The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-23
WEST SIDE EVENTS.
Fire In the Air Shaft Of the Mount
Pleasant Colliery-hazardous
Task Of the Firemen.

The old cir shaft Of the Mount Pleas
ant colliery was. for the third time since
1t was sunk, visited by fire last night,
shortly after 8 o'clock. Boys playing
and smoking cigarettes about the
mouth Of the shaft threw a lighted
match upon a pile of papers which were
packed within the twelve-foot square
enclosure at the top of the opening.
This is the fairest clue to the fires or
tgin. An alarm was sent in from box
81. at the top Of Lackawanna avenue
hill. Columbia company made a great
run and stream was on in very few
minutes. Franklin company were han
dicapped by inexperienced horses and
their time was slower than usual.
Smoke could be seen issuing from the
smart In great volumes, when IL part of
the surrounding fence was broken down
and two streams of water were sent at
the blaze.
1t was hazardous fight. Only q thin
flooring covered the shaft and II was
under this floor where the fire was at
It's worst. A misstep would have sent
the firemen several hundred feet down
to the next vein. After an hours work
the fames were mastered. The extent
of damages is not great. Several feet
of timbering on the side of the shaft
were destroyed. There was danger In
the mine underneath.
When the water was sent down the
shaft 1t drove the smoke before 1t and
the mine mules In the barn near the
foot entrance to the shaft were in dan
~Eer of suffocation. A gang of men led
tfNs. animals to safer quarters before
any'h'es serious happened
FUNEnAk. OF MRS. JANE THOMAS.
The funeral \,af Mrs. Jane Thomas,
which took place yesterday afternoon
was a fitting tribute to the character of
the deceased. At o'clock a brief prayer
service was conducted at the family
home on South Hyde Park avenue
Rev. r. Bell, of the Plymouth Congre-
tional church, ofilciated. Immediately
after the service at the house the re-
mains were taken to the Plymouth
church, where a large congregation of
friends listened to an eloquent sermon
by Rev. Bell. The speaker told OF the
Christian life of the deceased and said
that though the death was sudden, yet
Mrs. Thomas was not unprepared The
church choir. under the leadership Of
Elias e. Evans, sang sweetly a number
Of hymns. The music. was of unusual
excellence. After the services the re-
mains were viewed by large number
Of people. The ushers were Charles f..
Daniels. John T. Jones, John Hughes,
A. b. Eynon and Richard Owens. The
floral offerings We're magnificent.
Among the figures were a pillow with
the word Mother" on it. This was the
gift Of the family. There were several
casket bouquets, pair of floral an
chOrs. a floral Tyre, the gift Of the Equit-
able Aid Union, Of which the deceased
was a member. A handsome Maltese
cross also figured In the tributes The
flower-bearers were: John l.. Williams,
Walter wilkins, John Rogers and DAN
iel Parry, Of Olyphant. Those who act
ed as pall-bearers We're the following
sons of the deceased: Edwin, Parry,
Price, and Arthur Thomas 1nterment
was made in Washburn street ceme-
terry. Among the out-of- town people at
the funeral were. Mr.. and Mrs. Edward
Chastey. of Wilkes Barre; Mrs. Joseph
Hughes, Nanticoke; Mrs. John r.
Davis, Kingston; Mrs. John Howell. OF
Olyphant; William Miles, MahanOy
City; Edward Costello, Alexander Cos
tello, Wilkes Barre; and Daniel Parry,
Of Olyphant.