The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-06
EXPLOSION KILLS 50
IN Mine; 50 HURT
Sparks From Wire Touch Off
Powder in Kegs Near Cars
Carrying Workers.
FLAMES TRAP VICTIMS
Disaster in Tunnel Of Della
ware and Hudson Co. in
Wilkesbarre.

WILKEsBARRE. Pa. June Eighty
three men dead and fifty others burned
and MANNED, many of whom will die. is
the toll of disaster in the Baltimore
tunnel OF the Delaware and Hudson
Coal Company in the east end section of
this city early to-day.
The disaster was caused by the explo-
sion of seven kegs of black powder, 400
pounds in ALL and the dead and maimed
were literally roasted by the superheated
gas flames following the explosion. The
tragedy occurred while the men were
on their way to work this morning.
Owing to their working places being
two miles from the mouth OF the tunnel
the men were making the trip in train
Of fourteen mine cars drawn by an cleo
trio motor the power being carried in
two cars in the middle OF the train.
After the train had penetrated the tun-
mel about 200 feet. August Ruddic. one
of the survivors, states, the overhead
trolley wire sagged and, touching steel
powder key. formed q short circuit. In
an instant there was shower OF sparks
and then the powder exploded with ter
rific noise. A sheet of flame, drawn by
) the air current, enveloped the helpless
men who were huddled together in the
cars with no possible chance to escape.
because of the ventilating system the
smoke and flame rushed inward and the
first intmation OF disaster to those on
me surface were shrieks of anguish
Rescued corps were formed and the dead
Ind injured were rapidly brought to the
surface, where first aid treatment was
fgiven to the living by physicians and
then rushed to hospitals in all sorts of
kyehicles. even the fire apparatus being
tAed 49,. .-..
eWhen the rescuers first entered the
tunnel they found the dead and dying
piled in the cars and along the tunnel
Bodies of the dead were burned to
crisp. Sixty-nine dead were found in
the tunnel and fourteen others sue
cumbed at the hospitals. But forty-nine
of the dead have so far been Identified.
Among the men killed outright by
the deadly blast was James ]. Nc
Closlley, a former baseball pitcher. at
one time a member of the Philadelphia
Natioral League club.
Assistant General Manager Buchanan
Of the Delaware and Hudson Coal Com
pany. after investigation at the scene
Of the disaster. gave 1t as his opinion
THAT the explosion was not caused by
the sagging Of the overhead wire. He
believes that perhaps a steel bar or drill
by one Of the men came in con-
met with the wire forming the short
circuit. which caused the powder to
h&tve way. According to the company's
ENgpres 143 men and boys were being
eArried by the train and about seven
Teen escaped injury.
n Seward Button, chief of the State
Bureau of Mines. Informed the Asso-
t<fated Press tonight that the State code
scontained regulations governing the
fAforage OF explosives IN magazines and
kEorking places. but vas rilent OF the
Transportation OF the same.
81 John Common. who was on the motor
$9hen the accident occurred, said:
- rThe trip forms at the mouth of the
\ tunnel each morning. The trip to-day
terned at 6 :25 o'clock. John McGroarty
tHas the motorman and Jimmy Kehoe
<fhe brakeman. was riding on the head
lend of the trip and the cars were filled
with men. In the last car were sew
oral kegs of powder. I do not know
Fhether any men were in this car. The
Vast car was just inside the mouth of the
Stsmnel when McGroarty noticed the wire
Hanging low. He stopped the trip and
Estarted ahead a few hundred feet to as
certain the cause of the low wire. He
had travelled ahead a few feet when he
again stopped and told me to go out and
tell another motor car runner on tn,
rDutside to pull the trip out again. Nc
l-Eroarty also shouted to the men In the
Scars that they had better get out and
walk. l saw some night shift men going
;19ut, and l told them to notify the runner
Go pull the grip cars out. They said
'they would.
- Then men in the cars were in the act
<Df climbing out and the night shift men
had Just left when there was binding
k1ash.
II am not sure how the accident hap.
fpened. The wire was hanging low. II
Knight have touched the metal OF the car
6eome of the men. am sure. wer+.
zqrowned as they piled on top of each
$other in the sulphur creek which runs
along the side OF the tunnel"