Shamokin, PA Richards Mine Accident, Jul 1898

MINERS' AWFUL FATE

Buried for Seven Hours Under Hundreds of Tons of Coal

Special to The Inquirer.

SHAMOKIN, July 7.---Joseph Gilger and Peter Miller were caught by a heavy fall of coal at the Richards mine to-day, and while the latter escaped injury by jumping into a man hole, Gilger was twisted into awful shaped without sustaining any broken bones. Gilger was pressed against the timber at the bottom of the breast and buried beneath hundreds of tons of coal and rock.

I was seven hours before rescuers could release Gilger from his perilous position, and then he was found with his right foot pressed against his face while the sole of his left foot was twisted about so that it rested on the small of his back. He urged his rescuers to hasten his release and talked freely while being taken to his home.

Just as he was helped into the presence of his wife, however, he expired from internal injuries that he had sustained.

The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA 8 Jul 1898
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Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!