Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-07-02
A MINING HORROR.
Frightful Result of a Cave-In at
Pittston, Pa.
A HUNDRED MINERS BURIED ALIVE.
All Of the Entombed Men Thought to Have
Perished-Frantic Women Gather
Around the Shaft Tho Mine
Known TO Be Unsafe.

WrLKEsBARRs, Pa, June 29-While
90 miners were at work in the Red Ash
vein Of the Twin shaft at Pittston
about three o'clock yesterday morning,
the roof caved In and it il believed all
Of the men persisted. About 40 Of the
imprisoned men were English-speak-
ing miners, the others foreigners Aside
from these there may be other En-
glish.speaking miners among the un-
fortunates. Thirty Polanders and
Huns we're entom bed, and it Is thought
the total number OF bodies in the mine
will reach 100 More than two-thirds
of the victims were married men.
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 a cavern, or fall,
might be looked for Superintendent
Law lost no time, but at once put a
number Of men at work to brace the
falling root. The squeeze" contin.
ued, however, and Saturday the situa.
tion became alarming. In the after
noon slight fall occurred and the
men who were at work had to retreat
before II. A consultation Of mine Of
icials 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 ofpropping proceeded rapidly un-
til II o'clock, when another fall oc-
Cured 1t made a low 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 la.
bored on, 1t is presumed, until the roof
fell in without warning, making a tre-
mendous crash II the men received
any warning, they had time to run up
the slope, but not to any great dis
lance The falling rock and coal filled
up the slope and the adjoining gang
ways, completely shutting up all av-
snues Of escape, The concussion was
80 great that 1t was heard for miles
around The foundations Of nearly
svery building in Pittston were shak-
IN and windows and doors ratified as
n tornado. In the houses nearer to
;he mine, persons were thrown from
heir beds. The first thought was that
great earthquake had occurred, and
The inhabitants rushed pell-mell from
heir houses. The ringing of the fire
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. stalwart
men stood appalled,, and frantic wom-
IN, who had husbands or sons in the
doomed mine, waited in despair.
When 1t was given out that there was
title or no hope Of rescuing the men
live, women and girls tainted and
we're borne away.
The rescue work was promptly be-
'un, but at two o'clock yesterday aft
rnoon II became necessary to swear
n extra policemen to control the crowd
round the mouth OF the shaft 1t had
increased to fully 1000 The latest re.
orts were that the situation at the Ill.
ated mine was unchanged. The res
uers were hard at work, but making
title progress There Is danger that
a hurrying the work other lives may
Q lost.
A conference Of prominent mine sup
from all over the Wyo-
ling valley was held last night and the
In the mine was discussed.