Tank's Poetry
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united states mine rescue association
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Tank's Poetry |
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About one hundred and fifty men who were at work mining, some distance from the place of the accident, escaped -- but horrible to relate, fifteen persons, who were at work propping up the mines, were either crushed instantly or are walled in without any hope of becoming rescued, as it will take weeks to remove the immense mass of slate which has fallen in; and yet, if alive, will be compelled to die one of the most horrible of all deaths -- that of starvation. We have been furnished with the names of the missing persons -- four of whom have families. The deceased:
One of the fifteen above mentioned, however, has been fortunate enough to escape uninjured, after an incarceration of forty eight hours. Mr. John Hosey, the one alluded to, was formerly a resident of New York, and has been for some time an overseer in the mines. The following letter, copied from the Courier & Enquirer, details the method by which he escaped: Carbondale, Jan. 14, 1846. There appears to be from 12 to 15 acres of the roof to have settled down by crushing the pillars and props. It is but one mile from the mouth or entrance and cross Nos. 1 and 2 roads. Some rock have fallen into No. 3, but to no great extent. Mr. Hosey says he was in No. 2, and the crash came instantly. The roof came down upon him, and closed up within three feet, resting upon the crushed pillars. He remained quiet and pent up in the dark until the roof had done settling. He then worked his way by moving the lose coals, until he got to the heading of chamber No. 2. He then found a spring that had been let in by the breaking of the roof, where he got water to drink. He then worked his way through the chamber to the head of No. 1 road, and found it closed, and also the air shaft at that place. He then crept back to the place where he was first caught, so as to be found on the main road, if he could not get out. After considering the locality of the other roads, he made the attempt to work his way through the column to No. 3, and persevered until he got through into that road, and then got out without difficulty. Mr. Hosey has not seen or heard of any of the fourteen men that are now missing. He was alone. He says those men were near the place No. 1, and are shut in, either dead or alive, at the head of that place. Energetic efforts are being made to reach them, but it is not probable they can be got out alive. They were laborers, engaged in heaping, and not acquainted with the means of getting out like the miners, even if they could move at all. Mr. Hosey owes his escape solely to his cool and deliberate judgement, and to his knowledge of the interior of the mines. The rush of air was so great out of No. 1, that the wagons were broken to fragments -- the wheels and axles even were crushed by being dashed against the pillars and along the road. About one third of the daily supply of coal came from these two roads. We cannot tell whether the accident will effect the quantity of coal contemplated for this year. We hope to resume work by the 1st of March. |
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