The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-02-14
rcultr Commercial
FREDERICKSBURG, Va, SATURDAY. FEBRUARY /
A TERRIFIC EXPLOSION
{ ght Men Burned and II 4 al
Colliery at Plymouth,
FIERCE FIRE IN TORRANCE MINE

Firing Blast Caused Powder Exolo-
sion, Which Started the Fire, and
500 Workmen Hurried to Places Of
Safety.
Wilkesbarre. Pa, Feb. PA serious
explosion occurred yesterday afternoon
at No. IL coiliery, operated by the Le-
high and Wilkcsbarre Coal Company
at Plymouth. four miles from this city.
Eight men were burned and injured.
TWO of them seriously. Intense excite
ment followed the news Of the acct
dent. and in less than half hour hun
dreds of men. women and children
were at the head of the shaft. all of
them anxious To learn the names of
the victims. One of the injured men
brought to the surface could give no
detailed story of the explosion. but
from what can be learned a naked lamp
carried by one OF the men in the mine
at the time ignited feeder of gas in
one OF the chambers. which exploded
with terrific force. causing havoc for
hundreds OF yarus in what is called
the Bennett vein. Timbers we're hurled
in every direction. doors in the nine
cut loose from their hinges and any
Of them were reduced 70 kindling wood
As soon as the accident was made
known a number of ambulances were
ordered out. and by the time they had
reached the mine the injured men were
being brought to the surface ard sent
to their homes. attended in every case
by physicians The injured are: An
thony Tolekitz. burned on hands and
shoulders. Thomas Ioletki. burned on
face and hands. Michael Zoneo burned
about head and hands: Richard Nor
gan. slightly burned: John Onders,,i
injured on the head and body: Michael
Lutenski. burned and probably fatally
injured; Harry Lewis. miner. burned
about head and Lody. serious: IN
known foreigner. slightly burned
Miners Had Narrow Escsue.
A number of miners. accompanied
by their lahorers. employed AZ Dor
rance colliery. of the Lehigh valley
Coal Company. had a narrow escape
from either death or injury Yesterday
morning. While at work in the Cooper
vein one of them fired a blast which
spread afiame. causing an explosion
from key OF powder that had been
standing in miners box not far
away. The flame from the powder
also ienited large gas feeder. start
ing fire which soon communicated
TO the brattice or wood work in thu
mine. There were some 500 miners
laborers and door boys inside. who
were hurried to the surface. as the
mine is considered to be somewhat
gaseous.
General superintendent Zerbe and
his assistant superintendent. Jones
were soon at the scene with a party of
fire bosses. They entered the mine.
and, with the aide of plenty of hose
and water the fire was under control
by 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
Last evening the fire was subdued
No one was injured and there is no
further fear OF an outbreak. The loss
is not known yet The report that a
lot of mules were burned to death Is
denied at the mine
Miner Fatally Burned.
Tamaqua, Pa. February 12.-Aheavv
explosion of gas occurred in the No.
10 mine of the Lehigh Coal and Navi-
cation Company yesterday afternoon.
Frank Boyle, a miner, was fatal
burned and his helper. Joseph Carr.
seriously injured. The gas was ig-
nited by lamp which Boyle carried.
His clothes ignited, and in order to
escape being cremated he jumped
down 40 foot trench. at the bottom
of which there was about two feet Of
water