The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-12-22
BACK FROM THE TOMB.
Miraculous EIoape from Death Of
Wilkesbarre Miners.
RESCUED III TIE NICK OF TIME.

hhoUU DD in Iun NIOh Ur IlMh.
Five Minutes More and All Would Have
Have sufooated as the Result of an Ex-
piosion of Gas-P Probably Four or Tivn
Met Death.
WILKEsyABEE, Pa, Dec. ga terrific
explosion Of gas occurred yesterday after
noon in Baltimore shaft NO . Of the
Delaware and Hudson company. Oyor
twenty miners were imprisoned but at
late hour last night fourteen had been
rescued alive, and there was still hope of
reaching the others before the deadly
afterdamp claimed them as victims.
Immediately after the disaster became
known rescue gangs descended the shaft,
but it was some time before the ventila-
tion had been so managed that they could
work in safety. Ihe party which entered
the mine at 0:45 last night succeeded in
pushing their way to the plane where the
imprisoned men had been working, and
there they stumbled over the bodies Of a
number of unconscious men. They were
quickly brought to the surface where II
corps of doctors was in waiting. The ply
sicians have hopes that all may recover.
Had they been in the mine five minutes
longer all would probably have died of
suffocation.
John Healy, one Of the roscuers who was
first to discover the bodies on the plane,
say themen were huddled closely together.
They had apparently abandoned all hope
of rescue and were resolved to die to-
gether The suppOsition is that the men,
when they realized their danger, made
their way to the highest point on the
plane. The smoke found its way to them,
however, and they were all but suifocated
when found.
About one-third of the regular force was
at work yesterday, and the number of
workers was further reduced after 3
O'Clock, when the day shift men came out.
When tho explosion occurred an hour
later thcre were probably Sky men in the
mine. OF this number a " or there
abouts succeeded in get.inG safely to the
surface. Those who perished were at work
on plane fully n mile from the foot of
the shaft. They were driving tunnel,
and so far as known were in what was
considered II safe place The fire boss had
inspected the plane in the morning, and
declared 1t free from gas. The cause of
the explosion is, therefore, q mystery, al
though the mine officials have several
theories. One report Is that fall of roof
In the slope exploded quantity Of dyna-
mite which was stored there, and that this
in turn caused a feeder of gas to become
ignited. Another theory is that the gas
was ignited by careless workman, and II
third that blast set fire to the gas, ind
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 the ex-
plosion. 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 immedi-
ately organized, and the brave fellows de-
scended the shaft as quickly as the car
riages could take them. But they did not
remain long below. The ventilation was
bad and after two of the party had been
almost overcome by the deadly afterdamp
they were compelled to return to the sur
face.
A half hour later the ventilation had
been improved somewhat and another res
cue party went down. They found three
men lying unconscious in the gangway.
All the mon who escaped without aid
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 mile. They
did not dare walk, for the force of the after
damp would have prostrated them. The
strongest reached the foot of the shaft
first, for 1t was a 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 comrades, who
could not see them drop in their trucks