New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-26
OF MINERS IMPERILLED
IMPRISONED IN COAL NINE By EXPLOSION
ENTY-FIVE RESCUED
The Deadly Mne GaShat Stopped By and Hours Elapse
Before Workings Can Be Entered

O'CLOCK the signal was given from the bottom
OF the shaft that another car was ready. The
cage with mule board was sent down.
Just as the cage reached the bottom Of the
smart there was terrific explosion. and the
cage was blown out of the shaft and through
the roof Of the tipple, wrecking the weIghmas-
ters office and damaging other parts of the
structure. The mule was blown two hundred
oharred and mutated. The cage remained in
the wrecked tipple All the men on the tipple
were injured. and one has since died
Half a dozen men working near the mouth OF
the pit We're caught in tho wreckage of the tip
pie. and number were seriously injured. The
other men employed about the tipple were fur
ther away from the shaft and escaped unin-
jured.
There was little fire following the explosion.
For few minutes smoke hung around the
mouth of the shaft. Then it driftcd away. and
except for the wrecked tipple there was nothing
20 show that several scores OF human beings
had probably gone to their death in an instant.
But when the shaft was approached ii was seen
tnat its bottom was filled with debris rocks and
earth. completely shutting off all means OF es-
cape for those in the mine.
The men at the tipp!e were taken from the
debris and sent to Cheswck. Dr. Allen. OF
Springdale. and Or. McCulloch. of Cheswick,
were soon on. the scene and rendered all posi-
bic cid to the injured men.
HUNDREDS TO THE RESCUE.
The noise of the explosion brought the people
Of TIE surrounding country hurrylng to the
scene and, with knowledge that scores Of lives
might depeHd on their prompt action. IN ex-
cited gang Of men was soon working with might
and main clearing out the shaft Help was
al oil
were Put to work as possible without getting In
each others way. The air shaft had also been
damaged by toe explosion and it was about two
hours before air could be pumped into The mine.
As soon as possible the pumping was begun, as
no attempt could be made TO enter the mine un-
I'll air had been pumped in.
Superintendent Scheetz telephoned TO Ches-
wick and Sprngdale for assistance as soon as
he heard Of the accident. Gangs Of workmen
were sent IN response and physicians hurried 10
the scene 10 take Of the injured. ]. r.
Morris. manager Of the Pittsburg Tool and Drop
Forge Company, at Cheswick. closed his works.
and his entire force. numbering seventy five.
We're sent 20 the scene Of the explosion. Mine
Inspector f. W. Cunningham was Informed Of
the disaster Immediately and started az once
Tor Cheswick.
FIRST ATTEMPT AT RESCUE.
Shortly after o'clock James McCann volun-
teered 10 be let down the shaft 10 endeavor to
learn the fate Of the imprisoned men. He was
the hrst man who dared TO face the deadly con-
dltious believed 10 exist below. rope was
tied about him and he was let down. ten mon
handling the rope. lie was unable 10 make any
progress and soon was brought to the surface.
The scene about the mouth Of the pit was In
deed pitifuL The wives and children Of the en-
tombed men surrounded the shaft crazed with
grief and Gnxiously waiting any news. There
were many nationalites among the miners The
majority OF them were foreigners though there
were many Of American birth. The Americans
mostly lived at CheswiCIt. while the foreigners
lived at Harwlck, around the workings.
While the exact cause OF the catastrophe has
not been determined. it is believed that IL un-
doubtcGly resulted from an explosion Of gas.
The explosion coming several hours after the
men went into the mine would indicate that a
vein OF gas had been tapped. II II had been
from nredamp the explosion would have
suited as soon as the mer descended into the
mine. It IS said tina; the mine safety lamps
Quired By law were used by all the What
caused the gas TO ignite will probably not be
known until ar official investigation has been
made.
Mine Inspector Cunningham reached Ches-
wick this evening. He said:
I went TO Greensburf to inspect a mine this
bunch of kilograms telling me Of this disaster.
The mine where the explosion took place
inspected, I think, about the first Of December.
There some gas in there then. but I never
considered the mine dangerous.
The last inspection blank hanging on the nail
in the mine companys Office is dated July II.
1903. but it is evident that later report has
been torn of.
The mine is about one mile from Cheswicl.
and was opened about two years ago II is said
that 1t has always been gaseous one. but there
hes never been any serious trouble before to-
day
J. r. Norris. Of the Pittsburg Forge Com
pany. said to-day that the shaft was about 90
feet deep In the inside of the mine the head
inGs had not been made for more than half
mile. He said that the mine had been recently
with the Pittsburg and Bessemer
Railroad the new tracks being opened last week.
week.