St Clair Splinters and Miners Journal

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Saint Clair "SPLINTERS"

Zerby Newspaper Article History of St. Clair

Pottsville Republican "A Century Ago Today"

Saint Clair News 1925

SPLINTERS

Saturday, August 21, 1897

Contractors Crawford and Dugan arrived with their steam shovel this week and will immediately commence work on the new stripping of the Saint Clair Coal Co. This is the first step the company intends making towards largely increasing the coal output of the Patterson Colliery. A large edition to the Breaker will shortly be made and new machinery introduced.

Saturday, August 28, 1897

For sale, the parsonage of the German Catholic Church located on Nicholas Street. Terms reasonable. Apply to Rev. Charles Sauers. Saint Boniface parochial School will commence for the winter months next Tuesday.

The members of the German Catholic Church will hold a basket picnic on the hill east of town.

Saturday, September 4, 1897

While working at the Pine Forest Colliery last Saturday, William Evans, Fireman, at that place had his leg broken. He was giving Simon Devlin, driver of the team, a helping hand to load timber on a wagon and while I the art of sneaking an extra heavy piece, it slipped in rolling it carried another piece with it towards Evans. Jumping the first the second caught him below the knee, breaking both bones I the right leg completely off. His companions hurried to his assistance and conveyed him to his home where he is resting quietly.

Saturday, October 2, 1897

Pine Forest employees received their wages on Wednesday for services performed during the latter part of August. A trip of cars ran away at the Hooker Colliery on Wednesday and smashed things up in great shape. The crew escaped by jumping.

About a dozen breaker boys employed as slate pickers at the Colliery of the Roberts Coal Co. struck on Tuesday being dissatisfied with their work.

Frank Covelisky, a laborer in the mine of the Saint Clair Coal Co. was instantly killed at the place on Monday afternoon last by a fall of slate. It developed at the inquest that Covelisky was engaged in taking coal from beneath a heavy piece of projecting slate while his miner, also a foreigner, picked at the Vein just where the slate was attached to the side of the breast. This loosened it and falling, it caught the laborer underneath crushing his life out, the body was taken to the dead man’s family, who resided on South Morris Street and was entered in the German Catholic Cemetery. Deputy Corner Hillan is paneled a jury and after carefully weighting the evidence submitted rendered a verdict in which the miner was censored for permitting his laborer to work in a place where he knew was dangerous.

Saturday, October 9, 1897

Mr. Edward Farrell has removed his family from Nicholas Street to the back property on East Lawton Street.

John Popowich was loading cars at the Hooker Colliery last Tuesday when his foot caught in some timber and he fell breaking his leg. He was taken to the Pottsville Hospital.

Almost a score of breaker boys quit work at the Colliery of the Saint Clair Coal Co. on Monday. The strike was the outgrowth of some disputed about time the boys claimed they were entitled to.

Saturday, November 6, 1897

On Thursday evening seven residents from the East of town were arrested by C. & J. policemen, J. L. Zimmerman and brought before Justice Edwards charged with larceny. The suit was brought at the instigation of G. B. Linderman of Co. 5. The firm claiming that the defendants had stolen coal from a car at the Hooker Colliery. They were each held in $20.00 bail pending a continuance of the hearing.

A supper and entertainment will be held in Columbia Hall on Thanksgiving night under the auspices of the congregation of the German Catholic Church. The menu of the supper will include all the substancials and delicacies that go to make an appetizing meal while the entertainment will be participated in by well known talent from Pottsville, Pa.

Arthur Evans aged 18 years, met with a very serious accident last Monday. he is employed as a driver at the shaft of the Saint Clair Coal Co. and was in the art of uncoupling preparatory to taking a trip of cars to the bottom of the mine when he slipped and fell underneath. His leg is broke and bruised, the left arm is badly crushed and his back is painfully cut and bruised. Dr. Smith is attending him.

Saturday, November 27, 1897

A dirt plane is being erected on the bank South of the Hooker.

Saturday, March 12, 1898

A sad shooting accident took place on the hill near the Hooker stripping last Tuesday morning by which William the 14 year old son of Mr. and Mr. Edward Scherr lost his life. There being no work on that day young Scherr, George Lewis, and a number of other companions procured two guns and started for the mountains, intending to spend the day shooting mark several test of skill were made by the boys each in turn when Scherr playfully insisted on taking the gun from Lewis, and grasped the barrel of the weapon with that intent a friendly dispute arose and during the interval one for the disputants pressed the trigger and the charge exploded. The entire load of shot struck Scherr in the breast just above the heart and coursing upward entering his throat. The unfortunate lad fell to the earth with a startled cry an din a brief time was a corpse. Brams team was quickly procured and the body removed to Mr. Scherr’s home from where it was interred. Yesterday, young Lewis is horror stricken over the accident and while entirely blameless takes the affair much too hard. Deputy Coroner Hillan expedited a jury and held an inquest last evening.

A number of witnesses were examined but no verdict had been arrived at up to the time of our going to press.

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Scherr through the columns of Splinters wish to express heart felt thanks to the many friends and neighbors who so kindly gave their assistance and sympathy during their late bereavements.

John Gothie of Third Street was kicked in the face and badly cut by a mule at the Hooker striping on Monday.

While enroute from the stripping to the Hooker Colliery on Wednesday afternoon the loaded cars became detached from the locomotive and jumping the track were precipitated over the embankment into Sealeys Field, all were broken into kindling wood.

James O’Donnell of Wadesville employed at the Wadesville shaft was instantly killed at his work Tuesday afternoon. He was ascending the shaft in a cage and was almost near the top when he lost his footing and fell outward. his head caught between the timber and guides breaking his neck and fracturing his skull. He leaves a wife and six children and was 44 years of age. Coroner Hillan was notified and after holding an inquest his jury rendered a verdict of accidental death. Funeral takes place this morning. High Mass will be celebrated in St. Mary’s Church after which interment will be made in the parish Cemetery.

Pine Forest shuts down unless orders to the contrary are received in a very few days. Pine Forest Colliery will be a thing of the past, Forman Tiley and McDonald have been sent instructions to suspend all work today and prepare to remove the machinery. The boilers, pumps, etc. will be taken out when the work of demolition is complete. Their will not be employment enough to keep a half dozen hands busy about the place. Between four and five hundred men and boys will be thrown idle. Most of these reside in Saint Clair but the suspension will only temporarily affect our town as work at Wadesville will be hurried forward.

About 25 foreigners were discharged from the P. & R. Collieries at Eagle Hill and Silver Creek this week to make room for Americans who were thrown idle by the suspension of the Pine Forest Colliery.

John Lundy of Third Street now occupies the house vacated by Mr. Tiley on Pine Forest Hill.

Mr. Edward Dougherty was painfully injured at the Chamberlain mine last Sunday. He was performing his usual work when in some way probably threw a defective lamp the gas became ignited badly burning him about the head and body.

Mr. John J. Mehle and Mrs. Anna Mohrhead two very popular young people of Saint Clair were married in St. Boniface Church at 9 o’clock last Tuesday morning in the presence of several hundred people. The grooms brother and sister the later of Philadelphia stood for them. The ceremony being performed by Rev. Sauers. After the wedding the bridal party enjoyed a short drive and then gave a reception at Mr. Mehles new home.

A heavy piece of rock fell on the foot of Michael Fritz and crushed it last Wednesday at the Hooker stripping.

Martin Muscavage was struck on the foot by a piece of rock while picking coal west of town on Thursday and had his ankle broken.

Adam Lescavage age 34 years was instantly killed last Saturday morning at the Chamberlain Colliery. He was laboring in a gangway when a fall of rock weighing several tons occurred burying him underneath. His neck was broken the remains were removed to his boarding house on South Front Street and on Monday were interred in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Florence Evan Davis was painfully injured at the Wadesville shaft on Monday. He with a number of men had stepped upon the car with the intention of descending and then gave the signal to lower. In some way probably due to the slipping of the engine, the car started upward. Seeing the peril they were in Mr. Davis attempted to alight and in so doing was caught between the timbering and had several ribs broken. The car was stopped before reaching the top of the shaft.

Saint Joseph’s German Catholic society will celebrate its 25^th anniversary on Saturday next in an appropriate way. The organization will attend a High Mass in St. Boniface Church after which a flag raising will take place in the yard of the Parochial school. The members with their families spend the remainder of the day on the old camp ground at Pine Forest. St. Joseph’s Society was organized on the 8^th of June 1872 and has grown to be one of the strongest bodies in Saint Clair. The officers are President, Anthony Schaeffer, Vice-President, Jacob Klein, Treasurer Joseph P. Post, Secretary Frank Betz.

The Ivy League and Mt. Hope baseball teams played a game of ball on Pine Forest Hill last Sunday. The Ivy League boys were victorious.

While working at the Chance Colliery at Broad mountain on Thursday, John Garniz lost his balance and fell head long down a coal chute sustaining serious injuries. He was removed to his home on Lawton St. Street.

Frank Delcamp was terribly burned and scalded at the Colliery of the Saint Clair Coal Company on Monday. He was working about the boilers when a flue burst, a cloud of steam enveloped him. His head and face suffered most. He is being treated at the Pottsville Hospital.

Frank Keyer of Morris Street employed at the Eagle Hill Colliery was seriously injured on Wednesday. He was performing his usual work of mining when a fall of rock occurred burning him underneath. When taken out it was found that his leg was broken. The young man was removed to the Miners Hospital.

A seven year old son of John Miletta fell down an embankment at the Hooker stripping on Tuesday. he was severely cut across the cheek by striking a piece of slate.

The injunction against the Marion Coal Co. has been continued until the defendants comply with the mining laws of the state. As that colliery was the only one in this vicinity that worked steady for several weeks, it’s closing will prove a severe blow to our people.

While drawing a trip of cars from the stripping to the Hooker Colliery on Wednesday the locomotive brake down causing a suspension of work for the remainder of the day.

A flag was raised at the Colliery of the Saint Clair Coal Company last Saturday evening. The Saint Clair band was present and played several national airs after which Rev. A. J. Amthor delivered a patriotic oration. The party was then driven in carriages to the new Davis Colliery at Broad Mountain where a flag raised over the breaker and the exercises repeated.

The Marion Colliery which has been closed down by the injunction from Court resumed operations on Monday.

Thomas Dodds of town was caught in a fall of coal and badly injured at the mine of the St. Clair Coal Co. on Monday.

Rev. Father Sauers of the St. Boniface Church is arranging for a monster picnic which will probably be held on Labor Day.

A dam in the abandoned working known as Snyder’s old mines at Mill Creek burst about 8 o’clock on Thursday night and washed out over 150 feet of the road bed. The ties and rails of the electric railway were left without support; the damage was repaired yesterday. It is said that the volume of water that escaped covered the surface for a quarter of a mile, had a trolley car been caught in the flood doubtless lives would have been lost.

-The Chamberland colliery resumed operations on Wednesday after several day’s idleness, caused by the flooding of the mine.

-Mr. Childs, of Mill Creek , had his hand caught in some machinery at Eagle Hill and was badly crushed, one day early this week.

-The picnic of the St. Boniface Church will be held at Harry Hughes Garden on Labor Day, September 5.

-D.J. Roderick, formerly assistant superintendent at Stockton under Linderman & Skeer, he had been appointed superintendent of the Marion Coal Co.’s Collieries. The collieries over which he will have supervision are located here and at Pottsville.

- Thomas Symons had his hand caught in a piece of machinery at Hooker Colliery on Wednesday and badly crushed.

- Jeff Kantner of South Mill St., had his foot severely injured by a piece of coal falling on it at the Chamberland Colliery, on Tuesday.

- Some unknown person has been soliciting aid for the German Catholic Church of St. Clair here and in Pottsville. As no one has authority to make such collections, the public is warned against the fraud.

- A set of nine-ton tubular boilers was received at the Hooker Colliery on Thursday. They will be placed in the new “nest” first built.

- Frank McMullin had his hand caught between cars and badly crushed at the Ellsworth Colliery on Monday. The injury was dressed at the hospital.

- John Faley was severely injured at the Chamberland Colliery, where he is employed as a miner on Wednesday. He had ignited a shot and after waiting a reasonable time for the discharge, went back thinking the fuse had burned out. Just as he reached the spot the shot exploded and he was hurled backward in the breast. His arms, head & body were terribly cut and bruised, but no bones were broken. He was removed to his home on Lawton Street and is resting quietly.

- Mr. Samuel Kynor’s fine bay horse died at the Hooker Colliery stable on Tuesday form the effects of lockjaw. The animal was a very valuable one.

- G. H. Richards, on Thursday, brought suit against the St. Clair Coal Co. before Justice of the Peace Schlottman, for wages he claimed were due him. After hearing the evidence, a verdict in favor of the defendant was rendered.

- Owen Williams had his arm broken at the shaft of the Patterson Colliery on Monday. He was employed as door boy and in attempting to close the door after a wagon passed through, he slipped and fell, breaking the bone below the elbow. The injury was dressed at the Pottsville Hospital.

- John Higgins, of Mt. Hope was painfully injured at the colliery of the St. Clair Coal Co. on Tuesday. He is employed as driver at the shaft. He was passing his team of mules, when on e of the animals kicked him on the breast and stomach. He is badly cut and bruised, but no bones are broken.

- John Mellody had his arm badly cut by being struck with a pick in the hands of a clumsy Hungarian at Silver Creek Colliery on Monday.

- John Winter, a young man employed at the plane at the Hooker Colliery, met with a serious accident on Monday. He was walking across the rail, when he slipped and the wheels of a loaded wagon passed over his leg, crushing it seriously. He was removed to the miner’s hospital.

- The condition of John Krebs, the young man who had his leg crushed at the St. Clair Coal Co. Colliery sometime ago, has become so bad that the hospital surgeons this week decided amputation was necessary in order to save the patients life. The operation took place yesterday, when his leg was taken off above the ankle. He stood the operation fairly well and was somewhat improved last evening. A speedy recovery is now looked for. Mr. Krebs has the sympathy of everybody in this sad affliction.

- Serious accident - a large body of gas in a breast of the Marion Colliery, below town, became ignited early Monday morning and three miners, John McIntyre, of Cumbola, George Parfitt and John Sweeza, of Port Carbon, were terribly burned, McIntrye dying within a few hours. The particulars of the accident are very meager, and such as could be learned were not divulged until late Monday afternoon. The victims were removed to the Pottsville Hospital, were Parfitt and his laborer are improving. Mr. McIntrye was the father of ten children, who are left in destitute circumstances. The jury impaneled rendered the following verdict on Thursday. “James McIntyre came to his death by an explosion of gas at the Marion Colliery, October 31, 1898 which accumulated by reason of neglect to carry air into the face of the breast. The gas became ignited from a defective safety lamp containing inferior oil in the deceased. The investigation was held at the office of Mine Inspector Maguire and was very searching. A half dozen witnesses including Superintendent Roderick and other officials of the colliery, testified, the evidence showed that the mine laws had been violated.

- William Walsh, a young man residing with his parents on South Second Street was killed at the Marion Colliery last Sunday. He, with a companion, was engaged in repairing a road over the burning culm bank when he was overcome by the fumes of sulfur escaping form the fire, and fell, face downward, upon the bank, when assistance arrived Walsh was found to be dead, suffocated by the gas. The deceased was an exemplary young man with many friends who speak highly of his character. His funeral took place on Wednesday. Interment was made in Minersville deputy coroner. Hillon impaneled a jury, conducted the inquest on Wednesday evening. A verdict in accordance with the evidence submitted was rendered.

- Heyes squib factory has been idle during the past week in order that a number of repairs could be made to the plant. Some new machinery has been placed in both factories and everything is in shape to resume operations on Monday morning.

- Michael Thornton, aged 17 years, was killed at Kaska Williams Colliery on Tuesday, by being caught in machinery, while oiling. He was the son of the late Nicholas Thornton, for many years a resident of St. Clair. The young man spent his New Year Holiday at the home of Mr. John Hughes, on Patterson St. and with East Mines friends. The funeral took place yesterday, interment was made in St. Clair.

- St. Clair Coal Co. and Mt. Hope Coal Co., each donated a car of coal to the Pottsville Hospital last month.

- Chance Colliery, located at Broad Mt. Closed down on Saturday, throwing over 100 men and boys out of employment.

- Benjamin Thomas, who had his leg crushed between cars at the Hooker Colliery several weeks ago, was taken to the Pottsville Hospital for treatment on Thursday.

- St. Clair Coal Co. received a new steam shovel this week. It will be used at the new stripping.

- While a trip of cars was coming from Mt. Hope Thursday morning, two were derailed and threw the colliery idle for a few hours.

- Michael Foremski had his two feet caught between loaded cars at the Hooker Colliery on Thursday evening and badly crushed.

- Willie, the young son of John Martin, met with a very serious accident last Saturday. He is employed by the St. Clair Coal Co., and while at work was caught by the “scropers” and dragged into the machinery. Both legs were broken and his head was painfully bruised. He is being treated at the Miners Hospital, where one leg was amputated.

- An unfortunate error crept into our news columns last week. It came from such direct authority that its truth could not be questioned. We refer to the article that Willie martin, recently injured at the colliery of the St. Clair Coal Co., had one of his legs amputated at the Miners Hospital. Such is not the case, the young man is improving nicely and his injuries will not result seriously. Superintendent Williams, with some friends, visited him at the hospital last Sunday and found him resting easily. Mr. Williams carried with him a large basket of fruit, which he distributed among the patients in the ward.

- After a heroic struggle against disease, Harry, the twenty-two years old son of Mr. & Mrs. Frank Betz, died last Saturday evening at the home of his parents on South Second Street. He had been a sufferer from hemorrhages for many months. Last August their severity compelled him to cease work, and since the New Year he was confined to his bed. His death, although expected, is a severe blow to Mr. Betz family. Harry was a bright young man; though in his work industrious and painstaking. Whatever he undertook to do was done well. His life, gave promise of being a successful and prosperous. Funeral took place on Thursday morning. High mass was sung in St. Boniface Church, after which interment was made in the parish cemetery. The two church societies attended the funeral.

- Wash Orme, who was severely injured at the Marion Colliery, several weeks ago, has placed himself under the care of the surgeons at the Miners Hospital.

- The employees of the Chamberland Colliery are very much disturbed over the non-arrival of the paymaster at their workings. They have had no pay since the first of the year and, although a number of dates were selected, the money has not yet been forthcoming. A meeting of the men was held in Columbia Hall yesterday afternoon to devise means for collecting their wages. Several plans were suggested, but no definite action was taken. In the meantime all work at the Colliery was ceased. Dr. Rice, a Scranton Capitalist, is owner of the workings.

- Mike Corrach was caught between two wagons while at work at Mt. Laffee on Thursday, and had several ribs broken. He resides in St. Clair.

- John Krebs, who was terribly injured by an explosion at the Silver Creek Colliery several weeks ago is slowly improving at the Pottsville Hospital. Attending physicians hope to save the sight of one eye, but the left eye it is feared, is entirely destroyed.

- The St. Clair Coal Co. is sinking two bore holes near its shaft through which the ropes of the engine now used in the mine will be run. Improvements consisting of enlarging the breaker and numerous other outside work will be inaugurated as soon as the weather moderates.

- A young boy named Hanter was struck in the face and painfully cut by a piece of machinery, at the Hooker Colliery on Wednesday.

- At the meeting of the board of trustees of the Pottsville Hospital on Wednesday, special thanks were tendered Davis Bros., the St. Clair Coal Co. and Mr. Hope Coal Co. for coal donations during the year first closed.

- John Cumming, of New Castle, was seriously injured at the Honeysuckle Colliery on Thursday. He was working in the mine, when a fall of top rock occurred, burying him underneath. When taken out it was found that he had received a dislocated hip, together with a number of other injuries. He was removed to the Mines Hospital. The Honeysuckle Colliery is operated by Messrs. Whime and Hepner.

- Charlie Retneich, a Hungarian living at New Castle, fell through the railroad trestle near the Patterson Colliery on Sunday evening and broke his collar bone. He was on his way to church. <![endif]>

- The new shaft at Wadesville is rapidly nearing completion the main tunnel when finished, will be 500 feet long. Thirty men are at work in it, night and day. The breaker is being erected by contractor Simmons.

- Mr & Mrs. Harry Kirby lost three children by death this week several days ago. They became ill with lo grippe and on Sunday, Charles, aged 8 years died. Edward, five year old son died on Monday. Both were buried on Wednesday, the remains being conveyed to the German Catholic cemetery in two hearses driven side by side. On Tuesday, Raymond, age 3 years passed away. Another is dangerously ill with the same disease. The bereaved parents have the fullest sympathy from everyone.

- An accident occurred at the new P&R breaker in Wadesville on Saturday. One of contractor Simmons men was at work clinging to the iron beam at least 200 feet from the gravel. A wooden beam was hoisting to a point about him, and falling, struck the iron worker on the head, cutting a deep gash. By a superhuman effort the man clung to the iron framework and was saved from being dashed to death on the ground below. It is described as a thrilling scene by those who witnessed it. The injured man was taken to the Pottsville Hospital and walked from its railroad to the physicians office.

- George Foster of town, employed at the shaft of the St. Clair Coal Co., was severely scalded on Monday. He is engaged as pumpman at the bottom of the shaft, and was performing his usual work, when a steam pipe burst scalding him in a painful manner. His injuries are confined chiefly to his head and arms. The injured man was removed to his home when he was made as comfortable as possible.

- At the Overbrook Seminary this week the final exercises were held, Peter H. Schhaar, a town boy is a member of this year’s class and will read his first mass in St. Boniface Church tomorrow. A large number of priests and sisters from other churches will be in attendance.

Fr. Nerz will be deacon tomorrow, Augustine Wachter, a student at Overbrook will be sub-deacon and Fr. Misteli will deliver the sermon, the church will be tastefully arranged. Flowers adding to the beauty of the decorations and there will be some special music.

This being the first affair of its kind to take place in our German church, it will be of much interest to our church people in general in addition to Mr. Schaaf’s many friends who are interested in his welfare.

- John Maley of Saint Clair, who has been coal inspector at the St. Clair Coal Co. for the past few years, has been promoted to foreman. Vice William Delcamp resigned.

- What might have been a serious accident occurred at the slope for the St. Clair Coal Co. on Monday. While hoisting three cars the draw head pulled out and the cars ran down the slope at a terrific speed. Luckily, all of the workmen sought places of safety and escaped uninjured but a mule was caught and crushed to death. The bottom of the slope was wrecked, the Colliery being compelled to shut down for the balance of the day.

- All the woodwork and much of the machinery of Dick Brothers steam shovel in operation in connection with the Hooker stripping, were destroyed by fire on Wednesday night. The woodwork caught from an overheated boiler and caused considerable loss.

- Mt. Hope colliery has been shut down for repairs. A shortage of coal because not enough surface has been stripped off.

Excerpts from the "Miner's Journal" Newspaper - mid 1800's

MESSRS. EDS.: -- We have been visited this week by dire calamities. On Monday afternoon a fire damp explosion took place in the mines of Mr. Repplier, near this place, by which five men were burnt, but happily not very dangerously. On the same day a man, named Thomas Jones, was killed in Mr. McGinnes’s slope, below this town, and another man had his leg broken. The accident was caused by a break of the chain while hoisting a loaded car.

In Synder’s mines a man (name unknown) was injured by a fall of Coal, on Tuesday last.

On Monday night the breaker owned by Mr. Repplier was burnt, which you have already noticed in the Journal.

On Wednesday a fire damp explosion took place in Mr. Milnes’s mines, by which one man was badly burnt.

The citizens of this place are rejoiced to see the new slope of Messrs. William Milnes, Jr. and Company, which had been idle for some time, go into operation again. This happened on Thursday, 14th last.

A queer marriage took place in the Borough on Thursday evening, February 7th. A young man (?) of 30 was married to a girl of 14. The circumstances are these: -- The father of the girl gave her $200, go and get married with, giving her the choice of three men. She chose one; he wouldn’t marry her; she chose another, and he accepted; and on the above date they were wedded. Who can beat this? It is romance in real life.

A fire damp explosion took place in Kirk & Baum’s shaft at St. Clair, on Friday morning, (to-day,) by which Ed Andrews, Joseph Hughes, and four other men were burnt. This is the first serious accident that occurred at the shaft for a long time.

Hector

St. Clair, February 15, 1861

MESSRS. EDITORS: -- On Saturday morning last, a horrible accident occurred in Milne’s slope at this place, by which one man was killed. The particulars are as follows: Three men were working in the above slope and upon coupling a loaded car to an empty on previous to hoisting, they neglected to secure the coupling on one side. After the cars had been hoisted about 300 yards up the slope the loaded one broke loose and running back with great velocity caught a laborer named Edward Larkin, who was sitting below, and literally cut him to pieces. His head was cut off and his body mashed almost into a jelly. His heart was found about three yards from his body.

On the succeeding night there was a wake at the deceased’s home at which a man named Downing (also an Irishman) was present. He got a little too much of the "oh, be joyful" during the night. He went home in the morning (he lived in the same bloc) and upon going to bed it seems kept his pipe lit to have a "bit of a smoke". (?) long the bed caught fire, but he was unconscious of it. There being no air in the room, no flames broke out, and when the occurrence was discovered, Downing was already so much smothered, that his life was despaired of. He was taken out and fire was extinguished before much damage was done to the building. Downing lingered till Sunday evening, when he went the way of all things earthly. The building belonged to Mr. J. W. Cake, and I understand, was insured.

Hector

St. Clair, April 2, 1861

EVENING CHRONICLE

Wednesday, May 9, 1877

ALMOST AN AVONDALE

Fire Damp Explosion at Wadesville!

Six Miners Burned to Death -- Six Others Badly Injured -- Heart rending Scents -- Names of Dead and Wounded.

One of those terrible and heartrending accidents which are so common to the coal region, occurred this morning at the 'Wadesville, or hickory Shaft, situate about three miles from Pottsville. As soon as the news reached town, a CHRONICLE reporter, with at telegraph operator, was dispatched to the scene of the disaster and the particulars of the explosion were wired to us as rapidly as they could be ascertained. The following is our report as received:

This morning about half-past 9 o'clock a fearful explosion of fire damp occurred at Wadesville Shaft, near Pottsville. How it happened is not as yet known, but is supposed there was a large fall of coal, which had been idle some time past, and this becoming ignited from the lamps of the men, caused the explosion, John Durkin, residing Saint Clair, was instantly killed by one of the flying timbers which were hurled around by the shock. He leaves a wife and one child. William Kirk, living in the same place, was also killed. He leaves a wife and three children. Thomas Connors, Joseph Milward, Herbert Moore and Benjamin Mosely were penned in by a strong barricade of the fallen coal. All the available miners were immediately set to work to rescue them, if possible, but the air was so impregnated that it was impossible for them to work more than a minute or two at a time. All of them have now been taken out dead. They must have been literally roasted, as their bodies, upon their arrival at the top of the shaft, presented a sickening sight, with their clothing burned from their bodies, their hair from their heads and the flesh hanging in shreds from their bodies. Connors is a newly married man, Milward was unmarried, Mosely was married but leaves no children, and Moore leaves a wife and seven small children. Besides these who were killed were a number badly burned, viz: John Reese, John Gieavey, Patrick Gibbons, Dennis Brennan, John McAtee, and Abraham Jones. Most of them are young and unmarried.

the scene is the vicinity of the shaft beggars description. As each cage comes up to the scene of the shaft the women rush forward to see if any of their husbands, brothers or sons are among the number killed or injured. The mouth of the shaft is crowded with a throng of men, women, and children, and when one of their relations comes up from the mine injured, or perhaps killed, it is indeed heartrending to witness their tears and hear their cries of distress.

The news of the explosion spread like wildfire and as all the people living in the vicinity of the shaft have relations working there, they immediately rushed pell mell to the mouth of the shaft. For a long time it was impossible to learn anything definite and the anxiety of the watchers cannot be described. When anyone came out of the shaft they anxiously gathered around to learn, if possible, some particulars. Each breath of air brought with it some rumor which was distorted to suit the fancy of the excited brains of the persons gathered around. The wildest imaginable rumors prevailed, and many persons predicted a second Avondale disaster, but happily although the loss of life was terrible it did not equal that of Avondale.

MESSRS. EDS.: -- We have been visited this week by dire calamities. On Monday afternoon a fire damp explosion took place in the mines of Mr. Repplier, near this place, by which five men were burnt, but happily not very dangerously. On the same day a man, named Thomas Jones, was killed in Mr. McGinnes’s slope, below this town, and another man had his leg broken. The accident was caused by a break of the chain while hoisting a loaded car.

In Synder’s mines a man (name unknown) was injured by a fall of Coal, on Tuesday last.

On Monday night the breaker owned by Mr. Repplier was burnt, which you have already noticed in the Journal.

On Wednesday a fire damp explosion took place in Mr. Milnes’s mines, by which one man was badly burnt.

Many of our town people attended the colonial lawn fete at Saint Clair Wednesday evening.

Mrs. Joseph Harrison Sr. is having a handsome porch erected at her home. It will be a beauty, the finest in town when completed. A master mechanic of Pottsville is building it.

A break in the water main on Third Street necessitated the turning off of the water for the upper end of town all day yesterday.

Hint to the thirsty: when dry, call on John W. Weeks, 17 S. Main St., for a big schooner of beer and a big glass of five-cent wine.

Twenty-six ladies residing on West Coal Street enjoyed an outing at Rattling Run yesterday.

The Mine Workers have effected a permanent operation in Saint Clair with membership about 100. A meeting has been called for and will take place in a few days.

Mrs. James Hollihan died at her home at the Tunnel, below town, yesterday morning. A husband and eight children survive her.

The water company is having considerable trouble with a break in the water main at the lower end of town.

The selection of Wash Orme as delegate to the Republican State Convention gives Saint Clair an honor it has not had for a number of years.