Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-20
All EIsYen Of The Men Taken Out Of GrOVI
Shaft Yesterday Morning.
NOT ONE OF THEM WAS INJURED.
The Fire Destroyed All of the Pro-
pcrty at the Mouth of the Shaft
Rope Sent from Richmond on n
Special Engine.


was quenched after having destroyed con-
siderable property, and the imprisoned
men were all rescued about II 80 o'clock in
the day. not one Of them having received
scratch or suffered any Inconvenience
except a natural apprehension and un-
easiness.
The flames broke out about 30 o'clock,
and when discovered had gotten beyond
control. The engineer was utterly un-
able to account for its origin, and it is
claimed that he was asleep when the
flames first started, though he awoke in
ample time to have quenched them with
bucket of water had he maintained his
presence of mind.
The fire. Judging from all the circum-
stances, started in the compressor-house
This, with the engine and boiler-houses,
were Immediately over the mouth OF the
pit. The buildings were frame, and con-
sequently burned like tinder boxes. In
less than an hour after the fire started
they were I'm ashes
YOUNG LOCKETTS HEROIC ACT.
Among the early arrivals at the fire
was young white man named Walter
Lockett. Realizing at a glance the peril
meath the fire, some 1900 feet below the
surface of the earth. he volunteered 10
attempt 10 warn them Of their danger.
Getting the engineer to lower the cage,
in which no took a seat, he started on
his heroic mission. When he reached the
bottom Of the shaft he went in quest OF
the miners who were Ftill unaware Of the
danger which threatened them from
above Reaching them after some diff-
l4r. fYltr4
above and all started for the base Of the
shaft hoping to reach there in time to
be drawn up TO the mouth OF the pit be-
yond the danger OF suffocation.
To their CONSERVATION. however. when
they entered the cage and gave the signal
for its ascent there was no response The
cage didn't stir. and as they were then
in full sight Of the flames raging above
and sending down heat and volumes or
smoke which almost stified them. they
frantically raped on the signal. but with
out avail
Lockett urged calmness upon his com
panions, but the negroes. with one eX-
ception. were almost crazed with fright.
The exception was Tom Anderson, a big,
iovial-looking Congo negro. Nho had been
in two previous mine disasters, and had
become Injured to the hardships attendant
on such catestrophes.
The men. finding that the engineer did
not respond TO their signals 10 hoist them,
Gained down and resigned themselves 10
fate, the negroes going beyond the smoke
and going 10 sleep.
Meanwhile the engineer had been driven
from his post by the flames, and no one
was able to reach the mouth Of the pit
until about O'clock He therefore heard
none Of the signals from the men below,
and could not have responded II he had
heard them.
THE BUCKET BRIGADES WORK.
The flames. as they devoured the houses
over the shaft lighted up the country
around, and Notwithstanding the unseem-
ly hour hundreds OF people fOcked TO the
scene. bucket brigade was organized In
short order. Water was taken from a
tank on the mines property, which very
fortunately was full Hose had been pro-
vided to be attached TO the cistern in
case of fire. but these had been burned,
and the bucket method was the only
means of conveying water to the flames.
A line of the country people, including
men. women, and children, more than
half of whom were cOlored, was quickly
formed and water was thrown on the
flames as rapidly as could be. The water
tricxled down the shaft and soaked the
boarded sides, and thereby kept the
flames from communicating 10 them. The
until daylight. Then several daring
miners walked in on the burning cinders
10 the very mouth Of the shaft. Water
was thrown around their feet TO prevent
them from being burned, and several OF
the men, even with this precaution, had
their shoe-soles burned of. These brave
men. with fire underneath and falling
timbers above them, tore away the burn
ing moss around the mouth Of the shaft.
making about an hours work, and were
repaid by receiving signal from the
mine below that all was well
THERE WAS GREAT JOY.
The glad tidings they communicated
TO the anxious crowd of fathers. mothers,
wives. and children waiting TO hear from
heir loved ones below, and instantly
shout Of JOY went up from the several
hundred throats. and among the negroes,
who had appeared the most concerned,
the rejoicing took the form OF songs OF
praise 4 number OF the walters fell on
their knees and offered silent prayers or
thanksgiving while others rent the air
for an hour or more with their shouts.
An effort was made 10 raise the
cage but II was found that the
rope had been burned, in com
mon with everything else infiammable,
and that there was no rope long enough
10 reach 10 the bottom. II therefore be-
came necessary 10 send to Richmond for
ono and Mr.. Hancock the companys
storekeeper. came here and purchased one
of a thousand feet length. lie was taken
back ON special locomotive furnished by
the Southern railway.
ROPE SENT FROM RICHMOND.
The crowd was greatly disappointed
when II was ascertained that the men
could not be raised until rope was
brought from this city, but spent the
time during Mr. Hancock's trip In sig
Mailing 10 the men below. A block and
tackle was fixed as soon as the rope ar
rived. and there were plenty of volun-
teers 10 90 down In the mine to assist
in the rescue, but only two were al
lowed TO go Fifty men, as many as
could get hold OF the rope. lowered them
down the shaft. About $50 O'Clock the
first of the miners were brought up. and
at 1870 O'Clock the last two emerged
from the shaft.
They were all soaked to the skin by
the water that had been poured down
upon them, but were In an exceedingly
happy frame. OF mind.
AS the first two were brought TO the
surface, they were grasped by friendly
hands, and everybody crowded around
them and showered congratulations upon
them over their narrow escape from
death.
or those who were entombed. eight were
| colored and three were white. OF the
white men one was Pole called John;
| another. Slav, known only as jack
| and the third. a Welshman, named Davis.
who is a veteran miner, and has been In
a number OF similar accidents. His SON
in-law is also employed in the mine. lie
was at work Monday night, but left the
| nine at IL o'clock with two colored
men. The veteran Welshman said when