The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-12-22
HAD A CLOSE CALL
SIXTY MEN IN A NINE EXPLOSION
AT wILKEsBARRE Pa.

All But Twenty Make Their Way to Safety
Upaided, Though With More Less
Dimcu.ty-Au But Four or Five Of Those
Remaining are Found Alive. Though
Uncon.cioas-It is Expected That the
Others viii be Found Alive - Fatal
Boiler Explosion at Newkirk. o. T.-Ac-
dental Shooting At Perry.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, Dec. 21.-A terrific
in Baltimore Shaft No. of the Delaware
and Hudson company. Over twenty
miners were imprisoned. but at a late
hour tonight fourteen had been rescued
alive, and there was still hope Of reach
ing the others before the deadly after
damp claimed them as victims.
Immediately after the disaster be-
came known. rescuing bands descended
the shaft, but it was some time before
the ventilation had been so managed
tina, they could work in safety. The
party, which entered the mine at GAS to-
night, succeeded in pushing their way
TO the place where the imprisoned men
had been working, and there they STUN
bled ovevr the bodies Of number of I'M
conscious men. As quick as the work
could be accomplished they were brought
to the surface, where corps Of doctors
was in waiting.A Wrapped in blankets
some Of the victims were sent 70 their
homes and some 20 hospitals. The ply
sicians have hopes that all may recov-
err
10 to- Eve
untes longer all would probably have
died Of suffocation.
John Heady. one of the rescuers, who
was first to discover the bodies on the
plane, says the men we're huddled close
ly together. They had apparently aban-
doned all hope OF rescue and were re-
solved to die together. The supposition
is that the men, when they realized their
danger, made their way to the highest
point on the plane. The smoke found it's
way to them, however, and they were all
but suffocated when found.
The theory of the explosion now is that
there was fall Of rock on the slope
where the dynamite was stored, that the
dynamite exploded and the smoke filled
the plane.
Grief was turned into joy when the
rescued men were brought to the sur
face. Women and children wept and
strong men clasped each other in their
arms. 1t is probable that those men
who were in the immediate vicinity of
the spot where the explosion occurred
were the only ones killed, and their
number may not be more than four or
five.
A MYSTERIOUS EXPLOSION.
The mine is situated in the northeast
ern portion Of the city. and when in full
operation employs about $50 men and
boys. About one-third of this force was
at work today and the number of work.
ers was further reduced after 8 o'clock
when the day shift men came out. When
the explosion occurred, an hour later.
there were probably sixty men in the
mine. OF this number forty or there
abouts succeeded in getting safely TO
the surface.
The first knowledge of the catastrophe
came to the surface by the noise of the
explosion. The foundations of the houses
over the mine shook and the dreadful ru-
NOR spread that another calamity had
occurred. The word went from lip to
lip: How many men are in the mine?"
The men in the engine house who had
charge of the boisting carriage gave the
first alarm. A rescuing party. headed
by John Matthews, was Immediately or
ganized and the brave fellows descended
the shaft as quickly as the carriages
could take them. But they did not re-
main long below. The ventilation was
bad and after two Of the party had been
almost overcome by the deadly after
damp they were compelled to return TO
the surface.
A half hour later the ventilation had
been improved considerably and another
party went down. They found
Id, ~
way.
THOSE WHO ESCAPED.
All the men who first made their
escape had thrilling experiences. As soon
as the explosion occurred they made a
rush for the main gangway. Some crawl
ed on their hands and knees for nearly
a mile. They did not dare walk for the
force of the after-damp would have
them. The strongest reach
ed the foot OF the shaft first, for it was
fight fer life ard each man was for him.
self The older men had desperate
time. Some of them were about to give
up the struggle when they were pulled
along by their comrades. who could not
see them drop in their tracks.
Owen Murray and John Minsley were
found by the rescuers, who entered the
mine shortly after o'clock. Both were
unconscious and in a critical condition.
They are in Wilkesbarre hospital They
we're found near the foot of the plane
where The explosion occurred.
SOUGHT HIS BROTHER
Andrew Mcdonald, one of the rescu-
.rs. nearly lost his life while attempting
10 recover the body OF his brother James.
He knew where IL would probably be
found. entered the place and stumbled |
over a corpse in the darkness. He says
ne recognized his brothers clothes by /
he touch. He attempted 10 pull the /
body out but was overcome by after /
lamp and sank unconscious to the 1
1t was with difficulty that he 1
vas brought to the surface. After reach |
ng the open air and regaining conscious |
less, he wanted TO make a second trip /
nto the mine but was not allowed TO go. 1
Superintendent Foote said tonight that 1
he was at loss to account for the ex-
,losion. Every precaution had been taxi
n 10 make the mine safe. he declared. |
L had always been the rule Of the COM /
,any TO never allow their employees 20
inter a mine where there was the least
jeopardy OF life and this rule has been /
nforced most strictly since the PiItst0n
disaster OF last June, when fifty-seyen
nen were buried in the Twin shaft
ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING