The Coconino weekly sun., 1896-07-02
AWFUL MINE HORROR.
Probably 100 Men Killed in 0 Gave
 In at Pittston, Pa.
The Concuxsi0n Heard for Many Miles, and Frightened Citizens Thought an Earth. quake Had Occurred-staiwart Men
 Appalled, and Women Faint.

WMKEsBARRE, Pa., June 29.-While
 go miners were at work in the Red Ash
 vein of the Twin shaft at Pittston
 about three o'clock yesterday morning,
 the roof caved in and it is believed all
 of the men perished. About 40 of the
 imprisoned men were English-speak-
 ing miners, the others foreigners. Aside
 from these there may be other En-
 glish-spealling miners among the un-
 fortunates. Thirty Polanders and
 Huns were entombed, and it is thought
 will reach 100. More than two-thirds
 of the victims were married men. About two weeks ago the surveyors re-
 ported to General Superintendent Law
 that the mine was ''squeezing' and
 that unless steps were immediately
 taken to timber it a cave.in, or fall,
 might be looked for. Superintendent
 Law lost no time, but at once put
 number of men at work to brace the
 falling roof. The ''squeeze" contin-
 ued, however, and Saturday the situa.
 ton became alarming. In the after
 noon a slight fall occurred and the
 men who were at work had to retreat
 before it. A consultation of mine of- ficials was then held, and it was de- cided that heroic measures would have to be resorted to to prevent heavy
 damage to the mine. Expert timber men were lowered into the workings
 and they made their way to Red Ash vein, 1,5O0 feet down the slope. The
 work of ofpropping proceeded rapidly un- til II o'clock, when another fall oc-
 cured. It made low rumbling noise and the flying coal and debris drove the men back. Then the 'squeeze" ceased again and the men thought it was safe to resume work. They la- bored on, it is presumed, until the roof fell in without warning, making a tre- mendous crash. If the men received any warning, they had time to run up the slope, but not to any great dis tance The falling rock and coal filled up the slope and the adjoining gang ways, completely shutting up all av- euues of escape. The concussion was so great that it was heard for miles around. The foundations of nearly every building in Pittston were shak- en and windows and doors rattled as in a tornado. In the houses nearer to their beds. The first thought was that a great earthquake had occurred, and the inhabitants rushed pell-mell from their houses. The ringing of the fire bells and the shrieking of the big mine whistle told the story.
 Crowds of people gathered about the mouth of the shaft and number thousands by daybreak. Stalwart men stood appalled,, and frantic wom- en, who had husbands or sons in the doomed mine, waited in despair. When it was given out that there was little or no hope of rescuing the men alive, women and girls tainted and were borne away.
 The rescue work was promptly be- gun, but at two o'clock yesterday aft. ernoon # became necessary to swear in extra policemen to control the crowd around the mouth of the shaft. It had increased to fully 1000 The latest re. ports were that the situation at the ill- | fated mine was unchanged. The res cuers were hard at work, but making little progress There is danger that in hurrying the work other lives may be lost.
 A conference of prominent mine sup erintendents from all over the Wyo- ming valley was held last night and the situation in the mine was discussed. | The conclusion was reached that to | prevent further loss of life the work of rescue must proceed with care. It is also the unanimous belief of the super. that the mine is now a tomb and that it will be some days be- fore the rescucrs reach the bodies.