Connecticut western news., 1896-07-02
MANY MINERS KILLED
FRlGHTFul DISASTER IN THE PENN
 SAVANNA coALFlELDS.

The Meu Had Undertaken to Fix Up
 Mine That Had Threatened to Cave In.
 While Thus Engaged the Crash Came.
 BuryIng Them All Alive.
 pITTsToS. Pa, June go The most dis nstrous mining accident which has occur red in the state of Pennsylvania since the Ayondalo horror In 1869, when goo minors lives were lost, cast this town into pro- found sorrow. At least 70 iuen are In the lowest division of the Twin Shaft mine of the Newton Coal company-a mine which has given employment to miners for 50 years.
 The naturo of the accident soems to pre- clude any possibility that any of the un- fortunates arc still alive. They have been buried under thousands of tons of rock nearly l,2o0 foot below the surface. Hun dreds of men are at work endeavoring to get within reach of their former comrades, but 1t will be several days before tholr task can be completed.
 About 40 of the imprisoned mon were English speaking miners, the others for eigners. The names of the former arc NJ. J. Langan, inside superintendent; J. Fl. Lynott. inside foreman; Alex Mccormack, fire boss; Robert Haston, maohinist; Thomas Murphy, driver boss; Michael Costello, J. II. Kelly, Michael Gaudhan, John Hart, James Daley, Michael Con nell, Daniel Ward, Frank kehoe, James Cleary, Edward Buckley. John Casey, Edward Rogers, James Kehoe, James Mo Donald, Edward Delaney, Cornelius Mo Guire, James Golden, M. O. Brion, Michael Hughes, Edward kilday, James Burke, Patrick Ruaue, Thomas Tenpenny, Mi ohael K. Gaffney. Thomas Doing, Anthony Kane, J. W. Murphy, Owen Lee, Anthony Gordon, James Wall, - Wall, his sul; Dominick O'Malley, Peter Martin, Mi chael Ford, Timothy Duhrick, Thomas Dempsey, Thomas Carlln, Patrick 6ib- bons, John O'Boyle. Peter Joyce, An- thony Gordon, John Gill, John Gaffney, Daniel Gavin, r. ;. Kelly, - Hoistrich, Joseph Zurindo, Tony Tollaski, Peter Sa- yuskiz Andrew Slovinski simon Masko- vit2, John Cadanizky.
 Aside from these thcre may be other English speaking miners among the un- fortunates. Thirty Polandars and Huns wore entomhed, and 1t Is thought that the total numbur os bodies in the mine will roach 100.
 How the Accident Happened.
 The men were at work propping up the roof when tlo fall occurred. The alarm was immediately given hy the ringing of the fro bells, and rercuers were put to work without delay. The first bodies were found in the slope some distance from the plano where the men had been working.
 More than two thirds of the victims were marriod mon and leave families. Among them were Acting Mayor Langan, who was inside superintendent of the mine, and J. II. Lynott, ward council man.
 About two weeks ago the surveyors re- ported to General Superintendent Law that the mine was "squeezing, and that unless steps were immediately taken to timber it n cave in or fall might be looked for. Superintendent Law lost no time but at once pnt number Of timhcrmen at work to braco the falling roof. The "squeeze" continued, and the situation became alarming. A slight fall occurred, and the men who were at work had to re- treat before 1t. A consultation of mine of- . flcials was then hold, and 1t was decided ! that heroic measures would have to be resorted to to prevent heavy damage to i the nina
 Inside Superintendent Bangan gave in- | structions that the most experienced ! miners should he secured, and that the par ] ty would go down the mine and mako the | repairs. Export timhermen put in an ap- | pcarance and vera soon lowered into tho | workings. They made their way to the rcd ash voiu, 1, 800 feet down the slope. The work of propping proceeded rapidly until 1 another fall occurred. It made A low, rum bling noisn, and the fly ing coal and debris 1 drove the men back.
 Fell With a Tremendous Crash. Then tho "suueezo' ceased again, and i the men thought 1t was safe to resume work. They labored for several hours, whom, so it is presumed the roof fell in without warning, making tremendous crash. It is supposed, however, that tho men were not all together, but some near the slope, and these probably ran up the incline when the fall occurred.
 Tho alarm was first given by Water Car rier John Sheridan, who, with William ! Reichard and Thomas Gill, were tho only ones to escape of tho whole party who cn. | tered the mlno last night. Hc was on his way up the slope to get some fresh water | for the meu, and when about loo feUt from | tho foot uf the shaft was knocked down | by the conCusson. He was badly cut and burned by living coal and rock. Hc lay | unconscious for ten minutes and then came up the shaft.
 The concussion was so great that it was heard for miles around. Tho foundations of nearly every building in Pittston wcru shaken, and windows and donrs rattled as 1 in tornado. In the houses nearest 10 the n;ino persons were thrown from their beds. Just Ray of Hope. i James Langan, a san of tho entombcd superintendent, created sensation by de. clarin2 that he succeeded in crawling oyor tho first two fails in the slope and reach | ing within 500 feut of where the mon were supposed to have been at work. He insists that thers was vacant spot be- | yond, and he believes the ontombed mon are in there He also says that the Senti' lation is good,
 If this story Is true, 1t upsots all previous theories. Snmo doubt Is entertained ro. gnrdiug it. however. Langan Is greatly excited over his fther's death, and ths | mine officials believe his narrative Is only l the wish to recover the body that fathers l tho thought. Ills undertaking was a | hazardous one, but the boy was desperate, and as he knows every inch of ground in the mine he could go where others would not think ot going. Mine Inspector Mo | Donald refused tu express any opinion on Young Langun's alleged exploration, but 1t is the general impression that he did | not reach as far as he claims.
 May Tot Be Alive
 WILKEsBARRE, Pa., July i.-There nrs go mun, llying or dead, reported imprison. ,-d In the depths nf the doomed Twin