The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1896-07-03
100 MINERS BURIED ALIVE.
Frightfui Result Of a Nine Caving-In e
PittstoB, Pa.
All OF she EotOmSed Men Thought lo
Have PeTished THE AiiRe RnowE
20 BE Unsafe.

WILKEsBARRE, Pa, June 29.-Wbiie
SO miners we're at work in the Red Ash
vein of the Twin shaft at PlttstoB.
about three o'clock yesterday morning.
the roof oayed in and it is believed sll
of the men persisted. About 40 Of the
imprisoned men were Englsh-speaking
miners, the other foreigners. Aside
from these there may be other English
speaking miners among the unfortU.
mates, Thirty Polanders and Euns
we're entOmbed, and it is thought The
total number of bodies in the mine
viii reach 100. More than two.thirds
of the victims we're married msn.
About two weeks ago the surveyor re-
ported to General Superintendent Law
that the mine was squeezing and
that unless steps we're Immediately
taken to timber it eave.in, or fall,
might be looked. Superintendent Law
lost no time, but at once put a number
.Of men at work to brace the falling
roof. The squeeze" continued, how
ever, and Saturday the situation be-
came alarming. The squeeze" contin.
ued, however, and Saturday the sitaR-
ton became alarming. In the after
noon u slight fall occurred aud the
men who we're at work had to retreat
before it. A consultation Of mine Of
tioials was then held, and it was de
cided that heroic measures would have
to be resorted to to prevent heavy
damage to the mine. Expert timber
men were lowered into the workings
and they made their way to Red Ash
vein, 1900 feet down the slope. The
work of proppiug proceeded rapidly
until IL o'clock, when another fall Oe-
Cured tt made a law 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 labor
ed on, it is presumed, until the roof
fell in without warning, making tire
.mendous crash. If the men received
any warming, they had time to run up
the slope, but not to any great dis
lance. The falling rock and coal filed
up the slope and the adjoining gang
ways, completely shutting up ali ay-
.enues of escape. The conclusion was
so great that it was heard for miles
around. The foundations of nearly
every building in Pittston were shaken
and windows and doors ratified as in
tornado In the houses nearer to the
mine, persons we're thrown from their
beds. The first thought was that a
great earthquake had occurred, and
the inhabitants rushed pell-mell from
their houses. The ringing Of the Gre
bells and the shrieking of the big mine
whistle told the story.
Crowds Of people gathered about the
mouth of the shaft and numbered
thousands by daybreak, stalwsrt men
stood appalled,, and frantic women,
who had husbands OF sons in the
doomed mine, waited in despair.
When it was given out that there was
little or no hope of rescuing the men
alive, women and girls tainted and
were borne away.
The rescue work was promptly be-
gun, but at two o'clock yesterday aft
ernOOn it became necessary to swear
in extra policemen to control the crowd
around the mouth of the shaft. It had
increased to fully 1000. The latest re-
ports were that the situation at the i'll
fated mine was unchanged. The res.
.cuers we're hard at work, bat making
little progress. There is danger that
in hurrying the work otherliYes may
be lost.