New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-29
ENTOMBED IN A MINE SHAFT.
NEARLY A HUNDRED MEN BELIEVED TO
HAVE PERISUED


Wilkesbarre. Penn. June 29-An awful dsas-
ter occurred at the Twin Shaft in Pttston nine
miles from here. to-day. in which It Is estimated
that nearly a hundred men were killed. The
men a work repairing portion OF the mine
which gave signs OF cavlng in. and when the cave
in occurred all the men in the mine except three
were entombed. II Is thought by the officials
that not one will be rescued alive. The names OF
known NJ. J. Iangan. inside superintendent;
NJ. J. Lynott. inside foreman: Alexander McCor-
mick fire boss II Dbcrt Haston. machinist; Thom-
as Murphy. driver boss: Michael Costello H.
Kelly. Michael Gaughan. John Hart. James
Daley. Michael Cornell. Daniel Ward, Frank
Kchoe. James Kchoe. James Mcdonald. Edward
Delaney. Cornelius Mcclure James GJlde VI.
O'Brien Michael Hughes. Edward Kiday. James
Burke. Patrick Ruane. Thomas Tenpenny.
Michael X. Gafncy. Thomas Doing Anthony
Kane. J. ". Murphy. owen Lee. Anthony Gordon.
James Wall and HIS son. Domlnick OMalley.
Peter Martin. Michael Ford Timothy Durbrck.
Thomas Dempsey Thomas Carin. Patrick Glib
bons. John O'Boyle and Peter Joyce. Thirty
Poles and Huncarans are also entombed Their
names cannot he learned until their relatives re
port them missing These were not regularly
engaged az the mine. but We're secured Saturday
night. owing 10 the emergency.
UNDER THOUsANDs OF TONS OF ROCK
The mine IL IN tho upper part OF Pittston and
IS one of the largest in the district. u has two
shafts from which It derives its name. The
shafts are GOD feet deep. and from the bottom a
gangway 5On feet long lends to n 1tn-foot slope
which connects No. q vein with the main work
ing. There is a G-foot vein Of red-ash coal about
100 feet from tho surface. II Is In the open
Ing Of this vein and in the lower part ~ the
slope that the accident occurred. and the-e 1t
Is supposed the men are crushed under thou
sands Of tons Of rock.
The mine had been working" or giving signs
that the props and timbers were not strong
enough 70 hold up the roof. for some ten days
The danger not thought 10 be serious, how
ever until saturday morning when the noise Of
the rumbling and swapping of tho rock becam"
terrific Large splinters were forced from the
sides and the roof by the pressure. and there
was every evidence of an extensive fall Super
intendcnt Langan sent IN some men To work. but.
az one ~ the engines was broken. they could do
little 10 strengthen the affected portion. The
engine not repaired until evening. and about
: 30 O'Clock I.angan. Lynott Mccormick and a
party % miners numbering In all about forty.
went down IN the mine and began work where
there were signs of weaknos1.
They made good progress AZ first. but about
10 O'Clock tho mine working" more fur
ously than ever and they were obliged 20 retreat.
The conditions then were such that Supcrin-
tcndent Langan saw that uul'as the extent ~
the "squeczc" was speedily stopped great dam
age would he done The party was too small.
and men were sent out to -cour the town for
others. About forty men. chiefly iIungarlans.
were secured. and those went down the mine
about II O'clock and were NJ once Iui 10 work
pro2ping and tmberng -" roof and strcngthcn-
Ing he props already IN place. At - o'clock word
came up that they were making slow progress.
and had harl work hefor" them. Langan. how
ever. was hopeful and expected 10 prevent any
extcrsive fall.
A SHOCK LIKE An EARTHQUAKE
A3o'clock this morning the men In the engine
and head houses were almost thrown on their
fee, bv n tremendous shaking OF the ground 1t
instantly flashed upon them that big fall had
occurred and IA they rushed - the head OF
the shaft their fears were verified 10y an inn
mcnse cloud of dust which arose. moment or
two later there was sharp ring al the engine
bell and knowing that some one VAS alive. the
engineer put speed on. and tho carriage quickly
reached the top man with his clothes torn.
and bleeding from numerous cuts. staggered out
He was Frank sheridan. the watcr-carrier, VINO
had gone down the mine ShOfllN b'l'I' - - ''''DN
He said that with two driver boys. Thomas
Gin and John Reichard. he had just reached the
head Of the slope when the fall occurred. and
they were whirlcd about by the conc usSion IKE
straws In "A hurricane. Their two mules were
killed and they were all severely cut ana bruised
but not seriously injured When they recovered
thev groped their way to the foot OF the SHAFT
and were hOlstcd 10 safety.
WORK OF RESCUE BLOCKED.
Az soon as sheridan's story told the fire
a'arn was rung and the whole town turned ont.
The people Of West Pttston. although across
the river from the shaft. were awaker"d by the
| concussion and were also soon on the scene
The first rescuing party went down the mhe
| about 43O but unable TO do anything me
| slope was found to be choked with sohd ran
| NJ rock To n point 600 feet from its root ana a
number Of small falls from that spot t the hedl
of the slope Tha mine was Slll WORKING nnu
there wae great danger or another ran NJ any
fine go all effOltg It rescue were pc stP'H''
un,u a conference OF the mine officials was
held. , ,o.,od
This took place in tn" morning ana lasted
some hours all the prominent NH ing men "i
the region being present. II Wos u',turu .''',
! the men had been caught in the lower parl oi
,ba sloue and In the no u vein. ana that th"re
vas Uttle chance of finding them aliv". II was
! thought aleo that 1t would De ii"p'sS'o'c ~
rea n them In less than "A week
DISTRESSING SCENES ABOUT THE SHAFT
The scene alound iH' i''"' va" ~
Fullv 6OOO people have been gathered 'h''e
since q O'Clock this morning, the women crying
and scbbing at times. again hopeful ana trying
| IN console their more distressed friends. Many
| 90 tho ,,oor creatures who have husDands' SONS
W " hri,hcre eniombel have maned In one
sno, since they first reached the ecene refusing
all comfort. ,, -
The Engllsh-speaking miners er.tombed are
- -, Ga the district They especially
| ergayed on account Of the danger Of the work,
| and are aiI men with families. langan the IN
80, 60 a member OF the Select Council. and
| Mccormick is a school director OF the city. The
! accident has cast q gloom over the entire valley
ard expression Of sympathy are hearn every
! u,r.ro Numerous offers OF assistance rave been