Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-22
MINERS SAVED FROM DEATH
Over Score of Men Imprisoned but Most
of Them Are Taken Out,
GREAT GRIEF IS TURNED TO Joy
Explosion supposed to Have Bccn
Caused by Rock Falling on DSnn-
mitc-Men on Point of SuG-
location when Found.

explosion OF gas occurred this afternoon In
Baltimore shaft. No. .. of the Delaware 4
HudeOn company. over hwenty miners were
imprisoned but at a late hour tonight four
teen had been rescued alive, and there was
still hope OF reaching the others before the
deadly atterdamp claimed them as victims.
Immediately after the disaster became
known, rescuing gangs descended the shaft,
but it was some time before the ventilation
had been so managed that they could work
in safety The party which entered the mine
at 9:i5 tonight succeeded in pushing it's way
to the place where the imprisoned men had
been working. and there they stumbled over
the bodies of number OF men unconscious.
As quick as the work could be accomplished
they were brought to the surface where a
corps OF doctors was in waiting Wrapped
in blankets, some of the victims we're sent to
their homes and some to hospitals The
physicians have hopes that all may recover.
Had they been in the damp FIVE minutes
longer, all would probably have died of sufro-
cation. John Heard, one of the rescuers.
who was first to discover the bodies on the
plane, says the men were huddlcd closely
together. They had apparently abandoned
all hope of rescue and were resolved to die
when they realized their danger, made their
way to the highest point on the plane. The
smoke found its way to them however and
they were all but surocatod when found
The theory of the explosion is that there was
fall of rock on the slope. where the dyna-
mite was stored, that the dynamite exploded
and the smoke filled the plane Grief was
turned into Joy when the rescued men were
brought to the surface. Women and children
wept and strong men clasped each other in
their arms. 1t is probable that those who
were in the immediate vicinity of the spot
where the explosion occurred were the only
ones killed and their number may not be-
more than four or five.
ONLY A SMALL FORCE WORKING.
The mine is situated in the north
eastern section of the city. and when
in full operation employees about $50 men
and boys. About one-thrd of this force was
at work today and the number of workers
was further reduced after 3 o'clock, when
the day shift men came out When the ex-
plosion 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
perished were at work in a plane fully a
mile from the foot of the shaft. They were
driving tunnel and so far as known were
in what was considered a safe place. The
fire boss had inspected the place in the morn
ing and declared it free from gas The
cause OF the explosion is therefore mys-
terry, although tho mine officials have several
theories. One report is that a fall of roof
In the slope exploded quantity of dynamite
which was stored there and that this, in turn,
caused a feeder of gas to become ignited.
Another theory is that the gas was ignited
by careless workman, and third that a
blast set fire to the gas shortly before noon
and that the men were fighting the fire
when the explosion occurred The first
knowledge of the catastrophe came to the
surface by the noise of the explosion. The
foundations of the houses over the mine
shook and the dreadful rumor spread that
another calamity had occurred. The ques-
tiOn went from lip to lip: How many men
are in the mne?"
The men in the engine house, who had
charge of the hosting carriages. gave the
first alarm. A rescuing party, headed by
John Matthews was Immediately organized
and the brave fellows descended the shaft
as quickly as the carriages could take them.
But they did not remain long below The
NShbildtloh Was Ddu anu, diltE TWO OI the
party had been almost overcome by the
deadly afterdamp they were compelled to
return to the surface. half hour later the
had been improved considerably
and another rescue party went down. They
found three men lying un conscious In the
but it was late in the evening
when the imprisoned men were reached
HAD TilILLING EXPERIENCES.
All the men who escaped at the outset
had thrilling experiences. As soon as the
explosion occurred, they made a rush for the
gGngway. Some crawled on their hands
and knees for nearly mile. They did not
dare walk, for the force of the afterdamp
would have prosrated them The strongest
reached the foot of the shaft first, for 1t was
a fight for life, and each man was for him
self. The older men had a desperate time.
Some Of them were about to give up the
struggle when they were pulled along by
their comrades, who could not see them drop
in their tracks. owen Murray and John
Minsley we're found by the rescuers who
entered the mine shortly after o'clock.
Both were unconscious and will scarcely re-
cover They are In the Wllkesbarrc hospital
They were found near the foot of the plane
where the explosion occurred Andrew Nc
Donald one OF the ftSCuctB, nearly lost his
life while attempting to recover the body OF
his brother James, He knew where 1t would
probably be found entered the place and
stumbled over a corpse in the darkness lie
says he recognized his brothers clothes by
the touch. He attempted to pull the body
out, but was overcome by afterdamp and
sank unconscious to the ground. 1t was
with difficulty that he was brought to the
surface. After reaching the open air and re-
gaining consciousness, he wanted to make a
second trip into the mine, but was not al
lowed to go,
Superintendent Foote said tonight he
was at a loss to account for the
cause of the explosion. Every pre-
caution had been taken to make the mine
safe, he declared. 1t had always been the
rule of the company to never allow its em-
ployes to enter a mine where there was the
east jeopardy of life, and this rule has been
enforced most strictly since the Pittston
lIsaster of last June when nfty-seyen men
we're buried in the Twin shaft.
Durrnnt Case Nearing Decision.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec, 2l.-What may
prove to be the beginning Of the end of tho
Durrant case took place In chambers in tho
supreme court today. The brief OF Theo-