The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-06-28
STUBBORN
MINE FIRE.
The Flames in VIM. Penn COlllery still
Cause Trouble,
DANGERS FROM FALLING COAL
superintendent Golden and an Assistant
Were Closed in For Half an Hour-A
Fire Fighter sustains a Frac-
tured LegJThe Burning
Area Confined.

The fire in the VIM. Penn mines has proved
more stubborn than was expected and the
fight against it is still going on with all the
persistency and vigor that three shifts Of
eight hours each, with about fifty men on a
shift, can be put to work. From the present
condition Of affairs it would seem that the
colliery will not be able to resume operations
before next week, although the fire is con-
fined to a comparatively small area and is
practically under control. 1t has got into old
workings and the fight against it must be
kept up to make sure that there will BIO no
second outbreak.
The origin Of the fire was as stated in
yesterdays HERALD, a spark from the lamp
of one Of the repairsmeu who were engaged
on Friday night in putting new timber in
the breast where the engine house is located
1t is claimed that a spark must have fallen
on the top of one of the large collars and il
smOuldered without detection until the
blaze broke out yesterday morning.
The work Of fighting the fire is attended
by no little danger from falls of coal ocea.
stoned by the heat and water. Early in the
day Peter Gaughan, aged 20 years, had his
right leg prOkcn below the knee by a piece Of
coal falling upon him while he was directing
a line Of hose. Gaughan's head was also cut
and bruised.
At about four O'Clock in the afternoon a
sensation was caused by a report that two
men had been closed in. Investigation
showed that the report was correct. While
directing the work Of lighting the fire in one
Of the old breasts Superintendent Golden and
an assistant named owen McFadden found
themselves suddenly closed in by a fall of
top coal. Fortunately the fall was not a
heavy one and the two men were rescued
from the breast after about half an hours
work, Neither sustained injury, but they
were under u severe mental strain while i'm
prisoned. Falls are frequent, especially in
the breasts Immediately adjoining the seat OF
the fire.
The work last night was in charge of
Arthur Kennedy, superintendent for the
Lyle Coal Company at Minersville. Five
lines of hose were kept in play on the fire all
day yesterday and during the night a sixth
line was added. The mine pumps keep up a
good force of water.
The fire started in breast No. 7, but was
driven west into No. & and is believed to be
confined between breasts Nos. 4 and g. Last
three lines Of hose were at play from the
gangway up into the old workings, one line
from No. 1 slope, west of the fire, and
another line from breast No. Z, at the top OF
No. ? slope east Of the fire. In all 1900 fee:
of hose was in use, 1000 belonging to tn,
company and 1900 haying been procured
from the Columbia and Phoenix fire com
panles of town. Last night Councilman
Edward Murphy and James b. McHale wer,
on duty in the mine looking after the Dor
rowed hose.
This morning Superintendent Michae
Golden resumed charge Of the shifts in tn,
mine and was assisted by John L. Williams
OF MI. Carmel, general manager for tn,
Union Coal Company.
Among the visitors to the mine last nigh
VINO took an interest in the fire fighting wa
Richard d. Reese, fire boss at the Shenan
doah City ~colliery.
message received from the mine late thi
afternoon stated that the fire was confined {,
one breast and the officials were coniden
that they had mastered the situation.