Rensselaer Republican, Volume 28, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 December 1896 — DIE IN A MINE SHAFT [ARTICLE]

DIE IN A MINE SHAFT

AWFUL DISASTER AT PRINCETON, 1 INDIANA. Six Miners Killed Outright and Eight Injured, of Whom Some Will Die—--Bnperintendeilt of the M ine One of the Victims. p ’ ' ..T . Death in the Blast. As a result of a gas explosion in the mine of the-. Maule Coal Company at Princeton, Ind., Saturday six men were killed-and eight badly injured,; one of whom will doubtless die. The dead are: John Ernest, married;. Theodore Fabye, blacksmith, married; John Holmes, married; Robert Maule, married, treasurer and general superintendent of the Maule Coal Company; Carl Poneylight, single, of Belleyille, III; James Ryan, married. The injured are: Will Booker, will die; James Davis; William D. Grills, will recover; Tom Price, will recover; Frank Turbie, Will die. David Nolan and James Turner,, supposed to have been killed with the others, were rescued alive, as were Arthur Colgate and James Kruse. • 4 Awful Explosion Comes. About twenty men were ail at work in the mine, clearing up the debris resulting from a recent explosion, when no one was injured. Suddenly there was a flash, followed by a blinding explosion. The smoke and gas came rushing, from the mouth of the mine, and the’.alarm .was. at. once given. The scene around the shaft tvas a pitiful one, the, wives, children and relatives of the men below shrieking and wringing their hands in anguish. Escape bv a Miracle. ‘The escape of four of the men from instant death seems nlnlpst a miracle when it is 'considered .that--the'heavy mine cages were blown from the shaft bottom to tine top of the mineliouse, over 500 feet above, by the force of the explosion. These cages were wrecked, so an-iron bucket was improvised for a rescuing party as soon as possible after the accid'ent. * The first persons brought up we»e Turbie,Grill and two colored men, Davis :yyU Booker. The first was biully burned aryl was carried to an ambulance. Grill and Davis were apparently uninjured, and walked off, saying they were all right. Brookor was cut and burned and had to bo supported. AfWfi-Ward it was found his jaw was broken and one eye was Jorn from its socket. All were given medical attention by a corps of physicians. Then the resdydg party began to bring up the dead. State Mine- 0 Inspector Fisher will investigate the matter. None of the rescued men call explain the circumstances that led up to the explosion. ' .; #