Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 September 1869 — Diaries of Dying Men—Revelations from a Coal Mine. [ARTICLE]

Diaries of Dying Men—Revelations from a Coal Mine.

The JVert/i German Correspondent says: The opinion that the unfortunate miners in tljo Burg colliery were air immediately killed by the explosion proves incorrect, in the note book of the miner Baer the following entry has been found: “This Is the last place where we have taken refiige. J have given up all hope because the ventilation in the Segongottes shaft and the Hoffnungs abaft has been destroyed in three separate places. May God take myself and my relations and dear friends who must die with me, as well as onr families, under his protection. “Ernst Baer." In the Hoffhungs shaft, too, the following words have been found: “Janetz died. Richter left his family to God.” And again: "Farewell, dear wife! Farewell, dear children I May God keep you. “ Gottleib Heimann.” And lastly: “ Farewell, dear wife and children! I did not think it would end so. Obermann.” One of the name of Schmidt had pinned a-{Japer with the following words to the breast,Of his blouse :“ My dear relations, while seeing death before me, I remember you. Farewell till we meet again in happiness. The rest I must leave to you. Between 9 and 10 o’clock.” On the other side were the wordsj, “Dear wife, take ♦><)d care of Mary, fn a book in the bedroom you will 'find a "thaler. Farewell, deaf inothef and Misters, till we meet again.” All must have been over about 10 o’clock on the 2d. ;(>u - the 10th, two hundred and thirty-six bodies had been recovered. By Tar the greater part must have died suddenly., -The great grave was then closed, as soine time will probably elapse before the rest are recovered, on account of the masses of earth that obstruct the way. The rest will be btiried separately. Incalculable misery has been caused by this learlulaeeident.