Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1897-01-08
THE DEADLY FREDAMP.
Coal-Mine Horror in Prince
ton, Indiana.
SIX MINERS WERE KILLED

The Mine Was New and the An
shaft Had Not Been Completed
Pathetic Scenes About the Pit
Princeton, Ind, Dec. 20. A terrific
explosion Of firedamp occurred in the
mine of the Maule Coal Company, oi
this city, at $3.50 this afternoon. an6
as result six men were instantly
killed and four were injured. One OF
the four men taken out is dangerously
injured. The dead are;
Robert Maule. married, treasurer
Maule Coal Company; James Riley,
married; John Ernst, married; Carl
Fabre, married; Robert Ponylite, and
John Holmes, married.
Ii was at first thought twelve had
been killed, but Dave Nolan, James
Turner. man named Colgate and a
colored man were taken ont alive before
midnight.
The work of rescue continues and
will be kept up by relays, but there
have been no more bodies found since
midnight. Meantime, the scenes about
the mine during the night become more
sad az the hours pass.
The men were at work making re-
pairs of damages resulting from SINH
lar explosion last Sunday. Besides
the regular miners ana blacksmiths,
others were assisting in the work,
while Robert Maule, son of President
John Maule, and treasurer and super
intendent Of the company, was superin.
tending the work. The mine has been
in operation only short time, and the
air shaft is not quite completed. The
gas which collects in portions of the
mine, was ignited by an open lamp.
A year ago yesterday. Princeton was
jubilant over the striking of seven.
foot coal vein by the Maule company,
but tonight many homes are scenes of
great sorrow, made so by the awful ex-
plosion in the mine. When the mine
was opened, the finest machinery was
put in, and it was the intention of the
owners to make it the finest in the
state. The air shaft was not started
until the mine had been prepared to
operate. Work on it has progressed
slowly, and there are still about ninety
feet to excavate before it is completed.
Gas has frequently accumulated in
pockets, and several men have been
burned by small explosions
About two months ago serious ex.
plosion occurred, in which one man
was killed and Frank Turbie, who was
injured in today's explosion, was in
jured. The state mine inspector in
vestigated, and work went ON with a
small force. II was we'll known that
gas accumulated, and there was no
way to dispel it yet. The miners went
TO their daily work without thinking
Of the danger they were constantly in.
Last Sunday jet of gas was fired by
blast, and it burned all night. In the
the descent Of the cages forced
gas to this jet and terrific explosion
but fortunately there was no
lne in the mine.
Today about twenty men were en-
saed in repairing the damage done by
she explosion. when the firedamp again
et 60 with terrific force. and with
leadly effect. The escape Of some Of
he men from instant death seems al
most q miracle, when it is considered
hat the huge cages were blown from
he shaft bottom to the top of the top
rouse. over 500 feet above, by the force
# the explosi n. These cages were
wrecked 80 they were useless. and an
ron bucket was improvised for reseu-
ng party as soon as possible after the
Iccident.
The first persons brought up were
rurbie, Grim, Davis and Booker, col
red men. The first was badly burned |
nd was carried to an ambulance.
5rim and Davis were apparently unin-
ured. Booker was cut and burned. /
lis jaw broken and one eye was torn
rom its socket. Then the rescuIng
'arty began to bring up the dead.
The scenes around the mine were
most pathetic. Weeping piteously in
nguish were wives, whom the crowd
ainly tried to comfort. Mothers,
SONS and other relatives of
be men in the mine with blanched
aces stood wringing their hands, and
ome were kept from going down the
haft with great difficulty. Slowly
be work of bringing the bodies to the
urface proceeded. II was believed
hat the men still in the mine were
cad, and those waited only for their
cad.
Seattle. Dec. ga little girl 4 4
ears old. daughter Of poor wood
hopper. burned to death Christmas
av at the familvta home r.aar o1xo