The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-12-24
CRAWLED FOR LIFE.
Many Miners Close Call In a
Wilkesbarre Shaft.
20 ENTOMBED by AN EXPLOSION.
A Number Rescued with Death In Hot
Pursuit-some Went Nearly a Mile on
Their Knees-Cause of the Disaster
as Yet Unknown.

WILKEsBARRE, Pa, Dec. pa ter
rife explosion Of gas has occurred in
Baltimore shaft No. Of the Delaware
and Hudson company. Over 20 miners
were imprisoned, but Id have been
rescued alive, and there is still hope Of
reaching the others before the deadly
afterdamp claimed them as victims.
The mine is situated in the northeast
ern section of the city, and when in
full operation employs in the neighbor-
hood of $50 men and boys. About one
third of this force was at work and
the number of workers was further ro-
duced when the day shift men came
out. When the explosion occurred, an
hour later, there were probably 60 men
in the mine. OF this number 40 or
thereabouts succeeded in getting safely
to the surface. Those imprisoned
were at work in plane fully a mile
from the foot Of the shaft. They were
driving q tunnel and so far as known
were in what was considered safe
place.
The fireboss had inspected the plane
and declared it free from gas. Tho
cause of the explosion is therefore a
mystery. although the mine officials
have several theories. One report is
that fall of roof in the slope exploded
q quantity of dynamite which was
stored there and that this. in turn,
caused feeder of gas to become
ignited. Another theory is that the gas
was ignitcd by a careless workman, and
q third that blast set fire to the gas
and that the men were fighting the fire
when the explosion occurred.
The first knowledge of the catastrophe
came to the surface by the noise of tho
explosion. The foundations of the
houses over the mine shook.
The men in the engine house, who
had charge of the hoisting carriages,
gave the first alarm. A rescuing party.
! headed by John Matthews, was imme-
diately organized, and the brave fell
lows descended the shaft as quickly as
the carriages could take them. But
| they didn't remain long below. The
ventilation was bad, and, after two of
the party had been almost overcome by
/ the deadly afterdamp, they were COM
| PEELED 70 return to the surface.
A half hour later the ventilation had
been improved somewhat and another
rescue party went down. They found
three men lying unconscious in the
gangway.
All the men who escaped with their
lives had thrilling experiences AS soon
as the explosion occurred they made a
rush for the main gangway. Some
crawled on their hands and knees for
nearly a mile. They did not dare walk
for the force OF the afterdamp would
have Frustrated them. The strongest
reached the foot of the shaft first, for
it was fight for life, and each man
was for himself. The older men had a
desperate time. Some of them were
about to give up the struggle, when
they were pulled along by their COM
rades, who would not see them drop in
their tracks.
Owen Murray and John Minsley
were found by the rescuers. Both were
unconscious and will scarcely recover
Andrew Mcdonald, one of the res
cuers, nearly lost his life while attempt
ing to recover the body of his brother
James. He knew where it probably
would be found, entered the place, and
stumbled over corpse in the darkness.
He says he recognized his brothers.
clothes by the touch. He attempted to
pull the body out, but was overcome
by afterdamp and sank unconscious to
the ground. 1t was with difficulty that
he was brought to the surface.