New-York tribune., 1902-07-11
HUNDREDS DEAD In MINE.
JOHNSTOWN. OF FLOOD FAME VISITED By 4 SECOND
TERRIBLE DISASTER.


mine. or a place much lower than the opening
Here IL is known that at least two bu,drpd
men were at work yesterday. Not one man up
to o'clock this evening had come from -5he
klondike," and it is reasonably certain at this
hour, from the best information obtainabIe,
that the death list will reach the number Of
two hundred
Officials of the Cambria company say that
about two hundred and fifty men were working
in the Klondike'' when the explosion occurred.
Up to a late hour only seven men who were in
the Klondike' appeared at the Mill Creek en-
trance, and they were in sad state. almost
dead. and some of them possibly fatally injured
AS none have come from the KIondike' at the
Westmont entrance. it is feared that the fearful
story will finally he 24O or more dead
One of the men who left the mine immed'-
ately after the explosion. said it is not known
what caused it. Another volunteered the in
formation that he knew it was caused by a
miner careIessly handling matches. Only few
days ago the officials issued an order 70 ths
employees instructing them not to experiment.
with the gas. and he says that the next day
young Hungarian was seen pushing his lamp
along mine roof in search OF il. He was
i'm nediately reprimanded but seemed to regard
the matter joke
STORIES OF THE SURVIVORS
1t was a terrible experience that Richard
Bennett. of Wood Alley. and John Meyers OF
Iron-st., had after the frightfuI explosion.
They were in the mine this side of the place
out. At about o'clock they decided to go
back into the mine and bring out a report as
TO the situation. They went two miles inside.
and on the way saw the dead body of Eddie
Yamask at the first sidetrack about a mila
this side of the explosion point THE damp
was fearful" said Mr.. Bennett, an hour after
he and Meyers had returned from their trip Of
investigation We had to turn back We
could go no further. II was something awful
in there, and on the way back We thought sure
we would perish
When Bennett and Meyers got back" said
DR.. W. B. Lowman. who. with DR., g. ".
Wagner. was standing at the opening. they
fell to the ground. They were completely over
come, and for a while feared it was all up 18th
them. 1t took half an hour for them to revive.
They were in very bad shape and it is remarka-
BE that they ever got out alive
William Malcolm in the upper part Of the
mine when the explosion came He said: The
first kaew OF the trouble was when men came
running from what is known as the Dip.
lower section They came running without
hats. coats and some. without clothes. and in
terrible state of excitement AS near as can
remember. not more than ten came that way
and they escaped leaving at least two hundred
in the Dip. I came out by way of Mill Creek
David Williams was in that part of the mine
known as the "Klondike." Il heard the ex-
pIoson." said he. but it did not affect me.
got out quick but 1 saw many who appeared to
be smothered and unable to move How many
I do not know. My father was in there with
me- / saw him after the explosion He told me
to hurry home and tell mother that he was not
hurt He said he would come out from Mill
Greek 1 came out at the mine opening
w NJ ROrar said. Il i'm No. I, Left, First
Right. when the explosion occurred. 1t was
about two miles away. I saw good many who
wera this side of the explosion come out safely
NV son escaped with me John Hewlett at the
time OF the accident was at Second Right, Room
No l6 two miles Ddck III Tue MINES me ~
plosion he said. was at Right Six. about four
hundred yards from where he was working.
There were six of us together, and as soon as
we heard the explosion pulled up stakes and
got out as quickly as possible. Richard Bennett
was one of the men with me. After Bennett
got out he went back again After the explosion
vve couId not see our hands before until We
reached the main heading 1t appeared to be
smoky. sticky substance. whether gas or damp 1
could not tell II was terrible. whatever it
was"
John Martin. George Wallace Patrick Null
doom and Joseph Coheghaski come out of the
Mill Creek opening time after the explo-
sion I'VE were all working at what is called
.C;oodvs' three miles back" said Martin. We
were beyond the point of the explosion about
half a mile AT least one hundred and fifty
men were back behind us. Thomas Wallace and
his four .buddes' were all that who
escaped from the point near the explosion We
did not hear the explosion. but felt the shock
We left at once"
August Daniels was up in the main part of the
mine and saw many miners overcome by the
gas or damp but he said that after struggles
they all got out.
John Whitney beyond the Dip where
the explosion took place. Il was at the head
ing. half mile from the explosion. said he
Several dozen were overcome by the damp Or
gas l had all 1 could do to escape 1t was
terrible After the explosion we went back to
rescue the less fortunate, and nearly lost our
lives We got Andy COssack and saved his life.
did not see my father. John c. Whitney, fire
boss who was struggling to get out 1 don't
think many outside of the drivers escaped
There was great excitement at the Whitney