Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-07-18
I DEAD; 10 INJURED
Victims of Mine Disaster Near
POttsville, Pa.
DUE TO GAS EXPLOSION
People Of Wllllamstown Rushed to
Scene Of Disaster-Three OF Injured
Will Die-The Dead Were Horribly
Mangled

Pottsville Pa. July 16.-Seven dead
and ten injured. several probably fa-
tally. is the ghastly record OF the
Summit Branch Mining company op.
Grafton at Williamstown. where a
frightful gas explosion occurred. tear
ing down timbers by the force OF its
shock and setting parts OF the work
ings on fire.
The dead are: John Reilly. Arthur
Hawk Charles Rickert. John Whittle.
Anthony Frelas. James Bowman and
Michael Stakum
The most seriously injured are: WI.
liam Mainhart Charles Parker. Mar.
tin Doyle. Ralph Finley. John Walsh.
Isaac Hess Charles Hepler and Mon.
roe Shade.
The explosion occurred in No. ]
shaft OF the Williamstown collery. and
is believed to have been caused by one
Of the dead men lifting the cause OF
his safety lamp Just after an explo.
sion OF a shot which brought down a
large body Of coal. Superintendent
Aumen at once directed the work of
rescue, and when volunteers were
called for almost every man at the
coliery offered his services. which
meant hazardous trip into the burn.
ing mine. which was filled with deadly
aftcrdamp.
Near the opening OF the shaft the
unconscious forms of the injured were
found. they having rushed toward the
shaft only to fall over unconscious
from their gaping wounds and through
suffocation by the deadly damp which
follows mine explosions. All OF the
dead were found a short distance from
the opening OF the shaft. battered and
burned into an almost unrccognzable
mass
II was the worst calamity which has
ever visited the lower anthracite
fields and as soon as the news reach
ed the village OF Williamstown all
places OF business were closed and the
town was in short while deserted. as
the crowds rushed TO the colliery a
little more than mile distant The
scenes there will never be forgotten
rs the blackened bodies of the dead
and injured were brought To the sur
face and removed to the improvised
morgue and hospital In the colliery
Office and storehouse. while the crying
women and children crowded around
hunting for loved ones
Physicians from Williamstown and
;.,is;;..;;;;. "!!la%as responded and treated
the injured. while number of women
volunteered their services as nurses
The attending physicians have no hopes
for al least three Of the injured. SO
that II Is expected the list OF dead will
reach ten
One Of the injured men was taken
10 the mOrgue and IL was not until an
identification of the bodies was made
that il was found he was living. He
was badly burned and battered by the
flames and shock of the explosion and
collapsed completely. due TO heart
trouble Under treatment heart action
was restored and he will recover
The fire which followed the explo-
sion was OF very inconsequential
character and can he readily extin.
guished One OF the injured. who was
taken out in an unconscious condition.
in an interview stated that he did not
know what caused the explosion. He
Just remembers a binding flash as he
was thrown against the timbers In the
gangway. and he knew no more until
he found himself in the improvised
hospital.