The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-10-30
ANOTHER MINE HORROR
Fatal Explosion Of Mine Gas IN
South Wilkesbarre.
SIX DEAD BODIES RECOVERED

or These Two Were Leading . Party Of
Rescuers--It Is Feared That Twelve
Others We're in the Mine, and Have
surely Perished.
WILKEsBARRE, Pa, Cot. 3O-A terrible
explosion of gas occurred In No. 8 mine Of
the Lehigh and Wilkesbarre Coal COM
pany in South Wilkesbarre yesterday
afternoon. Six men are known to be dead
and three injured. 1t Is not yet known
how many men were In the mine at the
time Of the explosion, but twelve are re.
ported missing and 1t is believed all Of
these have persisted. The dead who have
been brought to the surface are William
r Jones, fire boss John Joseph, assistant
mine foreman; Thomas Owens, miner
William Lacey, rock miner; James Her.
ron, laborer; Joseph Worth, fire boss. All
leave families They were horribly burned
and hardly recognizable.
The cause Of the explosion will probably
never be known. The mine was idle for
the day. Usually there are from 400 to 500
men employed in the mines. Had they all
been at work when tho explosion occurred
the loss of life would have BEEN fearful
noon were the company hands and fire
bosses, who were at work in the rock tun-
mel changing the air course. The place
was very gaseous, and the men worked
with safety lamps 1t is believed the gas
was ignited by blast. David Williams,
the driver boss, was at the head Of the
slope, 500 feet away, when the explosion
occurred, and was hurled some distance
and injured. He was the only one in that
vicinity who escaped alive.
The explosion was SO severe that it was
plainly felt at tho mouth of the shaft. The
roof of the fan house was blown off and
all the airways and brattice inside were
wrecked and blown away.
The alarm was promptly given, and
hundreds Of men, women and children
rushed to the mouth of the shaft. The
grief of the womankind who had hus-
bands, sons or brothers in the mine was
heartrending.
The work Of organizing rescue gangs
was begun without delay. 1t was per-
ilous undertaking as the sequel proved,
but no man faltered Fire Boss William
r. Jones and Assistant Mine Foreman
John Joseph selected the men for the first
party, and themselves led the way. All
were overcome by the dread afterdamp,
but not until they had found Driver Boss
David Williams. All except Joseph sue
ceeded in reaching the foot Of the shaft
and were removed to the surface, but the
old fire boss, William r. Jones, succumbed
to the deadly firedamp, and died in half
an hour after being brought out. John
Joseph, the other hero, became separated
from the first party, and the second rescu-
ing party found his body and removed 1t
to the surface.
A number of company men who worked
in different part of the mine reached the
surface by the No. s shaft and also by an.
other opening. 1t is not thought possible
to reach the four men in the rock tunnel
until the air currents are opened.
Superintendent laval and other OIL
Gals of the Lehlgh and Wilkesbarre COM
pany were early on the scene. laval be.
lieves there may be six men inside yet, but
an old miner insists that there are Twelve.
1t is the general superstition that all are
dead. A rescue party Of twelve men ip
charge of Mine Foreman John F. Jones is
slowly making way to the rock tunnel
and building an air passage the entire dis
tance to insure safety. The mine damp is
very bad, and the work Of rescue is pro-
crossing at great risk.