The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-01-24
DISASTER AT
COXEY MINE
one Man Killed - Several
Severely WOunded-0ther
PittStOn News Notes.

Special to tho Scranton Tribune.
Pittston, Jan. 23.-The CoXey mine of
the Lehigh Valley Coal company, situ-
ated on North Main street, near Pitts
ton Junction. was the scene of most
serious explosion just about noon to-
day, which resulted in the death of one
young man and serious injury of four
others. The victims are
BENJAMIN DAVIS, Of 2s Barney street. Wilkes.
Barre, single man, aged o5 years; fatally
burned aud injured; died at Pittston hospital
EDGAR LANGAN, of North Main street, Pitts
ton, aged Is years. seriously burned about
face, neck and hands; body bruised
THOMAS JONES, OF East Northampton street
Wilkes. Barre: burned about exposed por.
tons. condition serious; unmarried man; aged
% years.
JOHN LEWIS, of Plains township, young man,
unmarried. slightly burned about face and
hands. Taken to his home
JOSEPH W. BURKE, Of North Franklin street,
Wilkes Barre formerly Of Wilkes Barre; I'M
married; aged 2s years; burns very serious
about exposed parts, bad cont,sions about
the head. Taken to Wilkes. Barre hospital.
AS will be seen by the above the
victims are mostly all residents of
Wilkes-Barre They We're members of
one of the Valley Coal company's en-
gineei corps, and were at work today
in the CoXey mine. They arrived at
the CoXey shaft about S o'clock this
morning, and, accompanied by Fire
Boss Jerry Mooney, set out to perform
some of their regular posting work. At
the time of the accident they had just
finished surveying in an abandoned
chamber within 200 yards of the foot
of the shaft. Fire Boss Mooney warned
the engineers not to enter any other
chamber until he proceeded to ascer-
tain the condition as to gas. Retiring
from The one chamber the men pro-
ceeded up the gangway, Mooney lin
gering behind to place a wooden rail
in front of the chamber they We're just
leaving SO that no one might enter be-
cause there was little gas there.
The rest of the men loitered along
the gangway awaiting Mooney, but
one of the number walked a little
ahead of the others and thoughtlessly
stepped into the next chamber. I'm
mediately there was an explosion.
There was apparently not much gas
in the place as the explosion was light
and did but little damage to the inter-
Tor of the mine. The chamber was a low
one and this probably accounted for
the serious work of the small accum-
ulation. Employees We're at work in
the mine as usual and hurried to the
scene to give assistance to the burned
men, who We're taken to the surface
and their burns dressed. Ambulances
We're secured from nearby collieries to
assist in moving the injured.
1t was plainly evident that Davis
condition was critical and his head
had come in contact with a piece of
timber when thrown by the force of
the explosion, and the skull was frac-
tured He was hurriedly taken to the
Pttston hospital but died 10 minutes
after reaching there.
Young Langan is a son of the late
mine foreman, James Langan, whose
body is among those entombed in the
Twin mine since the big cave-in of
few years ago, He is Il brother of City
Engineer James Langan and resides
with his widowed mother on North
Main street.
Davis, whose injuries resulted fa-
tally, had been in the employ of the
Valley company only since last Mon
day, and lived with his widowed
mother in Wilkes Barre.
The CoXey mine, wherein the acci-
dent occurred. is only recent possess
sion of the Lehigh Valley Coal COM
pany, having been purchased by them
from the Seneca Coal company. 1t is
one of the mines in the district in
charge of Superintendent Thomas
Thomas, of Wilkes Barre. The work.
ings of the CoXey adjoin the Inflated
Twin shaft, where the SIS men We're en-
tombed a few years ago. the openings
of both shafts being within 200 feet of
each other
There has been no increase in the
number of smallpox cases here within |
the past few days, and it is earnestly
hoped the spread has been permanently
checked. DR.. Mulholland, of the Pitts |
ton health board, has suggested the |
establishment of hospital for the iso-
lation of the cases and suggests the |
old brick building on North Main street |
formerly occupied by the Rice Carriage |
Spring factory. The sanitary commit
tee of the Wilkes-Barre board of health |
visited West Pittston today and en-
pressed themselves well pleased with |
the condition of affairs there. Persons |
travelling on the Traction cars between
Kingston and Wilkes Barre are now re-
quired to show certificates of vaccina- |
tion. Word was received here today of |
the death at Columbus, o., of John |
Healey, formerly of Sturmeryille, Exc |
ter borough, that he had died there OF |
smallpox. Healey left here a few |
weeks ago. having Joined the United
States cavalry.
While alighting from train a few
days ago, Terry Bradigan, the we'll
known base ballist, sprained an ankle.
The second Young Mems Christian
association basket ball team of this
place We're defeated at Armory hall,
Barre, last evening, by the
score OF 26-1.
City Solicitor OBrien has secured
judgment against twenty-four Main
street property holders who have ne
elected to pay the assessment for street
paving in front of their properties.
Robert Parry has moved his house
hold effects from West Pittston to
Dunmore.
Anthony Sapiego, a miner, was in