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Jl 1' AS EXl’LOSIOK AT TOCAItOSTA tAtari v Oik; Hundred *ud i’lfty Mine Believed to Have Jfeeu Milled—A !■ ,11 ut Hated Bodle* Uncovered—Hear lending' SiS**1* tt“‘1 Scenes.Western llailroad Company in this city, that an explosion had occurred in one of the mines of the Southwest Virginia Improvement company at Pocahontas, in Tazewell county, and that all those in the mine, numbering between 100 and 150,had been killed.number of safety lamps to be forwarded at once. The wires were at once put into requisition to obtain fullest particulars, but owing to the fact that Pocahontas is nothing but a mining camp and but few persons live there except those officially connected with the management of the mines, it was found difficult to get any one who had either time or inclination to iurulsh the sired details. After considerable delay the following special dispatches were received: Pocahontas, Va., March 15.—A terrible explosion occurred in the coal mines here at 12:50 this morning, and from 125 to 150 miners were killed. The accident took place in what is known as “Plat Top” mine, and is supposed to have been caused by fire damp, its force was so terrific us to blow off the entire top of the mountain, lifting the immense mass of rock which then settled back and filled up all the tunnels. All of the night force except the engineers and superintendents in charge of the miners wore in the mine at .the time, and it is feared that none will be taken out alive, as those who were not killed on the spot by the terrible shock have been most likely suffocated by the afterdamp. As soou as the news of the disaster spread in the village, thu wives, children and other relatives of the unfortunate miners Hocked to the mouth of the mine entrance and the scene which ensued beggars description. Cries and waitings mid prayers for help to those upon whom they depended, rent the air. It was a sight to move the stoutest hearts, and while those who were spared this terrible visitation may have thanked God for their safety, their eyes were wet with tears at the misery of the poor creatures who surrounded them. Of course all these fumilies had only the labor of the miners to depend upon, imd the destitution engendered by this sudden tragedy will be widespread and awful in its possible consequences.”The following is from Sir. It. W. Jacobs, shipping agent of the Norfolk and 'Western railroad company at Pocahontas: Pocahontas, March 15.—Editor Jndex-Appral: A terrific explosion occurred at 1 o’clock this morning. All in the mines, about 150, were killed. Explorers have made several attempts to enter, but up to now (8 o’clock) have not been able to go any distance on account of the afterdamp. They will make another attempt tonight.It. W. Jacobs. Pocahontas, March 15—8:50 P. Jl.— The prospects for rescuing any of the victims of the explosion are Tory discouraging indeed, as the whole mine is on fire, and the outlook for its extinction is anything hutbody. About thirty-five Hungarians arc among the killed us they are missing today. A great many colored men are among tho victims. Everybody here is beginning to fed the effect of the mental and physical strain that they have endured siuce morniug.KeguJar Press Dlspatcfies.Wheeling, W. Va., March 13.- A report just received here states that a terrible mine disaster has occurred in Pocahontas, and that over 100 lives have been lost. The dispatch, which is brief, says that while a largo numbor of miners were at. work in the mine au explosion took place, and that nearly nil those in Hie nil bare perished-hopeful.Very Xniiest A'esvs.Ltnchbubg, Va., March 15.—The latest from Pocahontas is a telegram tonight from: a official of the mining ^company winch was received at midnight and reads us .follows: ‘ ‘All Pocahontas hud retired before midnight and had only slumbered au hour or two when they were startled from their sleep by a report that sounded like a mixture between the rumblings of an earthquake and th under claps. Soon a messenger came from the mines, three quarters af a mile away, with the information to the superintendent that there had been a terrible and awful explosion in the mines. 1 was notified by the superintendent of the fact, and in company with him and others repaired to the place, and the scene that greeted my view was both indescribable and awful. Neither words nor telegram can suffice to convey an idea of the destruction that was wrought in a few short seconds. Signs of it were visible before we were h:ilf way on our walk. Everything was covered with a fine dust similar to lump black and the face or entrance of the main drift was entirely torn out, scattered pell rnell for hundreds of feet, the little train track torn and twisted and pc-less timber and ties mixing in confusion all around. Cars were taken up badly torn in part and their irons and wheels, broken and shivered, were hurled three or four hundred feet away. The ridgo and timber on the ridge opposite this drift a blackened picture to the summit GOO feet away. Searching parties found a pair of shoes and a handkerchief near the summit blown from some poor unfortunate body. A mule’s shoes were found at tho same place twisted hi indis-cribable shape, as also was found part from coat, in which was a padlock, belonging doubtless to some poor workman's tool box. inssed on the second entrance, or air The appearance was similar to the former. There was a family of Hungarians. Edward Glsissee and wife, living in about Mb feet from the entrance. The bouse was .shivered almost to atoms, and tho floor and furniture were left entirely bare. Fortunately Glasee and wife escaped injury. We d to the fan tunnel, at the entrance of which was tho largo ventilator moved by a Tauner-Delany company engine. This fan, with the house around it, was swept entirely away, leaving the engine .standing on ; its foundation with the fly-wheel broken in j two chunks, and the steam pipes ■ twisted and forced out. Dirt and rock iweTu thrown through the machine shopLater details are awaited with anxiety. The destruction is terrible and complete.Ltxcbbuko, Va., March 13.—A special dispatch from Pocahontas, thu scene of thu mine explosion this morning, says that tho work of destruction in the coal mines was horrible and complete. There were lib men in the mines at the time of the explosion, not one of whom is believed to have escaped. Those who were not killed outright by the terrible force of the explosion most likely perished from tho afterdamp. A large crowd of people ure congregated in the vicinity of the mine, and willing hands are at work endeavoring to recover the bodies. Already twelve bodies have been recovered, but owing to the difficulties encountered in reaching the chambers where the victims arc confined, hut slow progress can be made.Lvncuuuiig, Va.,March 13.—The following telegram was received here tbis morning about 1 o’clock :Pocahontas, March 13.—A terrible explosion occurred here at 12:30 o’clock this morning, und from 125 to 150 minors are killed.” 'Immediate steps were taken by the railroad authorities to inaugurate a plan of assistance such as the meagre means and the mind couid suggest.10 O’clock.'—We learn that the explosion ocurredfrom fire damp atl2:30 last night,and that thu top of the mountain, “FiatTop,” was blown off. It is estimated that at least one hundred and fifty men wero working in the mine, and it is supposed that all are killed. Buck news as cun he obtained indicates that the destruction to life and property is hull O’clock A. M.—It was 10 o’clock before such arrangements as were deemed necessary were made, and at that hour a •special train with a couple of doctors, assistant railroad officers, and men left the union depot fur Pocahontas, expecting to make the through run by seven o’clock.2 P.M.—It is reported that a rescuing party have found eight bodies at the mouth of one of the entrances to the mine literally tom to pieces. All reports indicate that the explosion was indescribably terrific in its force. The train from the west this afternoon brought no further particulars. The entire night force, numbering over 150 miners, were in the mines, and from the nature of the expiosion it is thought all were killed. The explosion, so far as any news of it has been received, spent its force upward, lifting the immense mass of the mountain above, which settled hack into the tunnel immediately after. Except the engip^'STiml^iperimeudehtsnr^AliargcTafthe force all the mc-n were killed. They are poor and have generally large and dependent families, and if thejdestmction of life is as great as reported, the suffering entailed will be wide-spread. A largo party of ex-perieiioed miners from the coal fields near Farmville, on the liickmond and Danville railroad, will go through this city this evening to rescue those miners at Pocahontas who may possibly be still alive in the mines.‘J P. M.—Latest.“Intelligence received indicates that there is a very poor show of rescuing any of the unfortunate victims, as the whole mine is on fire, and there seems in be poor prospect for extinguishing it.Ull S’EXCCSJE, SMCCUSE.A I’reuch Proverb Particular!}* Applicable to Bismarck.and every object that stood in tin di-Beblin, March 13.—Prince Bismarck appeared in the reickstag today and made a speech in justification of the course he had pursued in refusing to transmit the Lasker resolution to the reickstag. He said that he had recognized tho good intentions of the American congress, but he was unable to harness himself to the car of the opposition.Prince Bismarck continued, saying: “I should have refrained from mentioning this matter except for tho manner in which the reickstag has discussed, and for the charge of interference made by Herr Ftiekter. The relations of Germany with America have ul-lys been good. The government, has constantly tried to cultivate them. Ever since. 1 have- been minister the relations of the two countries have been satisfactory*. After the with Austria hi 18(15, and again after the Franeo-Prussian war, America gave numerous proofs of sympathy, not only with the prosperity of the empire, but also with the person of the chancellor.Berlin. March 13.—The newspapers accuse Minister Sargeut of intimacy with Herr Bunsen, au enemy of Prince Bismarck. Tho members of the diplomatic, corps are indignant at tin' brutal attacks which the press has Ihksi making upon Mr. Sargent.rcct course of the forced air is black' land dirty. Two blacksmiths who were work-[ ing in a shop adjacent were injured : one iias : a broken rib, another a cut arm. The shop j is in ruins and the locomotive house is on a : level with the ground. Of tho one hundred j and twenty men. or more, who went into j the mines not one has returned at die pi'es-; eut hour (midnight) to tell the fate of bis I companions, for there cannot be a possi-j baity or probability that there is a living I soul within that now silent place. Allure j dead without, a doubt. A party ventured a ! short distance into the mine drift this morn-j ing. and returned, reporting seteral dead j j bodies horribly mangled, and not rccog-! nizable. He thought that one from its | | shape and size, was the body of tlio night i | foreman, M. L. Hampton, who leaves a wife I . and seven children to mourn bis untimely I ' and awful end. After much sulTer-| ing and sickness, the carpenter* and I| laborers succeeded in erecting a fan. i ; They could only work a short while Ij when they would have to grio back ji and allow others to take their places. The j j smell from the mine wils sickening and suf- i I fowling. We hope to begin the removal of j j the bodies sometime tonight. Boxes to con- j j tain the remains are in the course of con- j | struetion in the. shops. The cause of the! explosion is surmised to have been lire! ! damp, but it seems strange that a horizontal I j vein of coal above water level should | i contain such explosive gases. The church i I here is draped in mourning, and we I go a)anil talking in low voices, Allis! sadness and sbrrow and business is closed. Wo thought it inexpedient to call the roll to ascertain the missing, and it is not likely | that wo will he aide to identify a single 1Washington. March 13.— It is stated jure that there will be a democratic caucus called ill a few days to take action on the tariff question. Tbf fall lias not vet been issued, but that, this course bus been decoded upon is definitely understood. The tariff reformers. it is unders-te*i. have been induced to resort to this course by tie: knowledge that unless they were bound by some party action, a large' number of tie' proteetionist democrats would feel at liberty to vote uu tlie question as they chose, and would join tile republicans to defeat the Morrison bill.It is (htjiigb! by many that Mr. lvandall and bis fri'uuls will not go into the caucus, and will declare themselves not bound by its action. Tbis would be looked on as a direct revolt, aud would probably result in h violent rupture in the party.The lawiker llBttrr.Washington. March 13.—This afternoon a United Press reporter talked witli the members of the sub-eoinmitto.e of the house committee on foreign affairs, to whom tho Lasker matter was referred. The sub-committee will report its action to the full committee tomorrow. While there is a reasonable reticence in every quarter on the matter. it is the impression that a conservative action will he tak'-n by tie committee and! that a resolution expressing regret, or sur-1 prise at Bis'.iiai, i. s. refusal to .accept the 1olutiothat wliato'ported, in the belief i rejwirted from the dorsed by the house r consideration.12:5(1' place :The Omaha Exes Islam 1 road at miles west of thisslue- train. ■mi fr.■ache.filled with passer:-is. I was seriously hurt, fie over end to end and | d only the engine baggage ear escaped.iy u miracle none.11* were turned \lp all shapes,* mikingand
Newspaper Details
Daily Index Appeal
Petersburg, Virginia, US
Fri, Mar 14, 1884
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Rachel B.
USA 25 Sep 2024
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