The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-09
HOPE AND DESPAIR
What the Day Brought Forth
at the Scene Of the
Disaster.
AN ENCOURAGING DISCOVERY
Rush Of Air Is Heard Just in Advance
Of the RGScuerS, and II Is Sup
posed the HanWay They Ara
Approaching Is Open-Aine Is
Again Working Near the Foot Of
the Shaft-Trouble Over Wages.
AN ENCOURAGING DISCOVERY

VI rescue AT tne TWIN smart, PlttStOn,
last night by the report that the
O'Clock shift had heard the sound of
rushing air a few feet in advance of
them and that it is undoubtedly made
by a.current going through the manway
which they are now striving to reach.
This manway is cut through the solid
rock and leads to the workings where
the men are entombed. 1t Is reached
from the slope through a trap door
which the rescuers hope to get to before
nightfall today. They surmise from
the sound Of rushing air which grows
more distinct as they advance. that this
trap door has been bolted down by the
fall and shat the air Is circulating
through the manwey at a great veloc-
ity.
If their surmiseS are correct the hope
Of at least recovering the bodies be-
comes brighter. The manway must be
practically open at least to allow the air
to pass through and II it Is choked at
all 1t Is certainly not as bad as the
slope. It may be wholly intact and in
that case there Is no telling what may
be the result.
The workmen are now striving with
renewed energy to reach this trap door.
Owing to the fact that all marks along
the gangway have been obliterated by
the fall they do not know just how far
they have yet to go to reach this new
goal but those acquainted with the
mine say that ii Is only a few feet fur
ther and the maps also indicate this.
MINE WORKING AGAIN.
Side by side with this encouraging
news, must be announced two regret
table developments Of the day. One Is
that the mine Is working" badly again.
and the other Is that there is dissatis-
faction among the miners owing to the
matter of wages.
Yesterday afternoon a squeeze made
itself evident at the foot Of the shaft
near the mule barn which region all
along has been causing a good deal Of
trouble. The roof and sides are work.
ing towards the north and the timbers
In some instances are sprung fully
foot This strain cannot be withstcod
much longer and unless the squeeze
ceases there is every danger Of q seri-
Gus fall. A cave-in at this point means
q total cessation Of operations and the
possibilities Of some of the rescuers be-
ing blocked in if the fall should come
without sufficient warning to get the
rescuers from the face of the fall,
which is thousand feet or more from
the region of the settling.
Yesterday the forces We're cut down
as there is no longer need for the
large amount of help which the timber
tod g
ty men formerly comprised shift only
about half that number will be en-
ployed. Four men are all that can
work at one time on the face OF the
fall and the only other work to be done
is to patrol the gansway and slope be-
hind them to watch out for and repair
any weakened portions of the timber
ing. There is no dissatisfaction ex-
pressed on this score as Il is patent to
all chat more than twenty-five or thirty
men on a shift would be supcrfiuous
under the conditions which existed yes
terday, but there Is dissatisfaction and
OF very pronounced nature too about
the colnpany's estimate Of the worth Of
the mems services.
THEY WE'RE SURPRISED.
When those who were laid Off yes
terday went TO be paid OFF they were
surprised to learn that the rate of
wages which the company proposed to
give them was $500 a day for miners
and $3.50 for laborers. AS many Of the
men left more remunerative positions
at easier and decidedly safer work to
help the company in its terrible dill
emma they felt that they would at
least receive as much wages as they
had been getting in their regular posi-
tions and would not have been greatly
surprised If they were offered double
wages owing to extreme danger of the
work, although they did not look for
this as they braved these dangers not
cut of any monetary consideration but
out of a regard for their duty to their
fellowmen.
While the murmuring against the
company IL quite general many are
found who apologize for its action with
the explanation that with sentiment left
out of the question the company is pay
ing as much as 1t can afford considering
that 1t IL getting no return from these
operations and in view Of the great ex-
pense It has already been put to 1t
must use the closest economy If It
hopes to be able to carry on these
rescuing operations for weeks and pos
sibly months without going into bank
ruptcy which means the cessation of all
operations, rescue and otherwise.
The company all along has shown a
tendency to do everything that was fair
and Just and there is but small fear
that the present dissatisfaction will be-
come critical.
The investigation by the commission
Of inspectors appointed by Governor
Hastings will be continued this morning
when the taking Of testimony will begin
The sessions will be held in st. Aloysius
IIau Can4h Mai., afraaA 4ho AnnA ,.ax