The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-12-24
ANOTHER mine EXPLOSION.
A SCORE OR MORE OF MINERS
LOST THEIR LIVES NEAR
WILKESBARRE
40 MEN MADE THRILLING ESCAPES
Some Crawled the Distance of Mile.
Brave Rescuers Experience Serious
Difficulties-Th Usual Heartrend-
ing Scenes of Grief.

Wilkesbarrc, Pa, Dec. 2.-Fully q
score of miners persisted this afternoon
by an explosion Of gas in Baltimore No.
2 shaft of the Delaware and Hudson
Coal company. Fifty or sixty others
barely escaped with their lives.
The mine is situated in the northwest
ern section of the county. and when in
full operation employs in the neighbor-
hood of $50 men ana boys. About one
third of this force was ut work today
and the number of workers was further
reduced after 3 o'clock, when the day
shift men came out. When the explo-
sion occurred, an hour later, there were
probably sixty men in the mine. OF this
number forty or thereabouts succeeded
in getting safely to the surface. Those
who persisted were at work in q place
fully mile from the foot of the shaft.
They were driving tunnel. and so far
as known, were in what is considered
safe place. roy
The first knowledge of the catastrophe
came to the surface by the noise of the
explosion. The foundations of houses
over the mines shook and the dreadful
rumor spread that another calamity had
L he tADItbSlOu Wtut lIOIh up
to lip, show many men are In the mine?'
The men in the engine house, who had
charge of the hosting carriages, gave
the first alarm. rUal rr ...
A rescuing party was Immediately or
ganized and the brave fellows descended
the shaft as quickly as possible. But
they did not remain long below. The
ventilation was bad, and after two of the
party had almost been suffocated by
gas they were compelled to return. Half
an hour later the ventilation had been
improved somewhat and another party
went down. They found three men lying
unconscious in the gangway.
All the men who escaped with their
lives had thrilling experiences. AS soon
as the explosion occurred they made a
rush for the main gangway. Some of
them crawled on their hands and knees
for nearly n mile. They did not dare
walk for the force of the afterdamp
would have Frustrated them. The strong
est of them reached the foot of the shaft
first, for it was fight for life and each
man for himself. The older men had
give up the struggle, when they were
pulled along by their companions, who
could not see them drop in their tracks.
Owen Murray and John Minsley were
found by the tescuers, who entered the
mine shortly after o'clock. Both were
unconscious and with scarcely no chances
for recovery. They were found near the
foot of the place where the explosion oc-
Cured.
Andrew Mcdonald, one of the res
cuers, nearly lost his life while attempt
ing to recover the body of his brother
James. He stumbled over a corpse in
the darkness. He says he recognized
his brothers. clothes by the touch. He
attempted to pull the body out, but was
overcome by afterdamp and sank un-
conscious to the ground. 1t was with
difficulty that he was brought to the sur
face. After reaching the open air and
regaining consciousness he wanted to
make second trip, but was not allowed
to go.
The usual heartrending scenes were
witnessed at the mouth of the shaft
when a big disaster occurs. The rela-
tives of the entombed men gathered
about and gave vent to their grief.
Superintendent Foote said tonight he
was at loss to account for the cause
of the explosion. Every precaution had
been taken to make the mine safe.
NOT so BAD AS REPORTED.
WlkesDarre, Ia, Dec. 2l.-At late
hour tonight fourteen men had been res
cued and there are still hopes of reaching
the others before the deadly after damp
claims them as victims. The physicians
have hopes that all might recover.
Immediately after the disaster became
known, rescue gangs descended the shaft,
but it was some time before the ventila-
ton had been fixed SO they could work
in safety. The party entered the mine
at $40 tonight and succeeded in pushing
their way to the plane where the impris-
oned men had been working and there