Plymouth, Pennsylvania
Nottingham Mine Accident
January 6, 1890
HEROES IN A MINE
Five Men Removed From a Burning Mine After an
Explosion.
WILKESBARRE, Pa., Jan. 7. -- At the
Nottingham mine in Plymouth where the disastrous
cave-in occurred last week, a terrible accident
was averted yesterday evening. About 7 o'clock a
terrible explosion of gas took place. There had
been a heavy fall of coal and this forced the
gas toward the shaft but on its way it was
ignited by the naked lamps of miners and
exploded. The brattice work lumber caught fire
at once and burned fiercely. Five men were
caught between the cave-in and the fire and all
manner of exits cut off.
The report spread that the men were dead and
in a few minutes hundreds of men, women and
children gathered at the mouth of the slope
waiting to see the dead bodies hoisted out. The
wives and children of the imprisoned men became
frenzied, and their grief was terrible to
behold. About half an hour after the fire broke
out JOHN D. HAMPSHEEFS and JOHN RICHARDS were
lowered into the mine. When they reached the
fire they rushed through the fire and dragged
the five imprisoned men out, one by one
uninjured. When they reached the anxious crowd
above the rescued men and heroes were received
with shouts of welcome.
THOMAS RICHARDS, who was in another part of
the mine, was severely burned by the explosion,
and it is feared he can not recover.
Part of the workings of the mine are located
under the Susquehanna river and the miners state
that water is oozing through near where the
cave-in occurred last week. They fear the river
may break into the mine. Many mines would be
drowned out beyond hope of reclaiming them and
operations would have to be suspended.
The Lima Daily Times Ohio 1890-01-07
Submitted & transcribed by
Stu Beitler Thank you, Stu!
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