The record-union., 1896-06-29

Heart-Rending Scenes at the
Mouth of the Shaft.
WILKESBARRE, June 2S.-The little
city of Pittston is in mourning tonight
as a result of another of the terrible
mining disasters which have cost so
many lives in Pennsylvania. A large
number of her citizens, variously eSl-
mated at from eighty to one hundred
and twenty-five, are entombed at the
bottom of the Twin Shaft, owned by
the Newton Coal Company, and at Latte
hour tonight the prospect OF saving
the lives of these unfortunate men is
exceedingly poor. Among the victims
is NJ. J. Langan, Mayor pro tenn. of
Pittston, who was Superintendent of
the mine. A number of minor officers of
the mime are also buried.
It was noticed several days ago that
the rock between the fifth and sixth
veins was working and since that
time a large force of men has been at
work taking measures to insure the
safety of the mine. About o'clock this
(Sunday) morning, without warning,
the roof of the levels in which the men
were working collapsed with a shock
which aroused every one in the town,
causing them at first to think an earth
quake had occurred. The truth was
soon learned, however, and within two
hours thousands of excited people We're
gathered about the head of the shaft,
the relatives of the unfortunate men
below indulging in the widest mani
festations of grief. The women and
children who had lost husbands and
fathers were frantic.
But four men escaped from the mine
and not one of these could tell con-
nected story of how the disaster oc-
Cured or what was the condition of the
lower levels The work of rescue was
begun as soon as possible, but the first
four trips made into the mine were
without result. Later a conference OF
mining officials decided on a more sys-
tematic plan and large force was rut
TO work with all necessary appliances
TO endeavor to reach the imprisoned
men. 1t was found impossible to work
through the mass of debris in the direc-
ton of the passages and at a late hour
tonight it was decided to drive a gang
way from an adjoining colliery. This
viii undoubtedly take several days and
it is feared that in the meantime such
of the unfortunates as We're not killed
by the cave-in will perish of starvation.
Nearly all the men in the mine We're
married and some of them have large
families AS stated, the estimated
number of entombed varies greatly, but
the number is certainly not less than
eighty.
DETAILS OF THE DISASTER.
WILKESBARRE (Pa-), June 2S.-At
3 O'Clock this morning the city of Pitts
ton. twelve miles from here, was thrown
into the widest excitement by three sep
arate shocks, accompanied by run1b-
lings resembling an earthquake disturb
ance They We're so strong as to awaken
the peaceful slumbers of the people
throughout East and West Pittston. I'm
7nediately afterward alarm of the most
thrilling character took possession of
the entire populat ton, which was added
to by the wild alarming whistle OF the
Twin Shaft at the Pittston Junction, ac-
companied by repeated fire alarms.
Hundreds of people rushed to the Twin
Shaft. operated by the Newton Coal
Company, from which the doleful alarm
came. only to find that the shock was
due to an extensive cave-in, accom-
panied by an explosion which had oc-
CURED in the sixth or lower vein of the
Shaft.
1t was soon learned that no less than
hundred men and boys were imprisoned
in the Dit. The fearful and distressing
news spread with lightning rapidity and
bv s o'clock this morning thousands of
men. women and children crowded about
the head of the shaft. the women and
children particularly expressing the
widest grief for their beloved ones in
the dark pit beneath
The hour following the alarm is one
long TO be remembered by those witness
ing the sights, the anxious suspense OF
the -workmen, the grief of the friends
and the tender sympathy for the afflicted
ones. The foreign element in particular,
in their piercing harangues and their
wild demands for their friends made
the weird and narrowing sight one OF
peculiar solemnity. Efforts were made
10 quiet them by rendering the little en-
rouraeement possible. but unavailingly
were those efforts put forth, as the
mothers. fathers, daughters, sons.
brothers and sisters reasonably feared
the worst and upon the first information
received their fears We're found to be
well grounded.
The first to come to the surface from
the shaft below after the explosion.
which carried in its wake from the pit
solid volumes of smoke and dirt, was
John Gill, who was at the bottom en-
gagged in labor The force of the con-
cussion threw him with terrific force
against the wall. More dead than alive
he crept out and with difficulty signaled
to the engineer at the surface 10 hoist
the carriage. When he was brought
up his stories gave to the few bosses
present doubt as to the safety of any OF
the men and boys below. From him was
secured the first information of the num-
ber who appear likely to be in the
shaft The closest approximation was
that not less than one hundred or more
workmen will. or have suffered a horri-
BILE death.
Just at this period word came from
the pit that men were ready to be
brought up. Momentary only was the
hope created, for when John Riker, a
runner boy, Jacob Adam and Frank
Sheridan were brought TO the surface.
they told the true story. 1t appears that
several days ago the officials discovered