The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-02-27

At the Mt. Pleasant Gallery. West
scranton, n few minutes before Z
o'clock yesterday morning, four men
were killed. their bodies being precipi-
tated To the bottom of the shaft, a
distance of 1870 feet, without the slight
est warning either to themselves or
to the men working at the foot of the
shaft. The victims were:
FRANK WOODWARD aged "a years, of
5lI Forest court; drill machine opera
tor. Married
JOHN REGAIN, aged 80 years, of 251
Railroad avenue; laiorer. Leaves
wife and three children.
THOMAS WILLIAMS, aged 80 years, of
1907 Lafayette street; iaborer. Leaves
wife and two children.
WILLIAM GILBERT, aged 43 years, of
2l9 North Fillmore avenue; driver.
Leaves wife and six children.
Ten wcrkmen had entered the car
riage to be lowered into the different
mine workings, six of whom got off at
the Dunmore vein. When the carriage
began its further descent towards the
foot of the shaft it struck one OF the
fans at the Clark vein. which are used
TO hold the carriage when cars are be-
ing run in and out of the opening
There was q crash and the floor Of
the carriage was separated from it's
holdings on one side, throwing the oc-
cupants into the shaft. all of them
falling headlong to the bottom.
INSTANTLY KILLED.
Regan and Gilbert were instantly
killed, their bodies being horribly man
gled. Williams and Woodward were
alive when found. but died shortly
afterwards. Just what caused the ac
cident Is hard to determine, but the
general suppostion of the employees
| who are familiar with the workings
is that some one who got off OF the
| carriage on the previous trip had ne
elected to lock the fan and il slipped
out of it's place, causing the collision
when the carriage was lowered after
wards.
That the above theory is plausible
can be vouched for from the fact that
John Hearn, the night engineer, had
been lowering the men into the mine
for some time before the accident oc-
| Cured, and the trip which ended Sd
| fatally was the first one made by En-
| ginecr Jonathan Hughes after reliev.
| ing Hearn. The proper signals were
given and everything was apparently
safe until the carriage collided with
/ the fans.
The bodies We're discovered at tho
| foot Of the shaft by Samuel McNichols
who was standing near by when the
crash came. He notified the fire boss
James Coulter, and the bodies were
removed to the surface and afterwards
taken to the homes Of the unfortunate
victims. The news Of the accident
spread rapidly and hundreds Of peopl,
were assembled at the head when the
bodies were taken out
MARRIED 81 XMONTHs AGO.
The remains Of Woodward were
taken to Wymbs' undertaking estab
lshment and prepared for burial ant
afterwards removed to the home o.
deteased's parents, 1923 Meade street
The young man was married about ST.
months ago and was employed by hi!
brother-in-law, Bert Knapp. Regan':
body was taken to his home on Rail
road avenue and the remains of Will
Jams and Gilbert were conveyed t.
their respective homes in the min'
ambulance.
Coroner Roberts was notified of tn,
accident and will make an investiEa
! ton. The direct cause OF the acciden
will not be definitely known until th'
coroncr's inquest is held ard the tes
timory of witnesses taken who ar
familiar with the circumstances sur
rounding the case.
The mine is operated by the Fulle
Coal company, which purchased tn
colliery from the estate of the late w
r. Smith.