Year: 1869




should feel themselves at liberty tt


disregard every means of providing
: against such calamites as this a


Avondalc Tho most sensible advic,


that could be given tho miners in the
4 matter is to reject all solicitation tC
. go into any mine constructed aflei
the fashion of the one at Avondale.
Avondalc is sweet, suggestive
name that in no manner bellies its
duplication to this beautiful section ol
the Wyoming Valley. A high and
bold range Of hills overlpolss as green
+ and pastoral a plain as the keenest
lover Of rural scenery might desire


This high range of hills, clad to the
summit with oak, ash, hickory and
chestnut, is one great vein Of coal, in
some places of exceeding richness, and
nowhere too poor to reward the toll
and expense of seeking for it.. On the
steepest and most commanding side
of the Shawnee hills the Avondale
coliery was built and finished in 1867


1t was constructed under the super
vision of Mr.. S d. Kingsley, and cost
4 Sl50,00Q The Dickson Manufacture
ing Company put in the machinery
the remains OF which, now visible in
the engine house, attest the splendid
character Of the work. Through the
Wyoming valley this mine had the
reputation of being the best and
largest; whence it is TO be inferred
that all the rest must be Of rather
inferior class When in full working
order It yielded fUU tons OF coal per
day but during n recent strike Of the
miners ii was idle for term Of three
months. 1t was leased by the Della.
ware, Lackawanna and Western Rail-
road Company, whn also lease many
other mines in the valley, and 10y this
ingenious plan of leasing in place Of
opening mines themselves, they avoid
the charge of being held responsible
for the manner OF their construction.
The lessee of mine, however, is
practically the owner, for when be
comes to yield up his lease perhaps
there is no mine left.


There is no doubt, however, that
the Avondale mine was one of the
best and worst In the valley. The
masonry work, running down the
sides of the shaft some twenty feet,
was as strong as stone and cement
could make it. The engine house was
firmly built, the machinery of the
finest kind used in the colliery hnsi-
ness, the breaker, that covered the
engine house and through which the
broken coal was dispatched through
a long schute to the railroad track oe-
low, was built in tho most substantial
the casual observer seemed To leave
no room for improvement. The shaft
was sunk to depth Of 237 feet, with
a space twenty-six feet by twelve,
divided in the centre by a wooden
partition, on one side Of which the
pure air descended TO the mine, and on
the other the impure vapors ascended
to the top and were dissipatod abroad.
After going in a sheer descent to the
bottom of this shaft the explorer OF
the mine found on either hand two
long galleries, or avenues, one branch
ing cast l,200 feet, and the other west
] 500 feet. Moving straight onward at
right angles TO the shaft, and at dis.
tance from II Of 220 feet, the furnace
for creating draught of air through
the galleries and chambers of the mine
might be found blazing away In N
gerous proximity to the woodwork
lining OF the passage way reserved for
the admission Of the fresh air currents.
IL was a spark from the furnace fail
ing on the dry scantling adjacent that
caused the accident 1t blazed up
rapidly; the flames made q running
leap TO the bottom of the shaft, caught
the wooden partition already mention.
ed, and clambering up the 237 feet,
seized on the heavy wooden breaker
overhead, which never should have
been there, and piercing with fierce
and steady tongue Of fire through the
supports. brought down tho ponderous
beams. the debris Of the breaker and
the coal within il into tho shaft, cho.
king mp its space to depth OF forty
feet, shutting out the fresh air from
I, above, aud turning back the sulphn-
rous gases from the blazing furnace
into the galleries and chambers where
, the miners we're at work. The men
had descended to their work but three
hours before.


/. should be explained that the
galleries which penetrate this mine
are irregular in line, running east and
west under the bill to considerable
distance, with chambers at intervals
and doors at varying distances TO keep
out currents Of foul air There Is no
doubt but that the miners at once di.
yined the accident that had occurred


and took prompt measures TO save
themselves. In the long gal!aries,
running OBVIOUSLY east and west, the
miners were scattered at work, some
in the gangways, others in the cham
, bers, following the usual routine oi
daily toll. Laborers we're filling the
cars lfohl Nho ulbhNh Nehi f'NNS"'
f down 10y the miners pick boys were
E driving forward the mules to th'
mouth of ths shaft with car loads o
/ coal to be hoisled to the world above
! all was proceeding in the customary
way, when tho rush back Of the sui
phurous gus from the furnace told Tho
, miners too well the nature Of the dis
aster that bad occurred


In the light of what the brave mel
discovered on going down carly in th'
! morning to rescue their fallen com
; rades, we can easily trace wha
followed whom the discovery becam
known through the mine that tb
{ shaft was stopped and the fresh air o


heaven excluded. All those in th
a vicinity OF the furnace rctreated b.
;, winding ways SO as TO avoid all con
d. tact with the poisonous gases, TO th
c utmost limits Of the mine, to gang
J. way 200 feet from the bottom of th
c shaft. No doubt there was q ieariu
e hurrying backwards, for the fatal cat
n ....sI Lt.f and pusf lin