Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1896-07-02
A COAL MINE ACCIDENT
Ninety Men Were Imprisoned
by a Sudden Cave-in.
ALL MEANS OF RETREAT GUT OFF
The Men Were Propping Up the Roof
When the Accident Occurred-The
Work of Rescue Has Commenced

| The Men were PrOpp1ng up tho hooi
When the Accident Occurred-The
Work of Rescue Has Commenced
Wilkesbarre, Pa, June 30.-While
about ninety miners were at work in
the Red Ash vein of the twin shaft at
Pittston, about 8 o'clock this after
noon, the roof caved in, and it is be-
lived all of the men perished. About
forty of the imprisoned men are Eng
lish.speaking miners, the others for
eign.
Thirty Polanders and Hungarians
were entombed, and it is thought the
total number of bodies in the mine
may reach 100.
The men were at work propping up
the roof when the fall occurred. The
alarm was Immediately given by the
ringing of fire bells, and rescuers were
put to work without delay.
More than two.thirds of the victims
were married men. Among them were
Acting Mayor Lanigan who was inside
superintendent of the mine, and Lin
u6u, WdTu CUuuClluldU.
About two weeks ago the surveyors
reported to General Superintendent
Law that the mine was squeezing, and
that, unless steps were Immediately
taken to timber it, cave.in or fall
might be looked for. Superintendent
Law lost no time, but at once put a
number of timbermen at work to brace
the falling roof. The squeeze" con.
tinued, however, and yesterday the
situation became alarming. In the af-
ternoon slight fall occurred, and the
men who were at work had to retreat
before it,
A CONSULTATION of mine officers was
then held, and it was decided that
heroic measures would have to be re-
sorted to to prevent heavy damage to
the mine. Inside Superintendent
Lanigan gave orders that the most ex-
perienceed miners should be secured,
and that the party would go down into
the mine at o'clock. Expert timber
men put in an appearance at that hour,
and were soon lowered into the work
ings. They made their way to Red
Ash veining, 100 feet down the slope.
The work of propping proceeded
rapidly until II o'clock, when another
fall occurred. A 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 labored on until $40 o'clock,
when it is presumed the roof fell in
without warning, making termend-
Gus crash. 1t is said, however, that
the men were not all together, but
some were near the slope, and these
probably ran up the incline when the
fall occurred. This is the only way
the finding of Mayor Lanigan's body in
the slope can be accounted for. If the
men received any warning, they had
time to run to the slope, but not to any
great distance. The falling rock and
coal filled up the slope and the adjoin
ing gang ways, completely shutting of
all avenues of escape.
1t was at first supposed the men es.
capped and that they were imprisoned
behind the debris. 1t is still possible
however, that living men may be be
hind the fall, although it is extremely
improbable. Even if they escaped be
ing crushed by the falling rocks, the
probability of their being alive for any
length of time in gaseous mine is re-
mote.