Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-06-11
Result Of a Gas Explosion in Coal
Mine at Port Royal, Pa.
LIST OF SUPPOSED DEAD.
Great Excitement Prevails - Heroic
Attempt 10 Rescue be"r'rend'ng
ana Distressing Scenes

Port Royal, Pa, June LILY the eN-
ploslon of gas in SHAFT NO. OF the
Pittsburg Coal and Coke companys
mine about o'clock last night seven
men are supposed to have been killed
and thirty miners entombed.
Smoke rose from the mouth OF the
shaft in volumes during the night
Great excitement prevailed and the
entire population OF the town remained
all night at the mine eagerly awaiting
some news from those thought to be
either buried under tons OF slate or
slowly awaiting either death from
flames or relief from the outside with
small chance favoring the former
THE SUPPOSED DEAD
The available list Of those supposed
to have lost their life is unobtainable
at this hour, and this is partial list
VIM, McCune, general supcrintend-
ent Of this district, who resided at
West Newton.
Dennis Wortley pit boss Of the mine
Michael Roy, one of the foremen.
Michael Daily who entered the mine
for the first time this morning.
Frank Davenport, married and re-
sides here,
Anthony stickles, married, who lived
here. with his wife and child,
Jack Peoples, who has wife and
two small children here,
About thirty other miners
THE RESCUED.
Lawrence Settler.
John Stakes.
In the attempt TO rescue the men
known to be In the mine other ilVes
wore placed In jeopardy and may be
lost
From what could be ascertained here
last night about O'Clock there was
low rumblng sound, followed by a roar
which sounded like cyclone, then
three sharp and short reports, I'M
mediatcly the mine catastrophe OF sew
en- years ago. still fresh In the minds
OF those made fatherless, was recol-
iected and simultaneously a rush was
made for the mouth OF the mine. When
the first excitement had subsidized n
little Il was decided to try 10 rescue
at least a part of these known TO be
entOmbed AS quickly as possible a
messenger was dispatched on horse
back to West Newton, which Is five
miles away, and while awaiting the ar
rival of appliances necessary to enter
a burning mine temporary rescue
party, composed OF the men who had
Rocked off earlier In the day was
formed
Fearlessly these men entered the
shaft and started toward the spot
where II was thought some Of the en-
tombed men may be found. Lying at
the bottom of the SHAFT were Lawrence
Settler and John Stakes. Unconscious
and covered with dirt the men were
quickly taken to the top Of the mine.
They could give no information as 10
what had caused the fire and told the
rescue party that four other men were
entombed,
About o'clock William McCune Of
West Newton, general superintendent
Of this district; Dennis Wortley, pit
boss Of the mine; Michael Roy fore
man, and several other bosses with
about twenty men went down shaft
No /, which Is just opposite on the
Baltimore & Ohio side Of the river, and
they are probably lost.
About three hours after the rescue
party had been in the mine two more
explosions were heard, Meantime, the
crowd around the opening Of the shaft
had increased. The crowd included
mothers wives, and sisters OF many Of
the men entombed.
All sorts Of plans were suggested for
the rescue Of the men Some talk Of
turning the river into the mines but
many are opposed to this idea for fear
Of drowning the miners.
At II o'clock four men volunteered to
60 down shafts No, and No. 3, ana
one man down No. J. but up TO this
time It is not known whether they
have succeeded IN making any rescue.
The fan Is now working but until the
flames are cxtinguished or news comes
from one Of the rescue parties no fur
Their particulars are obtainahle,
At 3 o'clock w. A. Sweeney aud
Frank Stratton came to the surface
bringing Harry Beveridge in an uncon-
scious condition with both arms and
leg broken and badly burned, lie can
not live All three men succumbed
shortly after reaching the surface
sweeney, WHO WIS nlulHlN iHAl hlHtliAti
In saving Beverage was able TO tell
that he climbed over the bodies Of at
least three men on his way out,
The explosion occurred at the time
when the shifts were changing from
day to night. ana II is impossible TO
tell how many were in the mine az the
time. but certainly no less than thirty
are entombed.
At 4 o'clock this morning Supt Me-
Cune's hat and a couple Of his letters
have heen found, the hat being blown
TO fragments There is no trace Of him
or any ~ the rescuing party. Those
now known To be In the burning mine
are. James Bailey Jack Keck Dan
Allsip. Roy Allison, Tom Gleason.
Harry Hough. John Stock, Joe Buckle
Peter Mccullough, John Burke. VIII
liam McCune, William Wardley Ed
Sweeney, David Wrin. Chris Howell
and several others.