The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-02-20
ACCIDENT IN A NINE.
A Tremendous Explosion En-
tombs All the Workmen.
HALF A HUNDRED ARE DEAD.


NEWCASTLE, Feb. i9.--Tho explosion
that occurred at the Vulcan mine yes.
terday was tho most disastrous ever
known In tho history Of that cenp and
dozens Of homes In the city are desc.
late. All business is practically sus.
pended aud everyone Is dazei at the
awfulness OF tho sudden disaster. No
warning was given the peaceful villa
gers until a suodsn report as from 100
canuons resoundod throughout the val
10y
A throng Of people were soon az the
soene Of the disaster, a distance Of
nearly two mil's from Newcastle. A
glance was enough 70 dissipate any
hops for tho lives Of the ontombod mon.
Tho force Of tho explosion hal caused
cavein and the tunnel aud air courses
were alled with the fallen rock. earth
and timbers Houses were wrecked and
tho slope and vicinity were so full Of
debris and the gas was 80 bad that IL
was hard aud dangerous work 70 togn
the rescue.
Novorthe ess willing hands were soon
al work and five mon went down a. far
as possible 70 ascertain the condition Of
the slope aud found it such that it viii
require much WORK 20 regain the labor.
era It gas was 70 bad that after the
party hal gotten 200 feet down they
were compelled TO rccedo.
The consolidated mine shut down im.
media,oly after the disaster and It's en-.
tire force %. $50 men were sent 70 help
tho unfortunate ones They were soon
joined by the employees Of the Colorado
Fuel and Iron company mines a. New.
castle. which also closed.
The only mau who got out OF the
mines az the time Of the explosion was
Eiward Wcloh who was near the mouth
Of the tunnel aud was blown out. His
skull was fractured. arm broken. face
badly cut and burned aud all the hair
burned from hi head. lie was breath.
ing when found. but expired shortly
Afterwards without showing conscious.
ness.
Two young miners. Tom Connolly
AMI James Pele, met with narrow es.
csps', having emerged from the tunnel
just a short while before the explosion
occurred.
IL Is not known exactly how many
men were in Oh mine az the time, but
Il Is known thai the lumber is not lcss
than 30 and maY reach 20.
There are two shafts In addition 20
the one in which tho explosion took
place. In tho upper Of these two the
rescuers are in about 800 feet Of the en-.
tombod men. None Of those In the
mine have come out and it Is feared
that this is conclusive evidence that all
are dead.
Tho cause Of the explosion Is not yet
known. IL is thought that the disester
may have been caused by the breaking
into an immense pocket Of gas gener-
atod by everlasting fires
On Feb. 4 State Coal Mine Inspector
Griffith inspected the miue and pro-
nouncod IL in splendid condition, and
the work Is said TO have been done az
all times In tho most careful manner.
The mine was running almost at iis
fullest capacity owing TO the fuol war
that has been waged Ia the west aud
was shipping AZ the rate OF 10 10 10 cars
n day.
Owing 10 the dangerous character Of
the mine the miners were not allowed
60 enter the slope with any matches in
their possession, but tho rule was not
enforced. Although death was immi.
nent Tor anyone venturing 20 strike =
light, some Of the more ignorant miners
could not be taught that their lives dc.
pended ON the Observance Of the order
and frequent infractions Of the rule
were reported at headquarters.
All last night n throng Of weeping
women and children stood about tho
mouth OF the mino while the band Of
rvscuors were working earnestly aud
alphabetically in the hope OF soon be.
ing able 10 reach the 60 or 20 eutombod
miners, all o.. whom, it is conceded.
must now be dead
Men succeeded In entering the shaft
about 200 feet. but were driven out By
black damp and gas which was contn.
ualiy bolching forth. John Evans. who
went 800 feet down the main slope. TO.
ported the timhcrs In good shape aud
that the mino was only wrecked at the
mouth OF the slope where gas had no
opportunity TO expand.
The worS OF putting new fan IN
place 10 supply fresh air aud make Il
possible for rcs'uers 10 penetrate 60 the
levels where the men were working
when the explosion occurred, was prose.
cuted throughout tho night with all
possible speed aud the fan was In opera.
49,. ALL. ....-.....a.