The Portland daily press., 1899-06-17

several hours, when t was found that the
extent OF the fire and the difficulties OF
nghtine IL rendered the efforts useless.
Il 6ilpin, Jr., provincial inspector Of
mines had by this time reached the scene
and after a consultation with him ft was
decided to procuru pumps and attack the
iire from . different quarter. Up to this
evening the operations Of the fire lighters
had not been effeotual in quenching the
flames. IIt Ia still doubtful as to what
success will attend the efforts TO extin-
guish the fire, but 1t is hoped to save the
mine. The men who lost their lives in
Ihos. Johnston. underground manager.
John Doyle, Sr.
John Dolye. Jr.. father and son, the
latter leaving wife and three children.
Arthur Grant, leaving wife and three
children.
Alex Mcdonald, leaving a wife and
Stephen Mccormick, wife and six chill
dren.
Rory d. McDougall, wife and three
children.
Neil Mcdonald, unmarried.
Malcolm McAuloy, unmarried.
William Simpson, unmarried.
Donald Martin, wife and two children.
All the bodies nave been recovered ex-
cept that of Martin.
Not until the bodies OF the men began
10 be brought up in the cage, did the
stricken people Of the town begin to real
lee the awfulness of the disaster. IL was
abont five that the whistle, announcing
something wrong in the mine, was
blown. In a very short time the streets
were crowded with people. When the
news Of the disaster spread they fiocked
toward the engine house, where they
learned the particulars.
Johnston when found was near one of
No. - k..n. n
to open 1t with his left hand as his left
side is burned terribly. H3 was no
doubt killed BY the force Of the explosion.
The others who were with him were
| ohoked with fire damp. Only two Of the
men. Mccormick and Mcdonald, were in
airy way dishgured, and that they very
slightly. The scene in the pit was Of a
were thrown promiscuously into the pox
cars and rushed 10 the cage. As they
passed by the sight was gruesome one.
Darkn ess wns only broken by the pals
flickering light Of the lamps In the hands
OF brave Hesouers. The box oars went by
containing one body piled on top Of the
other. The rescuing party were stagger-
ing under the influence of the gas. They
were almost blinded with the smoke tnat
was pouring down in volumes upon them.
Now and again II would cease and thus
give the men time to go on with the
Rruesome task OF finding the bodies. One
OF the men was found with his hands
round post. Mccormick was found with
handkerchief across his mouth. he
evidently knew what was coming and
took precautions to save his life. but Of
no avail. A waistcoat was found over HIS
head. He probably went into one Of the
rooms to save nate but the damp had
become so dense that he finally sue
cumbed. McAulay was found with his
head between the rails. The others were
found In different attitudes and positionU.
all OF which went to show that the men
we're overcome suddenly and had but lit
tie time to attempt to escape
The scene about the engine house was
most touching. Women and children
were weeping and men were talking in
su bdued tones. The place was throDged.
Il rains from Sydney brought In hundreds
OF people and carriages began to pour in
| from all directions.t There was O steady
downpour Of rain, ! which only ADDED 4
the weirfness of the SCENE. Ths coal IL
the Wes3 Desp, as we'll as the timber. Il
ON fire. The airscurrents changed severa
times while the volunteers were In the
pit. This would indicate that an ex
plosion had taken place in the West Deep.
Thomas Brown, manager of Caledonia,
went down with the rescue volunteers
and was knocked senseless by the second
xplosion. He was carried from the pit
| unconscious, but will recover. Caledonis
| Is q part of Glace Bay. Ii is the principal
collieEy of the Dominion and averages
t2500 tons per day,