The San Francisco call., 1899-12-25

BROWNSVILLE Pa. Dec "a. ne hor-
rcr % the Brazner mine disaster grows in
Intensity with every hour. The number
OF the dead IS now estimated al forty, and
may pass that ugure. A. the same time
there IS a strong presumption that the
laws regulating mining were carelessly
and probably criminally disregarded.
To-day the first bodies Of the victims
were brought out Of the mine, and never
81 the history OF mine disasters We're HUI
man beings so horribly muulated. Il was
nearly II o'clock before the nrst Eve bod
les were taAen out. twenty-eight hours
after the explosion. At $3.50 three more
were brought 20 the surface. and again
az $50 three came up in the cage OF the
main shaft.
Al least twelve bodies are IN sight, but
cannot be reached on account OF the
debris. The estimates OF the number OF
dead are conflicting.
A. q Brazneu. president OF the Stock
sale Coal Company, this afternoon said
he believed that but twenty 10 twenty-five
men had been killed. Men who were
working around the mine give different
figures. They say thirty-siX 10 forty men
were down The mine shaft in the cages
while about twenty climbed down the
steps in the elevator shaft. From fifty
fiVe % sixty men were in the mine. and Of
This number but twelve have been recov-
cred alive. All the rest. whatever the
number. are dead
John. or. as he IS popularity known.
Jonah" Meese. IS one Of the thirteen men
who escaped from the mine alive. He IS
fearfully burned, and is lying al his home
with his head swathed in bandages.
4 was In the stable Meese said. cur
rylng my mule when the explosion oc-
Cured. Az brother sam was by my side.
and his boy. Albert. was standing in front
- him. Then came the crash OF the eN-
vlosion. Never IN my life have I heard
such terrific report. 7 thoug.-. my head
had been blown on. In about two sec
ords the mine was filleG with a dazzling
light as the fine coal dust IN the air was
consumed. Ny brother Sam dropped 10
the ground as II shot through the heart
lie must have been killed instantly. His
bny. Albert. staggered and fell over on
Dds father. ] began 10 back out OF the
stable: tnat is how my face was so ter
rhly burned. ] was afraid 10 turn my
back upon the mules Tor fear they would
stampede and run me down. / did not
know then that they had all been killed
hy the explosion. for our lamps We're all
blown out and We were in total darkness
After I got out OF the stable, ] heard
Albert crying for help. / went back and
found him Hnd Henry Atwood. driver. /
proceeded. Ealf leading and half carr.tn
were both delirious and I believe I was.
TOO Both OF them persisted IN standing
up and BEGAN 20 walk around. ] immedi-
ately forced them 10 BE down. 70 get them
out ~ the path OF the fatal after-damp,
which hovered about four feet above the
ground. Then I felt myself going 20 sleep
hut ] did not care. although / realized
that Il was the sleep of death. ! laid
down upon something which ] could feel.
although ] could not see. was a corpse,
and Zen asleep as calmly as ever did in
uy llfe.
when 7 awoke some one was forcing
mo 10 swallow brandy and coffee and I
was trying TO explain that IL would be
needless for me 20 drive a wagon as there
had been an accident in the mine.
THE force Of the explosion was terrific.
my face and scalp is literally filled with
coal dust blown into IL. just as II II had
been shot out Of a gun held within a few
An evidence Of the force Of the explo-
sion was discovered to-day. on the hill
SIDE. fftv feet back from the main shaft,
v-as discovered an arm and foot. They
-r-e-e portions of "a victim killed Jos feet
below the surface and blown out OF the
shaft ike a bullet from a rife