Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 March 1886 — DEATH IN THE MINE. [ARTICLE]

DEATH IN THE MINE.

Fearful Fire-Damp Explosion in a Coal Mine Near Dunbar, Pa. [Connellsville (Pa.) telegram.) Shortly after noon to-day a series of explosions took place in the Uniondale mine at Dunbar, four miles from here, by which two men were killed and twelve others received injuries which will prove fatal in at least four cases. The cause of the explosion was fire-damp. There were twentythree men in the pit. The first explosion occurred about 12:20 this afternoon and was a terrific shock, followed by two others in quick succession. The first explosion caused the death of two men and injured three. The rest ran toward the mouth of the pit, but before they’reached it the other explosion occurred. The lights were blown out, the dust blinded the men, and the passageways were blocked up, cutting off all escape. The pit was on fire and a horrible death awaited the imprisoned miners. Nine of them, who had been working in another entry, managed to make their way out before the mouth of the pit was choked up. The violence of the shock can be imagined, as it forced the men in Morrill, Calvin «t Wheeler’s mines, adjoining, to drop their tools and rush panic-stricken to the top. The ground rolled and quaked so that many fell down, and three in the Morrill mine were violently thrown against the walls and seriously injured. Everybody rushed toward the Uniondale mine. Columbus Shay, of the Works, and James Henderson, of the Calvin Mines, headed a rescuing party and went to work with picks and shovels to force an entrance. In a few moments an opening was made and several rushed forward to enter the mine, but were repelled by a volume of flame. It took several minutes for the smoke and fire to clear away. The cries of pain and moans of the injured were pitiful. They were lying in every direction, buried under masses of debris. Several of them were horribly burned. Twelve of them were found in a dying condition; two others were dead, mangled almost into an unrecognizable mass. It is the opinion here that if a fire boss had been employed the explosion might not have occurred. The experts say that gas will generate in the mines when least ex--pected. The last disaster of this’kind in this region occurred at the Youngstown mine in October, 1884, when fourteen people were killed. In February of the same year nineteen men were killed by a firedamp explosion in Leisening mine, ndar here.