The morning times., 1896-03-24

Dubois, Pa, March 23.-The first great
mining uIsaster III tnIs neignborhood III all
OF the fifteen years since mining became
an industry or magnitude, occurred at $40
O'Clock this morning al the Ber wind
White shaft, just east OF town.
1t came i'll the form of an explosion of
mine gas and resulted in the death Of
thirteen men, ali OF Dubois, their names
being as follows:
JAMES GRAHAM, SR.
JAMES GRAHAM, JR., son of above,
who was working with his father.
JOHN MONROE.
GEORGE PoSTLETHWAITE.
JESSE PosTLETHWAITE.
HENRY HARVEY.
GEORGE HARVEY.
HARRY SMITH.
LINDSEY +. BRADLEY.
ANDREW MoWAK.
DAVID BELL.
REUBEN NOBLE.
GEORGE AINSLEE.
All OF the dead leave families. except
james Graham, jr.
PHYSICIANS SUMMONED.
As soon as the explosion occurred and
before the extent of the disaster was known,
messengers were sent into town TO summon
all OF the physicians who could be found.
When the news reached Rochester mines,
which are three miles from tie shaft, the
men working there rightly OWNED that the
services Of good, practical men would be
wanted under the ground, and about forty
at once came out and started to the shaft.
ConVeyances were found for some and
others went as far Is they could in the street
cars and walked the remainder of the way
Superintendent Reed, or the Rochester
mines, followed, and us soon as he arrived
went below with cage full OF his own men.
The air was so bad below that the men
who went down in gangs OF about ten, could
not stay long at time, but the opening
seemed 10 clear up later on and better
progress in getting al the extent OF the
disaster was made.
About a thousand people were at the
scene in an hour, including many OF the
friends OF those underground, but as far
as possible, the reports were kept from the
families OF those who We're dead until the
bodies could be recovered.
NO HELP POSSIBLE.
Seventeen men went down the shaft at
O'Clock in the morning. thirteen going
into heading north OF the shaft, and
the other four in the opposite direction,
and the latter, with the mine boss, were
the only ones 10 escape the terrific shock.
The four men were half mile away from
the shock and shortly after O'Clock they
felt what they believed was the shock fol
lowing an explosion OF gas.
Immediately after Mine Boss Harvey
came running toward them and directed
them TO hurry to the foot OF the shaft.
When they came to the shaft they ran into
a body OF gas and knew that there had been
an explosion. Their first effort was to
put up some brattices which had been blown
off by the explosion, hoping that il might
possibly have the effect of turning an air
current TO their comrade in the other parts
OF the mine, but before they had accom-
plIshed much they were being overcome
by the gas and had TO be taken up in the
cage, one OF them then being in u very
serious condition himself.
Then il was that the news reached the
outside world.
The shaft is4close 10 eco feet deep and
for some time there has been known TO be
traces OF gas in the chambers, but preca u
tiOnary measures were observed to avoid
a disaster.
The mine is new one and is yet in early
stages OF dcve Iopment. and for that reason
there were no more men at work at the
time OF the explosion.
Dubois. Pa, March 23.-TweIve OF the
thirteen bodies have been recovered from
the shaft. 1t is not known whether the
remaining body is that of Bell or not, as
the body OF the last victim brought to the
surface is mutilated beyond recognition.