Evening journal., 1896-06-29
TOMBED IN A MINE.
rly a Hundred Miners Killed
While at Work.
L0sION LIKE AN EARTHQUAKE.

3 TTsToN, Pa, June 29-The most dis
,us mining accident which has occur
"a n the state OF Pennsylvania since the
|xSndalo horror In 1869, when goo miners
[X were lost, cast this town into pro-
y 4 sorrow. At least 70 men are IN the
81 st division OF the Twin Shaft mine of
Newton Coal oompany--a mine which
al given employment TO miners for 30
'.Whe nature OF the accident seems to pre-
M e accessibility that any Of the un-
81 $unates are still alive. They have been
~ cd under thousands of tons of rock
frly 1, 200 feet below the surface Hun
<ls OF men are at work endeavoring TO
~ within reach Of their former comrades,
81 it will be several days before their
can be completed.
& bout 40 Of the imprisoned men were
,lish speaking miners, the others for
HERS. The names of the former are M.
H Hlangan, inside superintendent; j. III.
q bott. inside foreman; Alex Mccormack,
81 boss; Robert Hnston, machinist;
bmas Murphy driver boss; Michael
"A &tello. J. H. Kelly, Michael Gaudhan,
# Harta James Daley, Michael Con-
III Daniel Ward, Frank Kehoe, James
larry, Edward Buckley, John Casey,
ward Rogers, James kehoe, James Mo
nald, Edward Delaney, Cornelius Nc
ire, James Golden, M. o. Brien, Michael
81 ghes, Edward Kilday, James Burke,
Xtrick Ruane, Thomas TeDpenny, Mi
N sel r. Gaffney, Thomas Doing, Anthony
Mne, j. w. Murphy, Owen Lee, Anthony
.rdon, James Wall, --- Wall, his son;
*miniok O'Malley, Peter Martin, Mi
..hel Ford, Timothy Dubrick, Thomas
&mpsey, Thomas Carlin, Patrick Glib
8ls, John o. Boyle Peter Joyce, An
lny Gordon, John Gill, John Gaffney,
gniel Gavin, =. 5. Kelly, --Hoistrich,
Hseph Zurindo, Tony Toliaski, Peter Sa-
8sklz, Andrew Slovinski, Simon Masko-
j z, John Cadanizky.
&Aside from these there may be other
Bqlish speaking miners among the un-
Atunates. Thirty Polanders and Huns
re entoinbed, and 1t is thought that tho
al number Of bodies in the mine will
,ch 100.
How the Accident Happened.
E|The men were at work propping up the
~ when the fall occurred. The alarm
IS Immediately given by the ringing Of
A fire bells, and rescuers were put to work
thout delay The first bodies were found
y the slope some distance from the plane
/. here the men had been working.
8 More than two-thirds of the victims
ere marridh men and leave families.
tmong theni were Acting Mayor Langan,
4ho was inside superintendent of the
inc, and .E II. Lynott, a ward council
an.
About twa weeks ago the surveyors re-
rted to General superintendent Law
at the mine was squeezing, and that
lless steps were Immediately taken tC
mbor it a cave in or fall might be looked
|r. superintendent Law lost no time, but
once put number OF timbermen al
ork to brace the falling roof Th'
Isqueezen continued, and the situation
came alarming. A slight fail occurred
I'd the mon who were at work had to re
Lcat before 1t. A consultation of mine of
bials was then held. and it was decided
nat heroic measures would have to b'
,sorted TO to prevent heavy damage e
10 mine
Inside SUPERINTENDENT Langan gave in
ructions that the most experienced
liners should be secured, and that tho par
y would 90 down the mine and make thl
epairs Expert timbernen put In an ap
earance and were soon lowered into TIN
workings They made their way to the ret
sh vein, 1000 feet down the slope Th
york OF propping proceeded rapidly unit
mother fall occurred. 1t made low, rum
lling noise, and the flying coal and debri
lfoyc the men back.
Fell with Tremendous Crash.
Then the 'squeezep ceased again, AM
ho men thought It was safe to resum
rerk. They labored for several hours
rhep. so It is presumed, the roof fell 4
Without warming, making a tremendou
rash. 1t is supposed, however, that th
nen were not all together but some nea
he slope, and these probably ran up th
Incline when the fall occurred. This IS Oh
only way the finding Of Mayor Langan'
bcdy In the slope can be accounted for.
the men received any warning, thoy ha
time TO run up the slope, but not to an
great distance. The falling rock and Goa
flled up the slope and the adjoining gang
ways, completely shutting of oil avenue
of escape.
1t was first supposed that the men Nigh
have escaped being caught in the fall, an
that they were imprisoned behind the dc
Iris, but the finding of the two bodie
would go to disprove this IL is still poss
lie, however, that living. men may sti
be behind the fall, although It is extreme
ly improbable. Even Il they escaped bein
crushed by tho falling roof, the possibilit
Of their being alive for any length Of tim
in a gaseous mine Is remote.
The alarm was first given by Water Cal
rier John Sheridan, who, with WilliaI
Rcichard and Thomas Gill, were the onl
ones to escape Of the whole party who Ell
tered the mine last night. He was on hi
way up the slope to get some fresh waite
for the men, and when about 100 feet froi
the foot of the shaft was knocked dow
by the concussion. He was badly cut an
burned by flying coal and rock. He la
unconscious for ten minutes and the
came up the shaft
The concussion was so great that IL wt
hoard for miles around The foundation
of nearly every building In Pittston wei
shaken, and windows and doors ratified g
in a tornado. In the houses nearer to Il
mine persons were thrown from their bed
The first thought was that great eartl
quake had oceurrod, and the inhabitan'
rushed pellmell from their houses. III
ringing of the Gre bells and the shriekir
af the big mine whistle told the story.
Piteous Scene.