The Butler Weekly Times Newspaper, April 4, 1888, Page 4

si eae Ba eM san i BUTLER WEEKLY TIMES J. D. ALLEN Eprrtor. J.D. Atten & Co., Proprietors, TERMS OF SUPSCRIPTION: TheWerkty Times, published every Wednesday, wil] be sent to any edaress ane year, postage paid, tor $1.25. BUTLER MISSOURI. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 1885, Twenty-Thtee Dead. Eecovering the Dead Boaies Amid Dis- tressing Scenes. Rescners Force an Entrance Into the West End. The Cause of the Explosion Still In- volved in Doubt. Arrival of the Ceroner and Proposed Official Action. Rich Hill. Mo., March 29.—A dis- astrous mine explosion took place here to-day in mine No. 6, of the Keith & Perry Coal company. About seventy men were at work in the mine this forenoon. The first ex plesion took place at 12:10 as the zen were leaving the works for din- mer, and after about fifteen had come up. The explosion was terriftic, the flames shooting out of the top of the 263-foot shaft. After the first explosion Superintendent Sweeney and assistants rescued about fifteen men, and were still at work when second explosion took place as te viffic as the first, severely injuring Superintendent Sweeney and the others. Superintendent Revealy of the Rich Hill Mining company is now in charge of the works and is doing all he can to assist the men in the mines, but there is little hopes of saving their lives. ALL IN THE MINE DEAD. Rich Hill, Mo., March 30.—It was slmost, 4 o'clock this morning when the full extent of the calamity was f&nown. At that hour five had been fiaken from the mine dead, fifteen alive and fourteen or fifteen were tmown to be still inthe mine. A final and desperate attempt was made to reach these, and it came very bear costing two or three of the would-be rescuers their lives. They were unable to accomplish any- thing, but they saw stretched out upon the bottom of the mine the «lead bodies of their comrades. It was then detinitely known that all who remained in the mine had been suffocated, and the exhausted crews suspended work until daylight. ‘The list of the dead, according to the best information that it is possi- ble to obtain, is as follows: THE DEAD. Charles Smith, colored, George May, white, G. C. McPherson, white, Frank Lawler, white, Jordan Smith, colored, Joshua Trickle, John Rob- erts, white, George Black colored, ©. Black, colored, W. Black, colored, -H. Sheppard, colored, J. C. Nep- ‘tune, white, John Leffler, white, Charles Kay, white, John Gray, white, Bruce Brown, white, L. R. Dixon, white, Fred Hender- son, colored. W. H. Hill, colored, Alexander White, colored, Gibson McFerron, white. Z Of the above Trimble and Rob- -erts died after having been rescued, and the fourteen last named are the amprisoned miners who were suffo- -cated in the west end. THE INJUBED. The injured are: N. B. Gray, Norman Gray, G. R. Sweeney, M. ~Wollahaunt, George Henry, Robert Dick, Charles Smallwood, C. J. Nep- tune, William Young, R. Mason, Frank Jackson, W. Richards, J. L. Williams, R. Fernando, C. W. Rob- erts, Arch Marshall, John Lucas, D Cc. Jones. The list includes Superintendent Sweeney and those who went down with him after the first explosion and were caught and burned in the ‘Second. Most of the injured were desperately hurt, Stwo having died to-day. > a SCENE OF THE DISASTER. The Keith & Perry coal company own two mines here known as Nos Sand 6. No. 5has been in ope tion three year: d is located a quarter of = mile from No. 6. Os. was opened only last September, to furnish the fi that the Rich Hill has ever experienced. when least expected | m i ¢ aa | | No | the first explosion, but the bes fatality or mishap has ever occurred | in it, and it was left for No. 6 which | more th real calamity | has mining district | and the number And it came | not been over 100. and when the | ple, the weigh-master, said that - rae er ere as ead those in condition ine was supposed by e to be im a better 1 it has ever been. The mine is located j miles from Rich Hill and is p tically isolated from telegraphic and telephonic communication. For th many miles around none but miners | : ide, and the scene of the fatality | is reached only with considerable | difficulty, the roads being in miser- | The depth of the | shaft is 235 feet from the ground | re: able condition. landing and 265 feet from the cage | landing. The mine extends on eith- er side of the opening east and west about 225 yards. It was in the west end that the terrible fatality took place. It is here also that the explosions occur- red and none on this side of the shaft escaped with their lives. Most of those in the eastern portion were saved. By retreating to the farther end they were able to get compara tively fresh air, and thus escaped suffocation. The mule stables were also in this portion of the mine, and although the animals were well toward the fresher air it is believed that they long since succumbed to suffocation. The east end could be entered with comparative safety by the rescuers, but to venture into the western portion was to court certain death. TAKING OUT THE BODIES. When the Times special train ar- rived at the ill-fated mine at 2:45 o'clock this morning, the scene was still one of excitement and suspense. One woman, whose son was buried in the fatal west end, was still sit ting near by on a lumber pile, where she had sat for hours, and even when it was announced that none in that portion of the mine could possibly be alive she refused to give up hope, and the dawn streaked the east before she and went wearily homeward. In the min huts in every direction could be seen the glimmer of lights where sorrowing people looked up- on their dead relatives or where patient and indefatigable watchers worked over the unconscious men who had been taken from the mine. Men were huddled here and there in groups and around the opening shaft was a scene of activity. In the faces of the men who worked there this morning was a settled look of determination and their final effort was a deed of heroism, for they boldly and unflinchingly risked their lives. At that hour only one dead body— that of Frank Lawler—had been ta ken from the mine. He hadattempt- ed to climb up the shaft soon after the first explosion, but fell back ex- hausted and perished. At 2:40 e’clock the bodies of Charles I Jordan Smith, brothers, and G. ¢ } McPherson were brought up. At 3 o'clock the fifth body, that of George May, was secured and all efforts to reach any more were fruit less until this afternoon. But there were no more, either dead or alive left in the west end, and atte t was then directed to the other portion, every attempt to euter which had been baftled. It was 3:30 o'clock when the — rescuing party determined to penetrate into that awful tomb if possible. RESCUERS ENTER THE MIX The six men who risked their lives in that effort were Dan White. Thos. Hardie, W. M. Jenkins, J. W. Lennon, C. Woodson, Mike Clifford and Sylvester Duffield. They reached the bottom but were soon overcome by the gas and were com- pelled to again seek the cage. In their confusion Jenkins and Lennon became separated from the others who were drawn to the surface in safety. Jenkins and Lennon wan- dered far into the western part of the mine traversing almost the en- tire length and passing the dead bodies of the men they had sought to rescue. More dead than alive they finally found the cage and were themselves rescued. Jenkins was in a ccritical condition when he reached the surface and he suffered considerable yesterday. Itwas then 4 o'clock, and as it was certain that none remained in the mine alive, no further effort was made to enter until daylight. It was eight o'clock when the rescuers again got to work, under the direction of Manager Mackey. The gas was sufficiently expelled by 2 o'clock to permit entrance with safety, and soon afterward the bod- ies of John Teefiler and Willie Hall, the boy whose mother had sat by the mine all the previous night, were brought up. These were ta- ken as all the other dead bodies had been, to the blacksmith shop near the shaft. and were soon afterward removed to their homes. There have been many contticti reports in cireulationas tothe of those in the mine at the tim thority places the number at not an thirty-five. employed averaged number at the mine seventy-two daily on the pay roll has Mr. John Sam- arose | Of late the | i < in the osion occurred soon 1 whistle had sounded had been made ves. Three cages had ed to the surface and each i ad ordin: averages eight men, so that twenty-four men had | come out for dinner before the ex- | plosion. This would leave thirty- | five in the wine, but the mine own- | ers say that they accounted for all | but thirty three men and that more than that number could not have been in the mine. All the dead miners will be buried at the expense of the coal company Thirteen coffins were ordered from | Rich Hill to-day and the company is disposed to do all in its power to assist the afflicted families. Among the white miners who perished were several who have lived for y in and near Rich Hill and who were well known and esteemed citizens. About half the miners employed were colored n who had been brought here a year ago from Springtield, IIL, at the time of the strike in the mines of the Keith & Perry coal company. The list of dead and injured is about equally divided between whites and blacks WHAT WAS THE CAUSE? What caused the explosion? This was the question that everybody asked and nobody answered, al- though plenty attempted to do so. It is probable that the exact cause will not be known until the mine can be thoroughly examined. The first report that gained currency was that natural gas was the It was insisted that a great d of trouble had heen e rush { ul verienced with ever sinec the > had been opened and the 1 ners were under instructions hot i> go to work without safety Jamp:. At first quite a number had gone Cown with open lamps which ignit » gas and burned their faces ne Th ‘tor We is re- porte. to have that the mine he best in the state pro ons of the compa safety lamps were Mr. R. H. Keith, president of the coal company, is very positive in his iss@:ion that gas could not have 1use of the explosion. “Of he, “TF ¢ t tell the i cause, but the mine had been ighly inspected. There was no ven. It is my opinion that an put ina heavy charge or ‘shot’ in blasting and that it reached his keg of powder. The first explo- sion knocked out 2!l the air forces. Gas then was generated as a natural consequence, and it was its ignition that caused the second explosion. But natural gas had nothing to do with it You will find that miners who work with powder all the time get careless. I have seen them go to their work with a lighted pipe in the mouth ands keg of powder under the arm.” some } 1t it custon for all mines to have air shafts “Yes; and all mines should have them. An escapement shaft is nec essary in ¢ nor a fire at the entering shaft, and we intend ed to put one in No. 6 this summer. But, even if the mine now had an escapement shaft it would have done no good in this case, for the men were thrown to the ground, stunned and many rendered insensible and wouldn't have been able to use them. NO GAS IN THE MINE. Mr. G. R. Sweeney, the superin- tendent who was severely burned in leading a rescuing party, also insists that there was no gas in the mine. Said he: “I had just gone through the mine shortly before the explo- sion and the pit boss and I were congratulating ourselves that the mine was in excellent shape—the best condition it had ever been in. There was not a particle of gas and Iam certain that the explosions were caused by no defects in the mine. The fire in the mine, which occur- red a few weeks ago, was caused by a bale of hay becoming ignited in the west end. Before it was digcov- ered it had made so dense a smoke that it could not be reached and it set the coal on fire. The fire lasted about eight days. Several men were burned, but no one fatally. AFTER THE FIST EXPLOSION. The first attempt at rescuing was made by superintendent Sweeney after the first explosion The shaft of the mine is double, and it was found that in the explosion some of | the planks in the partition had be- | come so displaced asto render it im- possible to move the cage on the The projecting ends of these planks in the north shaft were then cut off and the eage on that side finally placed in working order. | It was nearly 3 o'clock when the | cage descended with Superintendent | Sweeney, M. Dullahaunt, George ; Henry. Robert, Dick and Charles | Smallwood. They were overtaken | by the second explosion. but suc- | ceeded in rescuing W. B. and Nor- { 1 Gray, who had been in the fourth cage load wl 1 at noon when the first explosion took plac John C got out by ¢ the shaft, a 16-year old b vford, a negr imbing all the feet up but his hands s burned. Crawford was the only man in the mine when the first explosion took were badly place who could tell an intelligent | story. Most of those who had been rescued were in no condition to talk, and those who did say anything told extravagant and incoherent stories, showing how terrible the effect had been upon their minds. Crawford was standing with Arch Marshall, Jordon Smith and John Robinson at the mules’ stable about 100 yards from the bottom of the entrance shaft. He said that some of the men on the east side were at work in their rooms blasting coal and actually did not know when the explosion took place. They were still shooting after it was over. The explosion was on the west side and was without warn- ing. FILLED WITH FLAMES. “It was worse than any thunder I ever heard on top of earth,” he de- clared, “I was knocked down and the whole mines seemed filled with Hames. I couldn't see anything. Then I began to smell the gas Those of us who were not hurt went back from the shaft where the air was good and after we got freshened up we carried the others back there. We went back to look for some more and when I got near the shaft I thought the entry had fallen in. I thought that my time had come if I didn't get out and told the others I was gomg up the shaft if I could getup. I climbed clear oui and I tell you I was a seared man. They say my eyes bulged clear out of my head when [got to the top and I guess they did.” Allen, Hu- Four physicians—Drs. lett, Gillette and Long—all from Rich Hill, were in constant attend- ance at the mine. Said Dr. Hulett this morning: ‘Nearly all the men have died of suffocation. Most of them were found near the main en- trance and this goes to show that they made an effort to get out and were overcome. I am of the opinion that most of those whowere rescued will recover, unless a secondary trou- ble should arise, causing intlamma- tion and involving the lungs.” Mr. Keith said this evemmg that the company had no intention of abandoning the mine. but would at once proceed to put it in shape again, and he thought it would be in running order again in ty three weeks. Mr. Keith returned Kansas City to night. The miners who have risked their lives to bring to the surface the dead are from the mines of the Rich Hall coal and mining company, under charge of Superintendent Joseph T. Reavely, who yesterday, aiter Super intendent George Sweeney. of the Keith & Perry coal company was so severely burned, volunteered his ser- vices and has since been in charge of the exploded mine and whose careful work, good judgment and courage is largely due the suce of the rescuing corps. The Walton & Tucker Investment Company Have made special arrangements to accommodate farmers with money to feed stock. They have a large amoum of money on hand to be loaned on real estate, on time any- where from 6 months to 5 years, at low rates of interest. If you want to borrow call and see them. 33-tf Order of Publication. STATE OF MISSOURI Yas County o¥ Batzs, 2 Be it remembered that heretofore to-wit: ata Tegular term of the Bates county. circuit court begun and held at the court house in city of Butler. county and state aforesaid, on the first Monday in February, A. D. 1888, and afterwards to-wit: on the sth day of March, 1888, the same being the 2th day of said term, among other the following pro- ceedings were had to-wit: 8._Y Forbes, plaintiff, against James M Forbes. Ava Forbes, Julia Lowe and Lowe, her husband, defendants Now, at this day, comes the plaintiff, by his attorney, and files herein his amended = tion and it appearing to the satisfaction of the court that said defendants are not residents of the st of Missouri and cannot be summoned in this action, it is ordered by the court tnat pub- lication be made noti: them that an action has been commenced against them by petition and attachment im the circuit court of Bates county, Missouri, founded upon apn account for the sum of two hundred and seventy-five dollars that their property has been attached; and un- less they be and appear at the next term of this court to be holden at the court honse in Butler, in the county of Bates and state of Missouri, on the 4th day of June isss, and on or before the sixth day of said term (ifthe term shallso long continue, and if not, before the end of the term) judgment will be rendered against them and their Dronersy sold to satisfy thesame. It is further orde y the court that a copy hereof be publ in the Bruter Werk. Time eas printed and pnb STATE OF MISSOURI} County oF BatgEs | wees hn C. Hares, clerk of the and for thecounty of B: S d y certify that the above ad foregoing isa full true and complete copy of the original order of publication in said cause as the same appears of record in my office. In Witness whereofI have hereunto set my hand {sEat} and affixed the seal of ssidcourt. Done at my office in the city of Butler, county nd state aforesaid, this 9th day _of March, isss. JOHN C. HAYES, 18-4t. RR.DEACON Harry Brown, | imbed out, | - HARDWARE AND A FULL LINE OF FIRST-CLASS SPRING AND FARM WACONS. Store, East Side Square. Trustee's Sale. STAR SHOEING 3 Whereas S. S. Forquer and Mary Forquer, his wife, by their deed of trust dated ‘Mare 12, Iss, and recordedin the recorder’s Office within and for Bates county, Missouri, in No. 40 page 370, conveyed to the undersigned trustee the following described real estate ly. ing and being situate in the county of Bates @ | state of Misseuri, to-wit ¥ ; East half of the southeast quarter and the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section twelve [12] and the south half of the southeast quarter of section twenty-four (24) and the north half of the northeast quarter of section twenty-five (25) all in township thirty ht (38) of range | twentyenine (29) containing 280 acres more or less and also the following described land sit. uated in the county of St. Clair, state of Mis- souri, to-wit: The south half of lot two () in the southwest quarter of section seven (7) in , township thirty-eight [38] of range twenty- eight [2s] containing 42 acres more or less, con- | taining in all 322 acres more or less, which conveyance was made in trust to secure the payment of his one certain note fully de- scribed in said deed of trust; and whereas, de- fault has been made in the payment of the an- nual interest on said note for two years, which default under the ms of said deed of trust, ING 1OHS.<ct = —my 1 bar SHO! DNI South east corner square, at Butler, where they keep the Perkins light steel shoe for light traveling horses and the heavy Burden shoe for farm | rendered the whole debt due and payable, - | now long past due and unpaid. Now, there- or draft horses. fore, You can get a first | class job of shoeing done at this at the request of the legal holder of said nd pursuant to of trust, I will pr bed premises at public vendue, to the st bidder for cash, at the east front door court house, in the city of Butler, county es and state of Missouri, on Thursday, April 19th, 1888, the hours of o’clock in the forenoon | and five in the afternoon of that day, for the purpose of satisfying said debt, interest and ‘ cost F.M. ALLEN, Trustee conditions of said ) sell the above shop at prices to compare with any other first-class shops in town. Give us a call aud try it. JACK GIPSON, Proprietor THE GRANGE STORE, —-— DEALERS IN— GROCERIES, DRY COCDS &C, Also Agents tor the STANDARD IMPLEMENT CO. Plows, Harrows, Corn Planters, Mowers and repairs for the same. These are the same goods handled by L. G. HENRY. J. C. McCONNELL, Manager. 80 Acres of Land For Sale. Trustee's Sale. Whereas Morton A. Maynard and Dora 5 - Mayrard, his wite, bv their deed ot trust. 28, Homer township, a short dis- idaied Mariner cee 1597; and recorded tt tance from Amoret for sale. the recorder’s office within and for Bates ties desiring to purchase this land | county, Missouri, in book No. 49, page can do so by applying to | 5, convey ed to the ; undersigned trustee (Gin HEP ONT } the following described r estate lying eee be me z and being situate in the county ot Bates, 15-2m. Virginia, Bates C | and state ot Missouri, to-wit: The east half ot block six (6) in the | town (now city) of Butler, whicn con | veyance was made in trust to secure the payment of his three certain notes tully described in said deed ot trust, and whereas detault has been made in the payment of the note of $200, due Janua- I have 50 acres of land in section ar- 0., Mo. Trustee's Saie. Whereas W. H. Melton and Jane Melton, b! wife by their deed of trust, dated March 20, 1 and recorded in the recorder’s office within a for Bates county, Miseouri, in book No. 4 page 20, conveyed to the undersigned trust the following described real estate lying and | = e being situate in the county of Bates and state | ry 28, 18S5, and the accrued interest on comsour ees. the southeast quarter of | 2!! three of said notes, which detault un- ie 80 nh bail o} ie 8d east « ] : : section twenty (20) in township thirty-nine | der the terms of said deed of trust ren (39) Tenge twenty-nine (24), containing eighty | dered the whole cebt due and payable acres More or less, which conveyance was | and whichis now long past duc and une made in trust to secure the payment of one | id Now, tk . hi t of 4 2 fey oe bed in | Paid. Now, theretore, at the reques eater eOny HOt raliy, Geacts as | the legal holder of said notes, and pur- said deed of trust: and whereas default has been made in ene perment of said note and the | suant to the conditions ot said deed of ‘ trust, I will proceed to sell the above de- eee raberene thereon, now past due ee un- See ere ae ne reaneat son the | scribed premises at public vendue to the highest bidder for cash, at the east tront egal holder of said note, and pursuant tothe | conaitions a Ce I will pce | to sell the above descri Property, atpublic | door ot the court house, in the city of vendue, to the highest bidder forcash, at the | J = east front door of the court house, inthe city | Butler, county of Bates and state of Mis or batiers county of Rates and state of Missour- | souri, on om Thursday, April 19, 1888, Thursday, April 12, 1888, | between the hours of g o’clock in the pera a poare eves coe nemoee H forenoon and 5 o’clock in the after- and 5 in the afternoon of that day, for the par- | noon ot that day, for the purposes ot Pose of satiofying sald dept, interest and costs. | atistying 8 d debt, interest and costs. W. F,. Hemstreet & Co Groceries, Queensware, and woodenware Canned Goods, Tobacco and Cigars GREENWOOD and BLUE SPRINGS FLOUR All kinds of Country Produce bought at the highest market price, Give us a eall. BELL'S old stand corner public square. W. F. HEMSTREET & CO. southwest by J ant ¢ FARM MACHINERY, TOP BUCCIES ot