New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-02
VOLUNTEERS RESTRAINED.
TWIN MINE RESCUE PARTY FORBIDDEN
TO TAKE DANGEROUS RISKS
OFFICIALS DrsCREDIT THE REPORTS OF RAP
INGs-TrNNEIILNo AND T1MBERING
GOINi
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUHEl
Wilkesbarre. Penn. July "A number Of the
Newton Coal Company's officials place no ere
, dence in the report that rappings were heard
from the entombed miners last night. The men
on the II o'clock shift. however reiterate their
statement. and say they heard the rappings and
could distinguish between them and the ordf-
nary noises Of the mine, such as the chipping OF
coal from the pillars and the cracking and
splintering of the timbers under the immense
weight bearing them. There Is, Of course,
good deal Of uncertainty The officials say the
mems imaginations were inf1amed, as was
natural under the circumstances. and that they
mistook the cracking OF the timbers for the
rappings. 1t seems to be the aim Of the officials
not to encourage hope In the breasts OF the
hundreds OF relatives who are waiting for news
This Is. doubtless, wise course. as the chances
are 100 to / that the men will never be seen
alive.
The heavy fall about II o'clock last night was
evidently in the abandoned workings beyond
the place where the men are entombed, which
extends distance Of over half mile to the
pillar which separates the mine from the Clear
Spring colliery. The volunteers, who were on
their way down the slope last night when they
were driven back by the dangerous disturb
ance. have been ready all day to make the at
tempt. but the mine inspector, Mr.. Mcdonald
refuses to give them the privilege as he says II
is certain death for them to do so.
Superintendent l. Morgan. Of the Lehigh val
lev Company was in general charge OF thlngs
outside the mine during the night Geherai
Manager Law arrived at the SHAFT again az I
O'Clock this morning and took charge outaue
for the day. On the shift which went down the
mine at O'Clock this morning were ten men
from the Leigh and Wikesbarre mines under
the leadership Of Reese Morgan Of Wilkesoarre'
brother OF Superintendent Morgan. They were
picked mep and they strengthened the snift
materially The hours OF the morning wore on
apparently with change in the SITUATION.
Outside the carpenters were busy saving props
which were sent down the shaft In carload lots
al intervals Of ten or fifteen minutes Al ABOUT
10 o'clock Henry Mcmillan. who was in charge
Of the morning shift. came out Of the mine. Ihe
rock was still being removed from the slope.
slowly but surely, four men at time beinS at
work at the face When the iremen came out
tho advance gang was near the end Of the stone
wall on the site OF the slope. which Is ABOUT
175 feet from the hold Of the slope.
Things IN other parts Of the mine were quiet
and no special pressure on the pillars and props
u-as manifest The work Of timbering Is kept
IN however and everything possible Is being
done to guard against danger The morning shlrt
came out of the mine at O'Clock this aiter-
noon accompanied by their leaders. Henry 1.
Mcmillan and Reese Morgan. The latter was IN
charge Of the Shift OF men which has been work.
ing at the face Of the slope. He says that since
o'clock this morning progress has peen riaoe
TWENTY-FIVE feet into the slope. and three sets
of timber have been placed in position. me emo
Of the stone wall has just been passed Ihere
are no signs of further squeezing In any
part OF the workings. and the indications for
succeesf,l work during the night are good
At last the bore-hole through the pillar sepa.
rat ting the Clear Springs workings from those OF
the Twin COliery has been finished. Ihree at
tempts were made and the third one proved sue
cessful getting through the piIiar ht d uls,ance
of ninety feet ut about 10 o'clock this morning.
No water was found, but gas issued from the
hole in large quantities. At II O'Clock General
Manager Cake Of the Clear Springs COMPANY
held a conference at the Twin Office with Gen
oral Manager Law and the other officials there,
whom n was decided not to attempt to tunnel
through the pillar. This decision was arrived
at because the distance between the pillar ana
tho n]ace where the entombed men are supposed
10 be is Just as great as II Is from the pace
where tho rescuers are now at work in the Twin
mine while the territory invaded by the cave IL
believed TO be even greater on the west size than
on the east side SO far as can be learned tne
pillars In the Clear Springs through when the
hole was bored are not showing any evidence OF
being affected by the squeezes. They also sup
nose that the fall has blocked this way. The
peoplc however are criticising them severeiy Tor
This decision. and say they should go on until
they determine definitely Wnetner OF Hot PiosieSS
Is blocked there.
Tonight the workers came upon two cars IN
the slope which were badly crushed. They We're
removed The Board of Trade to-day issued an
appeal to the country at large for aid in the citys
terrible aflction.