Excerpts from the "Miner's Journal"
Newspaper - mid 1800's
MESSRS. EDS.: -- We have been visited this week by
dire calamities. On Monday afternoon a fire damp explosion took place in the mines of Mr.
Repplier, near this place, by which five men were burnt, but happily not very dangerously.
On the same day a man, named Thomas Jones, was killed in Mr. McGinnes’s slope, below
this town, and another man had his leg broken. The accident was caused by a break of the
chain while hoisting a loaded car.
In Synder’s mines a man (name unknown) was injured by
a fall of Coal, on Tuesday last.
On Monday night the breaker owned by Mr. Repplier was
burnt, which you have already noticed in the Journal.
On Wednesday a fire damp explosion took place in Mr.
Milnes’s mines, by which one man was badly burnt.
The citizens of this place are rejoiced to see the new
slope of Messrs. William Milnes, Jr. and Company, which had been idle for some time, go
into operation again. This happened on Thursday, 14th last.
A queer marriage took place in the Borough on Thursday
evening, February 7th. A young man (?) of 30 was married to a girl of 14. The
circumstances are these: -- The father of the girl gave her $200, go and get married with,
giving her the choice of three men. She chose one; he wouldn’t marry her; she chose
another, and he accepted; and on the above date they were wedded. Who can beat this? It is
romance in real life.
A fire damp explosion took place in Kirk & Baum’s
shaft at St. Clair, on Friday morning, (to-day,) by which Ed Andrews, Joseph Hughes, and
four other men were burnt. This is the first serious accident that occurred at the shaft
for a long time.
Hector
St. Clair, February 15, 1861
MESSRS. EDITORS:
-- On Saturday morning last, a horrible accident occurred in Milne’s slope at
this place, by which one man was killed. The particulars are as follows: Three men were
working in the above slope and upon coupling a loaded car to an empty on previous to
hoisting, they neglected to secure the coupling on one side. After the cars had been
hoisted about 300 yards up the slope the loaded one broke loose and running back with
great velocity caught a laborer named Edward Larkin, who was sitting below, and literally
cut him to pieces. His head was cut off and his body mashed almost into a jelly. His heart
was found about three yards from his body.
On the succeeding night there was a wake at the
deceased’s home at which a man named Downing (also an Irishman) was present. He got a
little too much of the "oh, be joyful" during the night. He went home in the
morning (he lived in the same bloc) and upon going to bed it seems kept his pipe lit to
have a "bit of a smoke". (?) long the bed caught fire, but he was unconscious of
it. There being no air in the room, no flames broke out, and when the occurrence was
discovered, Downing was already so much smothered, that his life was despaired of. He was
taken out and fire was extinguished before much damage was done to the building. Downing
lingered till Sunday evening, when he went the way of all things earthly. The building
belonged to Mr. J. W. Cake, and I understand, was insured.
Hector
St. Clair, April 2, 1861
EVENING CHRONICLE
Wednesday, May 9,
1877
ALMOST AN
AVONDALE
Fire Damp Explosion at Wadesville!
Six Miners Burned to Death -- Six Others Badly
Injured -- Heart rending Scents -- Names of Dead and Wounded.
One of those terrible and heartrending accidents which are
so common to the coal region, occurred this morning at the 'Wadesville, or hickory Shaft,
situate about three miles from Pottsville. As soon as the news reached town, a
CHRONICLE reporter, with at telegraph operator, was dispatched to the scene of the
disaster and the particulars of the explosion were wired to us as rapidly as they could be
ascertained. The following is our report as received:
This morning about half-past 9 o'clock a fearful explosion
of fire damp occurred at Wadesville Shaft, near Pottsville. How it happened is not
as yet known, but is supposed there was a large fall of coal, which had been idle some
time past, and this becoming ignited from the lamps of the men, caused the explosion, John
Durkin, residing Saint Clair, was instantly killed by one of the flying timbers which were
hurled around by the shock. He leaves a wife and one child. William Kirk,
living in the same place, was also killed. He leaves a wife and three
children. Thomas Connors, Joseph Milward, Herbert Moore and Benjamin Mosely were
penned in by a strong barricade of the fallen coal. All the available miners were
immediately set to work to rescue them, if possible, but the air was so impregnated that
it was impossible for them to work more than a minute or two at a time. All of them
have now been taken out dead. They must have been literally roasted, as their bodies, upon
their arrival at the top of the shaft, presented a sickening sight, with their clothing
burned from their bodies, their hair from their heads and the flesh hanging in shreds from
their bodies. Connors is a newly married man, Milward was unmarried, Mosely was
married but leaves no children, and Moore leaves a wife and seven small children.
Besides these who were killed were a number badly burned, viz: John Reese, John
Gieavey, Patrick Gibbons, Dennis Brennan, John McAtee, and Abraham Jones. Most of
them are young and unmarried.
the scene is the vicinity of the shaft beggars
description. As each cage comes up to the scene of the shaft the women rush forward
to see if any of their husbands, brothers or sons are among the number killed or
injured. The mouth of the shaft is crowded with a throng of men, women, and
children, and when one of their relations comes up from the mine injured, or perhaps
killed, it is indeed heartrending to witness their tears and hear their cries of distress.
The news of the explosion spread like wildfire and as all
the people living in the vicinity of the shaft have relations working there, they
immediately rushed pell mell to the mouth of the shaft. For a long time it was
impossible to learn anything definite and the anxiety of the watchers cannot be described.
When anyone came out of the shaft they anxiously gathered around to learn, if possible,
some particulars. Each breath of air brought with it some rumor which was distorted
to suit the fancy of the excited brains of the persons gathered around. The wildest
imaginable rumors prevailed, and many persons predicted a second Avondale disaster, but
happily although the loss of life was terrible it did not equal that of Avondale.
MESSRS. EDS.: -- We have been visited this week by dire
calamities. On Monday afternoon a fire damp explosion took place in the mines of Mr.
Repplier, near this place, by which five men were burnt, but happily not very dangerously.
On the same day a man, named Thomas Jones, was killed in Mr. McGinnes’s slope, below
this town, and another man had his leg broken. The accident was caused by a break of the
chain while hoisting a loaded car.
In Synder’s mines a man (name unknown) was injured by
a fall of Coal, on Tuesday last.
On Monday night the breaker owned by Mr. Repplier was
burnt, which you have already noticed in the Journal.
On Wednesday a fire damp explosion took place in Mr.
Milnes’s mines, by which one man was badly burnt.
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