The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-04-08
FIRE IN NINE KILLS SIXTY
HEAD or T.. 8. RESCUE CAR
FORCE ONE OF THE VICTIMS.


FORCE ONE OF THE VICTIMS.
went Tee Far In Lead ef HIS Fellows and
Was Overcome by Gas Despite Helmet
Fire Began In Engine Room Far
Dewn In Mine and spread 70 Timber.
+, SCRANTON, Pa, April Moro than
sixty mine workers. OF whom a few were
boys. lost their lives by suffocation fol-
lowing fire in the Dunmore. sometimes
called the China vein, Of the Pancoast
colliery at Throop to-day.
The work of rescue is still in progress.
Three bodies have been carried TO the
surface, two men and boy.
II was announced at 10 o'clock tonight
that the rescue party in the mine had
found between sixty and seventy bodies
far down in the vein. about 1000 feet from
the shaft. whore they had evidently re-
treated in hope Of safety. Not one was
found alive.
Among the dead is Joseph Evans, chief
OF tho Governments mine rescue car
force, who in his zeal went too far in ad
vance OF his men and perished. Another
victim was John r. Perry. Councilman OF
the First ward Of this city.
The bodies Of the dead were being col
lected and piled at tho foot Of the shaft.
Most Of the men in the mine are for
eigners. who spoke little II any English.
but several mine officials are among the
victims. Among these are Walter Knight.
mine foreman and Isaac Dave. fire boss.
The Dunmore vein OF the mine ia $50
feet below the surface. which greatly
impedes the work OF rescue. making fire
fighting difficult.
The colliery Is owned by the Scranton
Coal Company, afaliated with the New
York, Ontario and Western company.
The fire which caused the tragedy
started from some unknown cause In the
engine house at the foot Of the shaft
about 10 O'Clock this morning.
Many attribute 1t to spontaneous COM
bustion.
At that time there were 700 men and
boys in the various veins and chambers
Of the mine.
The flames set OF accumulations Of gas.
which increased the difficulty and doubt
less increased the loss OF life
II ID difficult to get q coherent statement
from any one. About the head of the
shaft thousands OF people are gathered
including relatives and friends Of the men
entombed. Ropes had to he stretched to
keep back the crowd and to prevent a
stampede when the three bodies were
brought out. The company officials acted
with great promptness. but the fire spread
with remarkable rapidity. II caught the
|timbsrine OF the shaft and spread along
the ganEway. and soon wall OF fame
separated from safety the men in distant
chambers Of the Dunmore vein.
As soon a. Il was seen that the fire was
bafYiing efforts to quench lit word was
sent for the Government rescue car at
Kingston. sixteen miles from here 1t
responded to the call and brought four
men equipped with apparatus. including
helmets resembling those Of divers. for
penetrating into smoke and the firedamp.
This was the first test OF the rescue
car and its crew The helmeted men
were the only ones who could 60 into the
affected gAngway and they recovered the
bodies that have been found.
The only man brought out alive from
beyond the fire was Joseph vickers. a
fire boss. Shortly after 10 o'clock vick-
ers. finding the fire was becoming danger.
ous. accompanied by companion ran
down the gangway 10 give the alarm.
Before they had gone far their lights
went out. vickers realized his danger
and started back. He missed his com
panion. He managed to get by the
worst place on his return. but had gone
only little further when he was overcome
by smoke Hours later he MAS found by
the fire fighters.
1t was long while before he recovered
consciousness. He told the mine officials
that there was absolutely no hope for the
other men in the mine. They persisted
hours ago." he said. Nobody GOULD live
many minutes in such a place. The
workings are filled with smoke and there
ID no way for the trapped men TO get air
The three bodies recovered were found
only short distance from the fire. show.
ing that the mon who were driven to the
end OF the workings to escape the smoke
have absolutely no chance.
Joseph B. Dickson. president OF the
Scranton Coal Company. at his home in
Morristown, N. j., said last night
From the Information available now
II is not possible TO tell how the fire started.
There In no combustion down in the mine
at all. The engines are run by steam
sent down through pipes from the boiler
house on the surface.
The engine house that caught fire is
called head house. being at the head
OF an inclined plane up which the coal ID
hauled by cable cars. 1t is probable that
one Of the men employed around the
head house threw . lighted cigarette
or cigar into . pile Of oil soaked waste
We have very strict rules against smoking
and try to enforce them. but sometimes
the rule IL broken.
"No preoaution known to mining science
was omitted by US at this mine. For ten
years We haven't had a serious accident
there. More than once We have been
complimented by the State authorities
on the system Of fire protection and ven.
tilation. We have in operation more
fans forcing fresh air through the mine
than the law requires, and the water.pipes
for fire protection stretch TO every part
OF the mine.'