The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-25
BROWNSVILLE'S MINE HORROR.
NUMBER OF DEAD is ESTIMATED AT
FULLY FORTY.

Debris-Jobn Meese's story of His |
Terrible Experience-His Brother
killed Instantly at His side-Arm
and Foot Blown From the Mine.
Brownsville, Pa. Dec. A-The horror
of the BrazneL mine disaster grows in in
tensity with every hour.
The number of the dead is now esli-
mated at forty and may pass that figure.
At the same time there is a strong pre-
sumption that the laws regulating mining
were carelessly and probably criminaIly
disregarded.
To-day the first bodies of the victims
were brought out of the mine and never
in the history of mine disasters were hu-
man beings so horribly mutilated.
II was nearly II O'Clock before the first
five bodies were taken out, twenty-eight
hours after the explosion. AT $50 o'clock
three were brought to the surface and at
$50 three more came up in the cage of the
main shaft
AT least twelve other bodies are n
sight, but cannot be reached on account
of the debris.
The estimates of the number of dead are
conflicting. ABB. Braznell, president of the
stockdale Coal Company, this afternoon
said he believed that but twenty to twen-
ty-fve men had been killed Men who were
working around the mine yesterday morn
ing give different figures. They say thir-
ty-fve to forty men were down the main
shaft in the cages, while about twenty
climbed down the steps in the elevator
shaft. From fifty-five to sixty men were
in the mine and out of this number but
twelve have been recovered alive. All the
rest, whatever the number, are dead.
John, or as he is popularity known, 20
nah" Meese, is one of the thirteen men
who escaped from the mine alive. He is
fearfully burned and is lying at his home
with his head swathed in bandages He
told his story to-day:
Meese's Severe Experience.
Il was in the stable, currying my mule
when the explosion occurred. My brother,
Sam, was by my side, and his boy AL
bert, was standing in front of him. Then
came the crack of the explosion. Never
in my life have / heard such terrific
report. I thought my head had been
blown off. In about two seconds the
mine was filled with dazzling light, as
the fine coal dust in the air was con-
sumed.
My brother, Sam, dropped to the
ground as if shot through the heart. He
must have been killed instantly. His boy,
Albert, swayed and fell over upon his
father 1 began to back out of the sta
be that is why my face is so terribly
burned. l was afraid to turn my back
upon the mules, for fear they would stam-
pede and run me down. l did not know
then that they had all been killed by the
explosion, for our lamps were blown out
and we were in total darkness.
After l got out of the stable 1 heard
Albert crying for help. 1 went back aud
found him and Henry Wood, a driver /
proceeded, half leading and half carrying
them to the foot of the mine shaft. They
were both delirious. and 1 believe I was
TOO. Both of them persisted in standing
up and began to walk around. l imme-
diately forced them to lie down, and got
them out of the path of the fatal after
damp, which hovered about four feet
above the ground. Then I felt myself
going to sleep, but l did not care al
though / realized that it was the sleep of
death. laid down upon something which
l could feel although / could not see,
was a corpse. and fell asleep as calmly as
ever l did in my life. When I awoke
somebody was forcing me to swallow
brandy and coffee, and l was trying to
explain that it would be needless for me
TO drive a wagon, as there had been an
accident in the mine.
Explosions Terrible Force.
THE force of the explosion was terrific,
my face and scalp are literally filled with
coal dust, just as if it had been shot out
Of a gun held within a few inches"
Another evidence of the force of the ex-
plosion was discovered to-day On the
hillside, fifty feet back from the main
Shaft, was discovered an arm and foot.
They were portions of a victim killed 1OS
feet below the surface and blown out of
the shaft like bullet from a rifle.
From statements obtained to-day II
seems clear that the presence Of gas in
quantities in the mine was perfectly well
known and that naked lights were used
Tor several days before the explosion. Ac-
cording to credible authority, not a single
safety lamp was used In the mine by tire
working crews since Tuesday morning,
four days before the explosion.
All of Them Are Dead.
Mine Inspector James Blick. who has
been in the mine almost constantly since
last night, came out tonight and gave
graphic account of it's condition. Inspec-
tor Blick said;
AT the bottom of the two shafts the
mine is a complete wreck. Only enough
debris has been removed TO allow Of the
bodies being brought out. There are more
bodies in the mine, but how many cannot
be determined. There are undoubtedly a
number of corpses under the wreckage.
The lower parts of the mine are flooded
and the water is rising as the pumps are
disabled. The pumps will not run for
day or two as the six-iuch pipes draining
the mine have been twisted and broken
Ike reeds. penetrated 10 the face of the
nine to-day and saw two bodies there, but
Inc afterdamp was thick and had TO re-
turn quickly.
Nothing further win be done 90 re-
move the debris until the water has been
pumped out. None OF the men can possi-
Oily be olive. 1t will require several days
10 clear the mine. The bottom of it il
wrecked but the roof and sides are in
anct There Is no fire in the nine
tough but reverent hands carried the
bodies Of the victims when they reached
Ihe top OF the shaft to the temporary
morgue on the hillside, a hundred feet
away.
Identified by shirt.