New-York tribune., 1901-06-12
SIXTEEN LIVES LOST.
THE DISASTROUS MINE EXPLOSION AT
PORT ROYAL. PENN.

Port Royal, Penn. June n.-As result or Mon
day nights explosion In the Port Royal mines OF
the Pittsburg Coal Company. sixteen men are dead,
seven injured and thousands of dollars worth
Of property is destroyed Among the dead is Will
lam McCune. superintendent of the company s
mines along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. His
body found lying in the passageway. about
/ 600 feet from the shaft A wife. three and a
daughter survive him. He large stockholder
in the Pittsburg Coal Company. and his family
lives in a handsome residence in Vine-st., West
Newton. William Allison. another superintendent
lost. second cousin of President William Nc
Kiney.
Early this morning Harry Beveridge and two
miners. three OF a rescuing party that went into
the mine bring out their mates who were en-
tombed. sent to the McKeesport Hospital
Beverdge had both hands broken and the others
were badly burned
The fans in both shafts were started uD this
morning TO clear the mine of smoke, fire damp and
the after damp remaining from the explosions last
night. The explosions supposed TO have oc-
CURED between entries Nos. 20 and D. three thou
sand feet back from the shaft. The disaster oc-
Cured about 6 O'Clock last evening. An explosion
was heard by men at shaft No .. and suddenly a
cloud of smoke burst from the mouth of the shaft.
II known that Anthony Stekles. John PEBBLES.
George DAILY, Frank Davenport and James Settler
in the mine. searching part composed of
Superintendent McCune and others went down
shaft No. 2. Just before they were lowered the
bell was rung from the foot of the shaft. The
cage was already down, and 1t was brought up with
Settler It,
The rescuing party then went down. Nothing
was heard of them, and in hour another rescu-
ing force led by James Bailey and William Will
Jams, fire bosses. let down the shaft. They
had CROPPED their way about two hundred feet
when two explosions heard in rapid success
sion The shaft lamps in the hands of Bailey and
Williams blown fifty feet away, and they
themselves thrown violently to the ground
They arose TO their feet and called for their COM
rades. but there answer. Both men hur-
ried back to the shaft and were drawn up IN the
cage
The party that went in this morning COM
posed OF Mine Inspector Bernard Callahan, the
general superintendent John Reese. and William
McFee. Daniel Mccullough and Peter McLindon.
fire bosses. and Robert Mckinney. pit boss. All but
the PittsburG Coal Company. -... -
The rescue party had been in the mine about an
hour when the mufiTd report of another explosion
was heard issuing from the depths Of the shaft and
VINO thousht that these rescueTs had met the iate
Of those who had gone before. dozen men volun-
thelr services were not needed as the slgnal 70
MOIST the cage was given from the bottom. ana
snd Fip & sig V On fbn W Iso ni
these men were taken TO the hotel near by. where
two physicians worked with them almost hour
before they could be brought back to life. This last
explosion In the minds Of many seems settle
ting any Of them out alive has been abandoned.
Late this afternoon the officials Of the Pittsburg
any more men to enter the shaft the danger
yISabiIity OF ioodinE the mine for the purpose OF
eXtinGuishing the fire. There is now hope of
was another disastrous explosion Port Royal and
the mine caught fire; II was necessary to fill II
this a hole drilled from the bed OF the river.
This is now closed only with plug. which was
and TO drown out the fire all that IS necessary IS
YoughioEheny will rush in