Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 December 1902 — DROPPED THE DYNAMITE [ARTICLE]

DROPPED THE DYNAMITE

Careless Miner Lets Fell e Box Containing Fifty Founds of the Explosive. Wilkesbnrre, Pa., Dec. 10.—Four men were killed and ten injured, three probubly fatally, by the explosion of a box of dynamite In No. 5 mine of the Lehigh and Wilkesbnrre Coal company at South WUkesbarre. The names of the killed are: Robert Humblebee, carpenter, aged 55, married; Arihiir Jones, company hand, aged 28. single; Matthew Phillips, miner, aged 30. married; James McGlynn, laborer, nged, married. The fatally injured are: George Knurr, Charles Stafford and Thomas Evans. The most seriously Injured are: Neil Sweeney, John ltustiu, * Dominick Hart and James IVekems. The men had lowered into the shaft, which Is 111) feet deep a box of dynamite weighing fifty pounds. When the bottom of the shaft was reached Phillips took the box off the carriage. It slipped from Ids hands and fell to the ground. The concussion exploded the dynamite* and the twenty men who were in the immediate vicinity getting their tools In readiness to go to their respective chambers were hurled in all directions. The woodwork at the bottom of the shaft was also torn and scattered about. As soon as possible word was sent to the surface and a rescuing party was sent down.