Evening journal., 1897-03-02


rostofice ana Several Dwellings De-
s,royed-Au wyoming Threatened.
w,11rspAnnr. Pm. March s-wyo. .
ming. pretty little mining town, u
threatened with destruction by a cave IN
OF a mime. Several buildings have fallen,
and the danger is momcnterly extending
The town has 900 population. ~ ls
FIVE miles rorth of here and three miles
southwest Of pitiston. on the -usquehanna
river and the Delaware, lacknvanna and
Western railroad
THO cave in began at o'clock last even.
ing and is still working. There is no tell
ing VIXEN 81 will stop, as miners say there
s. 4 strata of 100 feet Of Quicksand between
the surface and the first layer of rock ard
81 this quicksand begins moving vigorous
" the whole town may bo ingnlied.
The postoficc. the hrst building affect
cd S. now 25 feet below the surface and Is
still sinking Itisa two story frame build
ing Three residences adjoining the post
office were next affected and sank gradu-
ally.
Tho buildings destroyed are the post
Office. tho residence of Daniel Ellsworth,
the stark residence and the houses Of John
Darbyshirc. David Iottcn, Charles Towns
and Mrs. Spcrling.
Tho cayo i'm IS now extending toward
the schooey housc, and 80 is expected that
this viii soon be ingulfed while the large
hotel owned by Colonel II. A.. LaycocS Is in
imminent danger 10 Is q four story struc-
ture OF brick.
Tho minora IN the affected vein got out
Just in time to save their lives There
were "a of them. and whom the earth be-
gan to cavc in thoy rushed for The foot Of
The shaft. tho Qucbsand rushing in after
them and compelling them 70 fight their
way through tho watcr end sand mp TO
their waists
phoy haa barely time 70 roach tho cage
before che water covered &c. The cage is
now 40 tho bottom Of tho shntt under
olchSfcet Of water and sand, and 9G mules
nro imrrisoncd IN their stable, 100 feet
from tho foot of tho shaft An effort was
mndc 20 got them ont through tho water
but they would not leave the stalls. anc
the mon woro obliged TO Gee TO save thom
selves
The First Warming.
Tho first Indication OF cave in wat
whom Miss aycock, assistant postmaster
felt the building shake, She ran out an,
saw that big crack extended along tn
around toward the westerly side Of th
building and that tbe cellar walls wcr
cracking and falling apart. Some men u
the vicinity responded to her cries fo
help and as quickly as they could re
moved al tho valuablos from the building
at grcat rlst, as the structure shook like
boat on % choppy sr0
Tho cracks began to extend rapid
across the street at O'Clock. some of thcu
feet wide The surface hogan TO sin
gradually about this time The postoilicC
thrco buildings adjoining and then tn
othef houses mentioned began to disnI
near and at O'Clock wcro 20 feet belo'
the natural level of tho surface
fortunately the cave IS not In the exa'
center OF the town, otherwise tho damaf
wonld heye already been enormous Gre'
caro- g. being tascn 70 prevent any acc
dent TO the electric cars. lf the cave al
proachcs tho tracks. tho cars will he stol
ped 40 once and tho electric power shut OF
Two hundred yards from tho postoii'
and toward Che mountain Is a large crecl
and as the cave is gradually extending G
ward IL, there Is fear that the entire ART
affected 10y the cave win be flooded. ~
officials of tho Delaware, Iacknwanna az
Western railroad have sentrics posted alor
the track to give warning Of the approa'
of danger 10 tho railway. Tho mine tn
IS causing the trouble is the Mount Loo
ont collicry of Simpson Sc Watkins, ono
the largest In the Wiley. AT the poi
where the ground is caving the iirst wor
ing Is 600 feet hc0eath the surface, VIII
Other veins arc being operated at 500 al
1000 feet