Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-12-25
40 MORE DEAD
Through Saturdays Explosion
In Brownsville, Pa, Mine.
Twelve Bodies Already Recovered and
u or More in Sight.
Said 10 Be Due TO Criminal Care
iessness With Lamp.

number OF dead in the BraZnelI mime,
by Saturdays explosion, is now esti-
mated at 40 and may be more. There
is strong presumption that the laws
regulating mining We're careleSsly and
probably criminally disregarded.
The first bodies Of the victims were
brought out of the mine, today, horri
bly, mutilated. 1t was nearly II o'clock
before the first five bodies were taken
out, % hours after the explosion. AT
$50, three were brought to the surface,
and, at $50. three more came up in the
cage of the main shaft. The dead
taken from the mine 50 far are:
Henry Hagar. 30 years old, leaves
wife ana six children.
Peter Obosory, &c; wife and four chill
dren.
Mn. Thomas, 90; wife ana four chill
dren.
Michael Rohtell, 90; single.
Samuel Meese. 80; wife and three
children.
Albert Meesc. 10. died after being
rescued. yesterday.
Michael Mahlo, 2S; wife and two
children.
George Kovitz. 40 single.
JOS. Postsky. -; Wife.
Jos. Magyar, ~; single.
VIM. Molok. 80; wife and two chill
drcn.
Paul Proloc. "a; wife and one child.
At least l. other bodies are in sight:
but cannot be reached ON account Of
the debris.
Among the men missing ana known
to be dead in the mine are the follow
ing Hungarians: Michael Parahok
Andrew Parahek. brothers: Paul Lluu-
dis: Thomas kuelak ana Andrew Tour
Sikh.
Rough but reverent hands carried
the bodies of the victims when they
reached the top Of the shaft 40 tn"
temporary morguc. OF one man. Peter
Crosby, but portion Of the trunk ana
back Of the skull remained and that
was virtually but a cIndrr. llc was
identified by a shred If his shirt that
had been blown into his flesh. or th-
u dead there was but one that was no.
a hideous spectacle.
An inquest will be- held ut Union
town as soon as all of the bodies are
recovered.
The estimate of the number of dead
dent Of the Stockialr 90. today. said
hr believed that between 20 ana -
men had been killed. Many who wei e
working around the mine. yesterday
morning, give different figures They
say from 30 to 50 men went down the
shaft in the cage. while about -
climbed down the steps in the elevator
shaft. 50 that from - to 50 men We're
.f,.-
u have been recovered alive. All tn
rest, whatever the number, are dead.
From statements obtained. today. il
seems clear that the presence NJ gas
in quantities in the mine was perfectly
we'll known. and that naked lights
We're used for several days before the
explosion. According To crcditablc
authority. not a single safety lamp had
been used in the mine by the working
crews since last Tuesday morning.
William Pastorious. a driver in the
mine. who has lived in Brownsville for
many years ana is regarded as man
Of intelligence, says that Pit BOSS
Jones, last Tuesday morning. issued Il
general order that all safety lamps
might be dispensed with. and in thoi.
stead the miners We're permitted to usr
naked lights. Pastorious also states
that the lamps We're unlocked, con
trary to regulation.
The miners always prefer to US.
naked lights" said Pastorious. when
ever possible. as they give better light
and are more easily handled. I have
been working here 4 couple of months
and used safety lamp until last Tues
day nnTninp that time nina g, f..
ties We're in use by drivers and others
who We're constantly moving about the
mine ana therefore exposed to greater
risk than a digger in room. The
safcties We're provided by the company.
as usual. ana they should be locked 50
that it is impossible for n miner to
open them while at work. Ny lamp
was unlocked and | frequently opened
and closed it. on Tuesday the pit boss
issued an order that the men could use
open lamps and they. of course. dis
carded the safety which made a poorer
light. About 100 yards from the bottom
Of the main shaft there was 4 fall
which had been boarded up ana iii
which the gas stood against the roof.
| think it was this gas which ex-
ploded.
Supt. Boyer, who is the superior Of
Pit Boss Jones. when told of Pastor
ious' statement. said: Il know nothing
of the order to dispense with safety
lamps" He would make no further
statement.
Another evidence of the force of the
explosion was discovered, today on
the hillside. so feet back from the main
shaft was discovered an arm and foot
They We're portions of a victim killed
los feet below the surface and blown
out Of the shaft like a bullet from a
rifle.
New Orleans is the biggest little city
on the continent. 1t is among the few