Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 March 1894 — BURIED IN A COAL PIT [ARTICLE]

BURIED IN A COAL PIT

thirteen men probably dead IN A MINE. Workmen Had Gone Into Old Working* to Make Repair* and Were Suddenly Overwhelmed—Moat of the Victims Had Wives and Children. Result of a Bls Cave-ln. Plymouth, Pa., was Tuesday the scene of the worst mine accident that has occurred in the anthracite region in eight years. In Lecember, 1885, twenty-two men perished in No. 1 mine in Nanticoke by a cave-in. Thirteen men mot thqir death in the same manner in Gaylord slope in the Kingston Coal Company’s mine Tuesday morning. Tho men, who were all expert miners, entered the mine to prop up tho roof, which was falling in. It was dangerous work, but big wages were offered, and in these slack times there wei e plenty men of who were willing to take the risk. In propping the roof timbers about four feet in length are used. Tho mon had just begun work when a terrific crash was heard. In an instant tho men must have scattered like rats, but they wore too late. Tho roof covering an area of 500 yards had crashed in. Tho supposition is that tho men were caught in the fall and mangled out of recognition. At first there was great hope that they might be alive, but there is little now. This hope is based on tho fact that tho roof where the mon wore at work is still intact ar.d that they aro hemmed in by the debris which fell on all sides of them. But even if they did eacaiie injury tho chances aro that they will nover be rescued alive and starvation must bo their fata. Immediately alter the disaster occurred a rescuing party mado up of expert miners was organize! and they descended tho shaft at once. In tho face of death the rescuers worked n< bly to clear tho main gangway in ordor to mako a passageway to reach tho spot whore the thirteen men were at work. Every minute the noise of falling rock could bo heard throughout tho mine, but the rescuers kept bravely at work. Shortly before noon a loud, rumbling noise was heard and another big section of tho roof caved in right in front of tho rescuers. The latter wore thou compelled to fioe for their lives. The Gaylord mine, where the accident occurred, has not boon operated for years. The old pillars supporting the roof had become weakened. This caused tho surface to press down, and when tho rock and coal overhead was disturbed the least It began to “squeeze" and then finally fall In. The accident makes eleven widows and thirty-one orphans. Inside Superintendent Picton, whose son was in charge of tho missing party, says he will not give up hope until tho dead bodies aro brought out.