FRIGHTFUL EXPLOSION.

MANY MINERS HURT IN PENNSYLVANIA.

Wilkesbarre, Pa., December 14. -- A frightful explosion of gas took place this morning in the Mill Creek mine, operated by the Delaware and Hudson coal company, at Plains, a few miles from this city. At the time of the accident there were about one hundred miners, laborers and boys in the slope. The news spread quickly and the entire population soon seemed to have gathered about the colliery.
The explosion occurred in what is known as No. 12 drift, which is located at the extreme end of the opening of the slope, being four thousand feet from the mouth, and there fore its ventilation was a difficult problem. The gas had ignited in a breast where a miner named COFFY was at work. An exploring party of about twenty miners entered the slope as soon as the news of the disaster reached the surface. It was quickly discovered that many of the men were burned and the explorers at once began removing them. Among those seriously injured were:
GEORGE MARTIN, miner.
JOHN CLEASBY, laborer.
NICHOLAS GRAY, driver.
P. COFFY, miner.
S. MORRIS, laborer.
JOSEPH PARDUSKI, driver.
PETER STONE, laborer.
Subsequent to his removal from the slope MARTIN died from the effects of his injuries. Many others were slightly injured by flying pieces of coal and wood, and by being violently thrown against the pillars of coal.
The explosion could not have been avoided. Rain has been falling in this vicinity for the past twenty-four hours, and under such a heavy atmosphere the gas is generally more rapidly generated in the mines and slopes than during pleasant weather.

Daily Index-Appeal Petersburg Virginia 1885-12-15
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!