The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-30
WORK STOPPED AT I
THE TWIN SHAFT
Mine Inspector Mcdonald Considered
Slope Too Dangerous.
TRYING TO GET GAS OUT OF THE MINE
Three Fire Bosses Engaged in That
Task Last Night..PrObability That
Rescue Work Will Never BE Re.
sumed. . CanditiOn Of Affairs at
Present in the Shaft Where the Men
We're Working.

BY order Of Mine Inspector Mcdonald
the work of searching for the men en-
tombed in the Twin shaft was aban-
doned yesterday, for the present, at
least
Until Tuesday the rescue shifts were
forcing a passageway six feet high and
about five feet wide through the mass
of coal and rock that filed No. slope,
and they had little difficulty in pre-
venting the rock above the six foot
point from coming down until they got
the timbers in place.
Tuesday they encountered looser rock
and coal. and it was found impossible
to keep 1t from tumblng down. 1t all
had to be cleared out, leaving the heighth
of the slope from twelve to fifteen feet.
The solid timbering of the same heighth
as the rest Of the slope was put in, but
this left an open space from six to nine
feet between the top Of the timbers and
the roof. In this large quantity of
gas from the old workings gathered
yesterday. The danger from a fall of
roof was also increased. as there was
nothing to directly support the roof, and
In case of squeeze 1t would come
down, smash the timberlng that consti-
tutes the roof of the slope, and prob
ably cause the loss of other lives.
SIZE OF SHIFTS REDUCED.
Seven men have been employed on
each of the eight hour shifts, but yes
rcrday morning it was considered en-
pedient to reduce each shift to four
men. The presence of the gas and the
inability of more than four men to
work to advantage in the slope at one
time led to the reduction of the num-
her Of men on each shift. There wGs
also Encouragement of the schedule
of wages.
During the morning Mine Inspector
Mcdonald was apprised of the condl-
tiCn CT affairs in the shaft and at 4
o'clock yesterday afternoon went down
into it to make u personal examina-
ton of the workings. He decided that
the danger attending the work of res
cue was too great and ordered the men
out OF the mines until such time as the
gas can be cleared out and some means
devised of making the roof above the
timbering In the slope at least reason
ably safe. When that will be no one
can tell at this time.
Last night the only persons in the
mine were three fire bosses, who were
engaged in devising some means of
using all the air to drive the gas out
through the shaft. Gates were being
erected and other means employed to
attain this end.
PROBABLY THE END.
The owners of the mine have shown a
strong desire to continue the work of
endeavoring to find the bodies of the
men, but in view of the new develop
ments and the action of the mine in
spector, it is doubtful if the rescue work
will ever be resumed.
1t is now thirty-two days since the
cave-in occurred, and during that time
less than half the distance down No. 3
slope has been dug out. The real work
Of hunting for the bodies will not begin
until the bottom Of the slope Is reached
A simple calculation shows, that ac-
cording to the rate of progress i'm the
past, it would take months to reach the
bodies.
There is little likelihood of the bodies
Of these hardy mine workers, who tried
to preserve the mine, ever being recov-
cred, and the black timbers of the Twin
shaft will be the monument that will
mark their deep sunk grave.