The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-20

1t has been impossible as yet to at
tempt the exploration OF the airway at
the Twin shaft, reached Friday after
noon by the rescuers In the slope.
The rule that the men must not ad-
vance until they secure the passageway
behind them has so far prevented any
additional loss of life and Inspector
Mcdonald, who Is dir,a ing the work
of rescue. insists on lhis rule being
strictly adhered to. For this reason the
exploration of the airway is delayed.
the slope is sufficiently cleared to al
low men to crawl through to the point
where the airway branches off. but on
account of the precaution that the in
spector insists on the men will not be
allowed into the airway until the inter-
vening portion of the slope has been
safely timbered. Foreman Dryden says
that the exploration may be attempted
today.
Inspectors Roderick and Brennan
deny that they agreed with Inspector
Stein that the work of rescue ought to
be advanced. Inspector Roderick in u
conversation with Tribune reporter
said without equvocation that the stor-
les about the air i'm the slope being bad
are absolutely untruen The air that now
courses through the slope where the
men are AT work, he said. is better than
II ever was and the reports that ii is
charged with a percentage of gas that
borders on the dangerous are purely
imaginative.
Mr.. RoGerick refuses to have any
thing to say ON the question further
than this. The operators of the mine,
he contends. are the ones who ought to
determine whether or not they should
continue the search for the bodies. it
Is not within the duties of the inspec-
tors commission to deal with this ques-
tion.
THE RELIEF FUND.
The prospects of raising sufficient
fund for the Plttston sufferers were
never brighter than at present. Bishop
O'Hara's appeal, sent out to the one
hundred and seventy or more churches
In his diocese means the addition of
many thousands of dollars to the fund
Delega tions of three and four members
of the general relief committee have
gone or are preparing to go to the large
cities of the East to make personal APP
ptuiS " tlit Will
the coal mining interests. and other
moneyed men who might be urged upon
to contribute. Those who have already
been abroad on this most noble mission
report very gratifying success. a plain
statement of the generally Impoverished
condition of the coal regions and tho
inability of the people of Pittston to
care for the afflicted families always has
the effect of winning a satisfactory CON
tribution. Simpson 4 Watkins hand
some collection. noted in another place,
instances another channel through
which funds are coming in. Everybody
who has heard Of the Gala nifty and its
results stands ready and willing to do
something and it is merely "a question
of how the contribution will be sens that
is being deliberated upon at present.
Employees of the l.. |. K s. company s
works, through Foremen IL. c. Swart2
and Michael w. Kelly, have sent to the
relief committee the handsome sum of
S257. This is an example which will no
doubt be emulated in every large in
dustrial institution in this locality.
II all the moneys in hand at present
were gotten together the sum would
reach $4,000.
BISHOP O'HARA'S APPEAL.
In all the Catholic churches in the
Scranton diocese, yesterday. circular
was read from Bishop O'IIara asking
prayers for the victims of the Pittston
disaster and financial aid for the sur
viving members of their families.
The result of it will be that the relief
fund will be greatly Increased. Next
Sunday has been set as the day for TAX
ing IN the collection at the cathedral
at St. Patrick's on the West Side and
possibly many of the other churches.
The Bishops letter is most earnest
appeal. After dwelling upon the terri
bic calamity and the agony and suffer-
ing that 1t caused the Bishop extends
sympathy to the surviving members OF
the afflicted families and offers them
this consoling thought:
Concerning them that have been so
unexpectedly called to Judgment. we
would heal the wounds OF bleeding
hearts with the balm of divine truth.
The sorrow that Is now so bitter would
be sweetened. indeed. by the knowledge
that they had received the grace of God
through the sacraments in the pres
ence of death. But in the most uneX-
pected summons from above. there is
always good ground FOR nope. For II
must be ever borne IN mind thar God
can dispense with the ordinary condi-
tons tor the granting or pardon Tor
sin. And as the mercles or the Lord
are above all HIS works. and as it is
the VIII OF God that all men be saved.
our hope Is always in the infinite merits
OF our Lord Jesus Christ who died for
all, and in the pleadings of the Sacred
Heart that loved men so much
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