The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-02-19
THREE SCORE PERISHED
Terrific Explosion in the Vulcan
Mine at Newcastle, Colo.
ALL AVENUES OF ESCAPE CUT OFF.

Tho Explosion Came without a Moments
Warning, and There Is Not a Ray of
Hope for the Men who Are Entombed.
Trying to Reach the Bodies.
NEWCASTLE Colo. Feb 10.-With a re
port that shook Elk mountain to its base
the Vulcan mine went up in smoke yestor-
day, and at least three score were sacri-
feed. All the men were at work and a
full head of energy was visible in the
vicinity of this mine Not sound of
warning was emitted from the depths of
the earth where about sixty men were EN-.
ployed in their dangerous calling, though
the number of victims cannot Just now be
accurately stated.
No warning was given the peaceful vii
layers until a sudden report as from a
hundred cannon resounded throughout the
valley. A throng of people was soon at the
scene of disaster, distance of nearly two
miles from Newcastle. A glance was
enough to dissipate any hope for the lives
of the entombed men. The force of the
explosion had caused cave in, and the
tunnel and air courses were filled with the
fallen rock, earth and timbers Both fan
houses were wrecked, and the slope and
was so bad that it was hard and danger
GUS work to begin the rescue.
Nevertheless willing hands were soon at
work and five men went down as far as
possible to ascertain The condition of the
slope, and found it such that it will re-
quire much work to regain the laborers.
The gas was so bad that after the party
had gotten 200 feet they were compelled TO
1.A 4
Immediately on hearing of the disaster,
and sent their entire force of $50 men to
help the unfortunate ones
The construction of temporary fan
house was commenced at once, and the
work of pumping fresh air into the mine
soon begun. 1t is hardly possible that any
of the miners are still alive, but the start
ing of the fans was made as soon as pos
sible in the hope that if any survived they
may be kept alive till help reaches them.
The only man who got out of the mines
at the time of the explosion was Edward
Welch, who was near the mouth of the
tunnel and was blown out, his skull frac-
tured, arm broken, face badly cut and
burned and all the hair burned from his
head He was breathing when found, but
expired shortly after without showing
consciousness. Two young miners, Tom
Connolly and James Petrie, met with mar
row escapes. Their eyes becoming sore,
they quit work in the Mines and had just
emerged from the tunnel when the explo-
sion occurred.
There are two shafts in addition to the
one in which the explosion took place.
In the upper of these two the rescuers are
in about 300 feet, and it is thought air can
be forced into some of the rooms, but none
of those in the mine have come out, and
it is feared that this is conclusive evidence
that all are dead.
Following is list of the victims as far
rs known at this writing, though the list
will be largely increased: William Hag-
erty, Joseph Dorr Abel Dorr VIII Dorr,
James Harrison, Thomas Lawigan George
Ward, Edward Welch, John Funke and
13-year-old son Emil, Charles Merchant,
Tom Addison, Louis Ginotti, Fred Rodan-
ski, Peter Patricio, Dan Morris, Gabriel
Lecoe Frank Tossio, Baptisse Chowchstt,
Dominic Mabterno, August MattsVe, John
Scaifc, Alex soaife, Philip Raohs, Petor
Becker, Frod SisimHll, Antonio Pstriolo,
JShA CeughltA, William WObb, Sam
JoAss, Frank MeOoEry, Bon Costls, Jr.
Alex RogaS, Frank SimorTic, Robert eebi-
Ger, Jack Js2kinA DenaiAie RosstSi, PstsS
| TAppSrO, AntOnis TSppsro ARdPsw Rsh
nndo, Psbsr MAgsAte, AAteRis MaEttnc
and David j. Evans.