Rock Island Argus., 1897-09-25
FORTY-F|VE IN PERIL.
Explosion Of the Dread and Deadly
Fire.Damp in a Mine in
the Prairie State,
TWO MINERS LIVES sNUrFED OUT.
Three Receive Terrible Injuries That Will
Prove Fatal and Five Are Severely Hurt
One Body Not Reported Recovered
Gas Ignited by the Miners Lamps
Heroism of the Superintendent, Who Is
Brave to Recklessness-Rono of Victims.

Marion, Ills, Sept 25.-At 7:15 yester-
day morning one Of the most terrible
catastrophes that has ever occurred in
the history of the county took place at
the Williamson county coal mines, 10
Gated at Johnston City. 1t seems that a
quantity of gas had accumulated in an
entry some eco yards south Of the big
shaft during the night, and upon the ar
rival OF the men who were to work at
that particular place it was ignited from
the lamps worn by the miners upon their
caps. "A short time after the descent of
forty-five men into the earth a terrible
explosion occurred, blowing the cage
that was resting at the bottom of the
shaf fifty feet upward, and sendinEa vol
ume Of smoke and gaseous vapor whir-
ling out of the mouth of the shaft. In
an instant all the machinery was stopped
and CONSERVATION reigned supreme A
signal from those at the bottom told the
engineer that there We're some below
who were uninjured.
Superb dent Proves a Hero.
The work of rescuing the imprisoned
men began at once. At first from the
number who were drawn UP, it was
hoped that there was none injured, but
soon insersible bodies of dead and dying
were born upward ard the groans Of the
injured Were added to the scene of hor-
ror At the first news Of the calamity.
even before the bodies Of the victims
were brought up, Mine Superintendent
c. Davis gallantly went down in the
poisonous atmosphere and aided in the
rescue. His bravery overcame all dis
cretfCn, and unheeding the warnings of
the men he rushed to the spot where it
was known that one unfortunate still
remained.
Nearly Loses His Own Life.
But outraged nature proved more Do
tent than heroism, and his insensible
form was dragged out of the DEATH
dealing air, the inhaling of the after
camp nearly causing his death. After he
was restored he Immediately went below
again, and at the latest advices was still
IN the mine searching for the body of
the ore man who was missing. The i'm
possibility of living in the mine till the
after-damp has subsided prevents the
BODY from being reached. The scene at
the mines cannot be described. Stout
hearted men were standing about awe
stricken, with white faces and quivering
-'iN' w t''ii VI 1Or tnSlr
escape to speak.
But One Man brought Up Dead
The body of Frank Farraro. who
came to johnson City from Collins
VILE, Ills, was lying in the office COW
cred by sheet. There is not a bruise.
Giscernable. and his death was caused
solely by asphyxiation. Peter Casper,
one Of the fatally injured. is burned
almost beyond recognition. The skin
- loose from the flesh of his limbs, and
IT Is question Of hours as to his death.
Joe Barlow, 16-year-old boy, is
mangled horribly and cannot live. G.
Grietti, an italian miner, is injured in
ternally, also burned very badly about
the face and body and cannot recover.
List of the known Casualties.
The list of dead and wounded Is as
follows: Killed-Frank Farraro, i'm
prisoned unknown. undoubtedly killed
instantly. Fatally injured-G. Grietti,
horribly burned; Peter Casper, burned
internally, cannot live; Joe Barlow, 16
years old. left leg broken twice, right
leg mashed, head cut, will die. In
tured-Robert Britton, arm broken: NJ.
Owens, arm and face burned; Dave
Richmond, head badly cut; H. Smith,
burned; Robert Richmond, bruised; ].
Higgins, driver, cut on head and badly
shaken up.