Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2016 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== The Pentwater (Michigan) News Friday, October 7, 1898 KILLED BY FIRE DAMP Fifty-four men were entombed in the Umpire mine at Snowden, Gould & Co., one-fourth of a mile below Brownsville, Pa., by an explosion of gas. Immediately following the explosion of gas there was a second explosion of fire damp. There were 140 men in the mine at the time of the explosion, work having been begun for the day a short time previous. Of these fifty-eight were in entries No. 9 and No. 10. Five men, JACOBS, DAVIS, WHETZELL, WALKER and a Hungarian, were near the mouth of the entries. The others were far in. When the explosion came these men made a rush for the main heading, which they succeeded in reaching, though all were more or less injured. They finally crawled out to the open air. Fifty-eight men were in entries 9 and 10. Intelligence of the disaster soon spread and crowds gathered around the mouth of the mine. Terrible scenes of grief and horror were pre- sented. Wives and children of the entombed men were frantic with grief and their shrieks and wails were frightful to hear. Notwithstanding the great danger, the rescuing parties worked bravely, and several dead bodies were taken out. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Cranbury (New Jersey) Press Friday, September 30, 1898 MANY MINERS ENTOMBED Fatal Explosions of Coal Gas and Fire Damp Near Brownsville, Penna. EIGHT MEET SUDDEN DEATH. Six Scores In Peril - They Escaped, Injured and Nearly Choked by the Fire Damp - Walked Four Miles Underground to Safety - Wild Scenes at the Mouth of the Shaft - Loose Coal Causes Accident. BROWNSVILLE, Penna. (Special).-- Seventy men were entombed Friday in the Empire [*Umpire] Mine of Snowdon, Gould & Co., one fourth of a mile below town, as the result of an explosion of gas, fol- lowed by another explosion of fire damp. Of the number entombed, all escaped or were taken out by rescuing parties, except eight, who were killed outright, and three who were more or less hurt. The list of the dead includes JOHN HALSTON, SALEM HALSTON, ROBERT DAVIDSON, JOHN BENNETT, WILLIAM PRITCHARD, HENRY HAGAR, JOHN CARTWRIGHT and JAMES HALL. The following were injured: GEORGE BAKER, JOHN BAKER and SAMUEL McINTYRE. The explosion is said to have been caused by the loosening of a large block of coal which opened a pocket of gas. Immediately following the explosion of gas there was a second explosion of fire damp. There were seventy men at work in the mine at the time of the disaster. When the mine was reached willing hands at once went to work. Everybody seemed to want to go into the mine, it was by sheer force that those in charge at the entry kept the crowd out. It was announced that there was a sufficient force of men inside to do rescue work, but a weary and painful wait of hours took place. Just above the entrance to the mine there is an artificial plateau. From the edge of the plateau a good view of the track leading to the mine could be had. Here women stood wringing their hands in anguish and weeping. The hundreds of people realized that they stood at the entrance of living tombs. It was several hours later that the tingle of the electric bell in the engine house announced that a train of coal cars was coming from within. The scene of the disaster is more than a mile from the entry. It took about ten minutes for the first load to reach the outside world. When the little train of cars emerged, a shudder was visible in the crowd. First there came two cars loaded with coal. Then three cars in each of which there were two bodies. In one there were two brothers, side by side, JOHN and SALEM HALSTON. In the others were ROBERT DAVIDSON and JOHN BENNETT, WILLIAM PRITCHARD and JOHN CARTWRIGHT. JAMES HALL was in the last car. Wagons were in waiting, and the bodies were taken to under- taking establishments. When the bodies were brought up from the mines they presented a ghastly appearance. After the first lot of bodies had been brought out the excitement and anxiety grew more intense. It was announced that many men had come out of the mine through an abandoned entry nearly three miles distant. This allayed the fears of many, and as fast as the men were accounted for to their friends and families rejoicings and congratulations followed. ==========================================================================