly making
a way 10 the rock tunnel and building an
air passage the entire distance. 10 Insure
safety. Tae mine damp is very bad and
the work OF rescue Is progressing At great
rszk.
On March 2 Issa in tfiis same eoEiiery.
eight men were Imprisoned and died be-
fore they could b. reached BY the rescutng
party.