The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-07-01
ANOTHER BIG CAYEIN.
Il Adds to the Hsrrsr Of the Pitts
ton Mine Fatality.
FIVE BRAVE VOLUNTEERS ESCAPE

They Had Started On Dangerous Mission
in Response to Reports of Rappipgs from
the Doomed Aiiners-Providing Relief
for the Destitute Families.
WILKEsBARRE, Pa, July lit Is now
stated that there are ilfty-nine men, living
or dead, imprisoned in the depths Of the
doomed Twin mine. This IL the official
number, and there is no reason to think 1t
incorrect. The company has completed a
careful canvass Of all the men who were
at work on Saturday night, and the sum
total Of the men lost in the disaster, En-
glish speaking and foreigners, aggregate
this figure. The relatives Of i've other
Hungarians declare that these men, too,
are among the victims, but this is dis.
puted by the timekeeper, who says that
the Huns drew their pay last week and
went to Pittsburg to work In the soft coal
mines. They simply deserted their fam
HES. but their women will not believe 1t.
At midnight the situation was more en-
couraging than it has been at any time
since the cavein. The rescuers had reached
the edge of the fallen rock and had begun
to load 1t in cars, which are hoisted to the
head OF the slope by a stationary engine
The point where the men are supposed to
be is still 600 feet beyond The gas is not
so bad as ii has been, and there is no sign
of the river water flowing into the mine
When the II o'clock shift came out of
the mine last night some of the men re-
ported having heard what they thought
were rappings in that part of the mine
whore the victims are supposed to be I'M
prisoned. This Immediately revived the
hope that the men might he alive, al
though the officials place little reliance on
this story. Five brave fellows, headed by
Daniel Lehr, volunteered TO crawl overthe
wall and see what coull be seen. They
were told that they made the journey at
their own risk, and replied that they were
satisfied !. They are Daniel Lehr, David
Council, James Mahon, James O'Brien
and James Lynott, all single men.
Another extensive eavein occurred in
the workings Of the Twin shaft shortly
after midnight. Tho cavein was in that
portion Of the mine where the victims are
thought to be. 1t made terrific report,
and was heard all over the town. The fall
must have been very heavy one. 1t had
Vfe eHect OF urlVllR tfle TeScHerS OUT OF the
slope, for the timberS around them imlne-
diately began to sway and crack. A fall
in the slope may occur at any moment
The news Of the second cavein has had u
most discouraglng effect on everybody, rs
it is conceded, even by the families Of the
victims, that there is now no hope Of their
ever escaping alive The five men who
had volunteered to climb the walls were
not caught in the last fall. They escaped
safely to the head OF the slope
The bore hole which was started in the
Clear Spring mine, which adjoins the
Twin shaft, to pierce the pillar of 100 feet
of solid coal between the workings of the
two mines has not proved as successful rs
WINS hoped WHOM the drill WAS in about
thirty-hve feet 1t struck rock and had to
he abandoned. At noon yesterday new
hole was started.
The mass meeting of citizens held In the
Pittston Opera House last night for the
purpose OF taking steps to provide relief
for the families of. the victims was largely
attended. Committees were appointed to
solicit subscriptions and provide for the
immediate relief of those in want.