Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-06-29


II the men received any warn
ing. they had time to run up the
slope. but not to any great distance.
The falling rock and coal filled up the
slope and the adjoining gangways,
completely shutting off all avenues Of
escape.
1t was at first supposed that the men
might have escaped being caught in th
fall, and were imprisoned be1 =
the debris. although il is
EXTREMELY f4IPROBABLN
Even if they escaped being crushed by
the falling roof the possibility of their
being alive for any length Of time in
gaseous mine is remote
The alarm was first given by water
carrier John Sheridan who, with VIM.
Richard and Thomas Gill. were the on
ly ones to escape of the whole party
who entered the mine last night. He
was on his way Up the slope to get some
fresh water for the men, and, when
about one hundred feet from the foot
OF the shaft, was knocked down by the
cOncussion. He was badly cut and
bruised by flying coal and rock He lay
unconscious for ten minutes and then
came mp the shaft.
The conclusion was so great
that it was heard for miles
around. The foundations of nearly
every building in PittSton were shaken,
and windows and doors ratified as in a
tornado. In the houses nearer to the
mine, persons were thrown from their
beds.
The first thought was that a great
earthquake had occurred, and the in
habitants rushed pell nell from their
houses. The ringing of the fire bells
and the shrieking OF the big mine whis-
tie
TOLD THE STORY
Crowds Of people gathered about the
mouth OF the shaft and numbered
thousands by day break. Stalwart
men stood appalled, and frantic women,
who had husbands or sons in TIE DOOM
ed mine, walled in despair. One moth
er cri=d out that she had two sons be-
low. Another was the wife or widow
of some unfortunate and had nine help
less children at home. Many knelt on
the ground and in voices broken with
sobs implOred Divinc Providence 10 re-
store their loved ones alive.
When it was given out that there was
little or no hope of rescuing the men
alive,
WOMEN AND GIRLS TAINTED,
and we're borne away senseiesS.
The work Of rescue was prompt and
efficient. The best miners who remain
ed on the surface Joined voluntarily in
the hazardous task-for hazardous 1t
certainly was.
There was the constant menace OF
another fall or an explosion of fire
damp. Special efforts were made TO
keen rhe air fan in good order so thay II.
0y any chance. the men were alive, tney
should have fresh air 10 breathe.
The blocked slope and gangway held
out little hope of the air reaching them
The rescuers were divided into three
RELAYS Of forty men each. under the di-
rection Of Mine Foreman Alex. Nc
Mullin.
The men worked as they had never
before worked. clearing away the Ge'
bris in the slope with the energy that
only springs of the knowledge of dear
lives behind it.
They made good headway, consider
ing the difficulties they had TO contend
with. and at three O'Clock this after
noon had cleared the slope distance OF
six hundred feet.
At two O'Clock this afternoon ii be-
came necessary to swear in extra po-
Hcemen to control the crowd around
the shift. It had increased to fully
seven thousand Ropes were stretched
around the shaft. and only mine officials
were allowed to enter the enclosure.
Young Sheridan, the water boy, who
had such a narrow escape. tells
A THRILLING TALE
of the disaster. He thinks there was
an explosion of gas which blew down
the newly erected timber and caused the
cave-in. When he left the mine to &c
out the slope and get water. those inside
had no apprehension OF a fall or g
squeeze" Everything was working
nicely, and the men expected 10 be out
o. the mine within another hour.
The report of the fall" says the boy
was like a hundred cannon, and the
force of it blew me fully twenty-five
feet. I was hurled against the side OF
the slope. \ piece Of rock hit the bach
o. my head, the wound commenced tC
bleed, and then I tainted"
Richards and Gill, who we're on theil
way out after timber. concur with Sher-
idan that the cOncussion was terrific
They were knocked off their feet and
banged against some brattice work
They cannot conceive the possibility
of anybody being in the wreck and es-
Gaping with his life.
Superintendent Law says: Nobody
regrets this dreadful occurrence more
than l do. II is too early yet TO give
any reason as TO
THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.
but can assure you that if l thought
there was any danger in thework under
taken by the men. not a single one o.
them would have been allowed to enter
the mine with my permission. I dom
care for the damage to the mine II is
the great loss of life that gives me SC
much sorrow.
The breaker OF the Twin shaft burned
down three years ago. There were over
one hundred mem in the mine at thC
time. but all escaped through a second
opening.
The first great disaster in the an
thracite region was in September, 1869
when 120 men perished in the AvondalC
mine. this county. The breaker over
the mine caught fire. and all the men il
the mine were SUffOcated. This great
catastrophe caused the Legislature tC
pass a law compelling mines 70 have