The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-07-02

VI. " Brlcn.
NJ. Hughes.
Ed Kilday.
James Burke.
Patrick Ruane.
Thomas TenpcHny.
Michael Gaffney.
Thomas Doing.
Antony Kane.
j. NJ. Murphy.
Owen Lee.
Anthony Gordon.
- Wall, his son.
Dominick O'Malley.
Peter Martin.
Michael Ford.
Timothy Durbick.
Thomas Dmpsey.
Thomas Carly
Patrick Gibbons.
John O'Boyle.
Peter Joyce.
Anthony Gordon, married.
John Gill. single.
John Gaffney, single.
Daniel Gavin, single.
=. s. Kelly. single, 30 years old.
- HOstrich. married.
Joseph Iurindo. married.
Tony Tollaski, married.
Peter Savoki, married.
Andrew Sl0vinki. married.
Simon MaskOvitZ, married.
John CadaniZiki, single.
Aside from these there may be other
English-speaking miners among the UNI
fortunatcs. Thirty Poles and Hungari-
ans were entombcd, and it is thought
the total number of bodies in the mine
will reach 100,
The men were ut work propping up the
roof when the fall occurred. The alarm
was Immediately given by ringing Office
bells, and rescucrs were put to work
without delay. More than two-thirdS
of the victims were married men
and leave families. Among them
were Acting Mayor Langan, who
was inside superintendent of the mine,
and j. =. IynOtt, ward councilman.
About two weeks ago the surveyors
reported to General Superintendent Law
that the mine was squeezing and that
unless steps were Immediately taken to
timber it Il cavc-in or fall might be
looked for. Superintendent Law lost no
time, but at once put a number of men
at work to brace the falling roof. The
squeeze" continued, however, and yes
terday the situation became alarming.
In the afternoon Il slight fall occurred
and the men at work had to retreat be-
fore it. A consultation of mine officials
was then held and it was decided that
heroic measures would have to be re-
sorted to to prevent heavy damages to
the mine.
Inside Superintendent Langan gave or
dcrs that the party would go down the
mine at II. IN. Expert timbcrmcn put
in an appearance at that hour and were
soon lowered into the workings. They
made their way to red ash vein. 1900
feet down the slope. The work of prop
ping proceeded rapidly until II o'clock,
when another fall occurred. 1t made II
low rumbling noise and the flying coal
and debris drove the men back.
Then the squeeze ceased again and the
men thought it was safe to resume work.
They labored on till 3 o'clock when, so
it is presumed, the roof fell in without
warning, making Il tremendous crash.
1t is supposed, however, that the men
were not all together, but some near the
slope and these probably ran up the in
cline when the fall occurred. If the
men received any warning they had time
to run up the slope, but not to any great
distance.
The report that two bodies had been
found i'll the mine was proved tonight
to have been premature. Up to 8 o'clock
no bodies had been found. Hope of
finding any person has been abandoned.
Superintendent Thorp of the Lchigh
Valley Coal company. who is an author
ity. says it will be ten days before the
bodies are reached.
During the late hours of the afternoon
the scarchcrs made but little progress
because the part of the slope upon which
their energies were bent was working"
The heaviest timbers were like straws
under the heavy pressure from above.
1t was supposed that the men might
have escaped being caught in the fall
and that they were imprisoned behind
the debris. but the finding of the two
bodies would diSprove this.
1t is still possible living men may be
behind the fall. Even if they escaped be-
ing crushed by the falling roof the posi-
b;l;t,- IF tbni. bniury nlivo fo, ,n,- lcpUt IN