The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-02-25
YOUNG MINERS
TERRIBLE FATE
Imprisoned by a Rush of Coal in a
Breast.
AWFUL SITUATION IN A MINES
Held Captive BY Coal and All Avenues Of
Escape Cut OF He Died Soon After
Being Rescued Tunnel Driven
For the Purpose.

Ono of the saddest mine accidents that
have occurred in the Giberton valley was
one that happened in the Gilberton colliery
yesterday afternoon, the victim being George
Weeks, popular young man 22 years Of age
aud son of Fred Weeks late assistant inside
foreman Of the colliory
Weeks was employed in breast No. As,
third lift, west Buck Mountain vein Shortly
after the noon hour yesterday he started
battery and it gave way So suddenly that
the young man was given no opportunity to
escape. He was caught by the rush, knocked
down and the coal piled about him by the
tons, but left pit in which the upper part
Of his body rested free Of the coal Shortly
after the rush occurred a fellow workman
misstd Weeks and realized what had hap
pened. An alarm was given and a rescuing
party at once formed, The work of reaching
the victim was very delicate, as the men did
not know whether or not the young man
was dead OF alive, and great care had to be
exercised to avoid second rush, which
would have made death certain. The work
was continued all night and up to q little
after three o'clock this morning, when
Weeks voice was heard Carefully remov-
ing the coal the rescuing party finally reached
the young man. They found that his legs
were pinioned beneath large lump of coal
and he was unable to move. 1t was Sis
o'clock before the coal was sufficiently cleared
away to enable the removal of the unfortun-
ate young man from the place He was
removed to the home Of his father and died
there at nine o'clock.
! Dr. Samuels says death was due to shock.
When Weeks was taken from the breast his
lower limbs were crushed and completely
| pamlyzed. 1t is believed he was internally
/ injured. The delay in getting him out was
due to the position in which he lay and the
care required to avoid second rush of coal
in the battery No shots could be fired to
dislodge the coal that imprisoned the victim
and only one man could work at a time. The
coal had to be carefully picked.
The victim was q nephew of John w
Weeks, the South Main street hotelkeeper.
A report received by the HERALD this af
ternOOn is based upon statement made by
one of the men who assisted in the rescue
and appears to be more correct than the one
received this morning. 1t is to the effec
that the rush of coal caught and held Week,
in an upright position The coal surrounded
him up to the hips. All openings into tn,
breast were shut of by the rush. In orde
to reach the victim it was necessary to tun
mel through pillar of coal. While this wa
being done the workmen called frequently
to the unfortunate young man and he re
: sponded. When they reached him the worl
of getting the loose coal away was boil
tedious and dangerous, as a second rusl
might have not only been instantly fatal {,
Weeks, but also to the rescuing party. Th
funeral will take place on Saturday, leaving
Gilberton at 1913 p m. for Tamaqua, Wher
interment will be made in the Odd Fellows
{ cemetery.
The g.eatest bargains in the ieweIry lin