Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1898-09-24
EIGHT WERE KILLED.
Victims of the Mine Explosion
Near Brownsville, Pa.
THREE WERE REPORTED INJURED.
Heroic Preacher Led a Number of Res
cuers-some of Men Escaped Through
an Abandoned Entry-AIine Officials
Mum as to Cause.

BROWNSVILLE, Pa, Sept. 24.-The
last of the explorers in the Empire
mine, about one mile from here, where
the fatal explosion occurred yesterday
morning, came out last night and an
nounced the dead and living, SO far as
they knew, were all out. The dead are:
John HaistG4l, miner, aged 80 years,
negro; leaves wife and two children.
Salem Haiston, miner, aged 25 years;
single
Robert Davidson, miner, aged 40
years, white; has no family.
John Bennett, driver, aged % years;
single.
William PrItchard, miner, aged SO
years; has wife and seven children.
Henry Hagar, driver, aged II years.
John Cartwright, miner, aged so
years. is married, but had no children
James Hall, miner, aged ~ years; I'M
married.
The following were injured: George
Baker, miner, burned about the face
and breast; John Baker, slightly
burned; Samuel Mcintyre, cut on the
head by fall of slate.
As near as can be learned there were
about 10 men in the mine, about 20 of
whom were ut work in the immediate
vicinity OF the disaster.
1t was announced that some of the
men had come out of the mine through
an abandoned entry nearly three miles
distant.
Crowds of men, women and children
were about the main entrance, some of
them weeping.
Among the heroes of the day was
Rev. James Law, pastor of the First
M. b. church. He was at one time q
NIT On hearing of the disaster he
went directly to the mine. Stripping
himself TO the waist and seizing a min
er's lamp he said ''come on More
came than were necessary.
Fire Boss Farrar, Pit Boss Brod erick
and superintendent Simpson, also
member OF the firm, would not talk of
the cause.
Coroner p. +. Smith of Uniontown
arrived here last night. He empanelled
u jury at once to hold an inquest this
morning. he said a searching inyesti-
CATION would be made. The mine has
been in operation for more than 80
years.
1t Is estimated that an area of several
cubic miles has been taken out At
present the mine is being operated by
the Empire Coal company. The firm
consists of John D. Simpson, G. S. Van
Horn, William and Daniel Livingstone
and Mrs. M. d. Hogg. They have
operated it for nearly two years, sue
ceeding Snowden, Simpson and Hall.
Six months ago there was trouble at
the mine. John Armstrong was fire
boss and AGuilla Underwood was pit
boss. On moving the fire boss put up
danger signal at the entry leading to
the room, and told the men not to en-
ter the mine, as there was too much
gas. Pit Boss Underwood disagreed
with him, and the district mine inspec-
tor was called, who also said there was
gas in the mine. AS result of the
disagreement both bosses were dis
charged.
The men refused to go into the mine.
Armstrong had been employed in the
mine for six years previous to the diff
entity. Farrar and Broderick, the pres
ent fire and pit bosses, are strangers
here, having been employed only sew
eral days ago. They came here from
the Lee shaft in the coke region. The
mine shut down July 8, 1898, and re-
sumed work last Saturday