Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1891 — OVER 100 WERE KILLED [ARTICLE]

OVER 100 WERE KILLED

PENNSYLVANIA MINERS SUFFER INSTANT ANNIHILATION. Not a Man Escaped—Fire Damp the Awful Agent—A Carload of Coffins Needed — Appeal lor Help—Terrific Scenes at the Mine. , [Youngwood (Pa.) dispatch.] By au explosion of gas at Mtmmoth Mines No. 1, 110 men were killed. Sixtyfive bodies wore recovered. The mine is on fire, and it is believed the unfortunate dead will be cremated before it is possible to reach them. An army of men is at work in the pit endeavoring to stay the tire and recover, the dead bodies. They are making little headway, however. A car-load of coffins was received this evening. One hundred and ten men were employed in that part of the mine in which the explosion occurred, and not one was left to tell the story of the disaster. Not more than fifty men were killed by the explosion. The others were overcome by the after-damp. While some of the bodies were horribly burned, torn, and mutilated, others were found with their teeth clinched on the iron rail of the pit road. Othei'3 were found with their faces plunged into the water. Not a few knelt as if in prayer when their untimely end came. Fire-boss, Sneath was identified only by his gum-boots. He must have been nearest the explosion. His body was scattered about in dozens of pieces. His head was pulled from his shoulders. Both his legs were torn off. His clothing was ripped into shreds. That part of his body recovered was roasted and blackened. His mutilated body wa3 found where the explosion is supposed to have occurred. His safety lamp was shattered into- numberless pieces. His left hand clutching his lamp was found over one hundred feet from the trunk of his body, and one of his gum-boots was found fifty yards away. One of his feet with part of the leg attached was picked up. When the parts of his body were collected and sent in a sheet to the pit mouth they were identified by an engineer who recognized the gum-boots. All the officials of the Fricke Coke Company are in the dark as to the cause of the explosion. Fire-Boss Sneath inspected the mine before work was begun this morning, and his written report, filed*few hours before be was killed, sets forth that the mine was safe at that time. When the volunteers entered the mine a sight impossible to picture met them. Bank cars, mules, and—more terrible than all—men were piled in a compact mass against the ribs or wails of coal, and not allying thing was in the wreckage. It was almost as solid as the coal itself, so terrific was the force of the explosion. This obstruction was removed with difficulty, and they entered a chamber of horrors. The first object they discovered after leaving the main entry was a gum boot. In it was the leg of a man. Farther on they found a human head, but nowhere in sight was the trunk that had borne it but a few minutes before. After walking a distance, surrounded by dangers unseen, but more terrible than can be imagined, they found the trunk. The ragged neck with the blood oozing from it told the story of the appalling disaster. Working their way in, the band found the bodies strewn along the gangway. Every man in the headings where the explosion occurred was killed. None were injured and lived. Dead bodies were brought up every few minutes, and the crowd at the shaft mouth simply fell back to allow the men carrying the stretchers room to pass. Every corpse was covered, and no one even ventured to inquire which body it was, for it was known that every one in that part of the mine at the time of tfce -explosion was dead. General Manager Lynch of the H. G PriCke Coke Company is on the scene helping to devise means to rescue the ■perished workmen. His assistance is invaluable, as he has many years’ experience in mining operations. The mammoth plant embraces 509 ovens, one of the largest plants in the coke regions, but it is hard of access. It is situated near the United Works, where an explosion recently destroyed the entire sltaft. The affair has cast a gloom over the entire coke region, and to-night hundreds of miners are flocking to tbe scene of the disaster offering assistance. The ■appalling loss of life in the Dunbar disaster is more than overshadowed by the destruction of life in this mummoth calamity. Language is too weak to describe the scenes at the mines. Horror is piled on horror. The news spread throughout the entire coke region and everybody was awe-stricken. The •only man who escaped was Mine Boss Eaton. Among those killed are John Beverage and J. Boles, formerly of this place. The former resided here for many .years .and was held in high esteem fry everybody. He was a roadman isa the shaft. Ex-Mjine Inspector Keighly, the Superintendent of the fatal shaft, is nearly distracted. It is a singular fact that misfortune seems to have followed him. His experience in the Hill Farm ■disaster resulted in his tendering has resignation as anino inspector. Master Workman Peter Wise addressed the following letter to the miners and •cokers of the -region to-night: To tbe Members s>! tbe Knights of Labor and Workingmen of the Coke Region: The sad news .erf a disastrous explosion at Mammoth mines has just reached me, and I fear many lamiilies have been left destitute. I therefore .appeal to you to promptly render What aid you .can to assist the families of yomr brethren who have teen killed. The Master Workman and committees at each works will kindly take the matter in band and act as a relief committee. Let the committee select a “ check member,” and each miner run as many wagons as he can «nder the circumstances contribute, and arrangements will be made with the companies to pay tbe amount, and thus prompt aid can bo gives. Drawers can adopt the same plan, and day men can contribute from their day’s work, and have tb4 same deducted in the office. This aid will be separated and apart from any public cos.trl but ions, and will be forwarded to district officers, who will apply it to the relief of those for whom it fe contributed. Petek Wise, District Master Workman. “How DO you like the new curate, Phyllis?" “Not very much. He preaches love Sunday morning then comes aiound m the afternoon to make it.” The cochineal insect is mostly known for its use as a dye, but it has also an additional value for relieving neuralgic pains and for checking the spasms of whooping-cough. Ix Texas now they track a korgethief on the hoss-trail-ian system.