The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-01
RappingS Thought to Have
Been Heard.
Another Crash Dampened
Hopes of Anxious Ones.
Unknown Pate OF the so Men in
the Twin Mine.

wilkesbarre. Pa, July 1.-There are 80
men, living or dead. imprisoned in the
depths OF the doomed Twin mine. This
Is the Official number. and there is no
reason 10 think IL is incorrect. The
company has completed a careful can
yass OF all men who were at work on
Saturday night. and the sum total OF
the men lost in the disaster. English
speaking and foreigners, aggregate this
figure.
AT s o'clock last night, the situation
was more encouraging than 1t had been
at any time since the cave-in At that
hour, the men who had been at work
since O'clock came out, and the
o'clock men went on duty. The after
noon men reported that they had
reached the edge Of the fallen rock. and
had begun TO load IL In cars, which are
hoisted to the head OF the slope by a
stationary engine.
The point where the men are supposed
TO be is still 600 feet beyond. The night
shift continued the work of loading the
debris. The gas is not so bad as II has
been. and there Is no sign OF the river
water flowing into the mine. One of the
miners said they had come across two
cars containing a number of tools, of
various kinds, which had been used by
the miners.
A much larger crowd gathered about
the workings yesterday, drawn, doubt
less by the report that the miners had
begun digging, and might find some Of
the bodies reasonably soon. Foreman
Richards could give no definite idea of
the progress Of the workers. because II
varies at different points. according ia
the solidity OF the debris.
When the III o'clock shift came out of
the mine. some of the men reported hav-
ing heard what they thought were rap
pings In that part OF the mine where the
victims are supposed TO be imprisoned.
This Immediately revived the hope that
the men might be alive. although the off,
cials place little reliance on this story.
Five men, headed by Peter Lohr, vol
unteered TO crawl over the walls and see
what could be seen. They were told
that they made the journey at their own
risk.and replied that they were satisfied.
They were Peter Lohr, Dave Connell,
James Mahon. James O'Brien and James
Lynott. all single men.
Another extensive cavern occurred I'm
the working OF the Twin shaft early
this morning. The cavern was in that
portion OF the mine where the victims
are thought TO be. II made a terrible
report, and was heard all over the town.
The fall must have been heavy one.
IT had the effect of driving the rescuers
out or the slope, for the timbees around
them Immediately began to sway and
crack. A fall In the slope may occur at
any moment
The news of the second cave-in had a
most discouraging effect on everybody.
The five men who volunteered 20 climb
the walls were not caught in this morn
ing's fall. They climbed safely to the
head Of the slope.
The mass meeting OF citizens, held in
the Pittston Opera House last night for
the purpose of taking steps to provide
relief for the families of the victims.
was largely attended. Committees were
appointed TO solicit subscriptions and
provide for the immediate relief OF those
IN want.