NINE KILLED, SIX INJURED IN CONYNGHAM SHAFT BLAST
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Nine Workers Escape as Death Tears Through Red Ash Vein
--------------------------
CAUSE OF EXPLOSION IS UNDETERMINED
--------------------------
Hudson Co. Officials Deny Motor Responsible for Disaster
--------------------------
Eight mine workers were killed instantly, another died at 11:30 last night in Wilkes-Barre General Hospital and six others were injured by a gas explosion in Conyngham shaft, Hudson Coal Co., yesterday morning.
The disaster came Just one day before the first anniversary of the initial squeeze and concussion in Baltimore vein of No. 3 shaft of Woodward colliery, Glen Alden Coal Co., Luzerne County's worst mine disaster of last year.
The site of yesterday's explosion is along West North street, at a point only a short distance front Luzerne county court house.
--------------------------
THE DEAD
Vincent Miscavage , laborer, aged 19, of 748 North Pennsylvania avenue. Single.
Morris Ryan, doorboy, aged 18, of 338 George avenue, Parsons. Single.
Daniel Gallagher, miner, aged 24, of 263 Wyoming street. Single.
Lewis Olson, miner, aged 56, of 614 North Franklin street. Leaves widow and three children.
George Oko, miner, aged 53, of 630 South Grant street, Miners Mills. Leaves widow and thirteen children.
Daniel Norton , mine runner, aged 24, of 82 Blackman street. Widow and two children.
Michael Konsavage, laborer, aged 35, of 860 North Pennsylvania avenue. Widow.
George Zapatocsy, laborer, aged 33, of 92 Warren avenue, Parsons. Widow and four children.
Michael Popovich, laborer, aged 38, of 802 North Washington street, died in Wilkes-Barre General hospital at 11:30 last night of burns about body.
--------------------------
THE INJURED
Joseph McLaughlin, locomotive engineer, aged 28, of 140 Storm hill, Wilkes- Barre Township. Patient in Wilkes-Barre General Hospital with burns on hands, face and back. Condition good.
Michael Monka, bratticeman assistant, aged 26, of 685 North Washington street. In Wilkes-Barre General Hospital with burns to face and hands. Condition good.
Anthony Mescavage, road cleaner, of 748 North Pennsylvania avenue. Removed to his home.
Michael Morga, miner, of 12½ Schyde street. Taken home.
Peter Olshefski, sectional foreman, Willow street, Wilkes-Barre Township. Taken home.
John Jones, miner, aged 30, of 202 George avenue, Parsons. Taken to his home.
Many Bereaved
Five wives were made husbandless and twenty-two children became fatherless as the force of the concussion and heavy mine timbers, which had been torn from their positions, swept through the chamber dealing death and injury to the fifteen underground workers.
The path a death was jagged, however, for nine men who had been working in the same position escaped safely to the surface, spreading news of the tragedy and bringing scores of relief crews to the fifteen men who had been caught by the death sweep.
Cause Undetermined
Mine officials still were in doubt last night as to the cause of the disaster. Official denial was given to an assertion that a mine motor in the territory where the explosion occurred had set off a pocket of gas. The motor, Cadwallader Evans, general manager of Hudson Coal Co., said last night, uses storage batteries and was stationary when the first puff of the explosion was noticed. There are no electric trolley wires in the section, Mr. Evans said, in discounting further any explanation that the electric power system had caused the disaster.
The spot where the explosion occurred is in the Red Ash bed, No. 1 slope in gangway No. 2, west. This is a section of underground workings formerly belonging to Smith colliery and sold about ten years ago by Hillman Coal Co. to Hudson Coal Co. Conyngham shaft, in which the explosion occurred, is a part of Baltimore No. 5 operation of Hudson Coal Co.
Big Area Affected
An area approximately 1,000 feet long was affected by the explosion. Timber and brattice work were torn down by the force of the blast and a large staff of workmen, called from different other Hudson Coal Co. operations in the Wilkes-Barre and Plymouth districts, was engaged last night in clearing away the debris and restoring the mine to a safe condition.
First knowledge of the disaster came to the surface shortly before 11 o'clock yesterday morning as nine men, nervous, breathless and gasping for air, came to the foot of the shaft and spread the alarm.
First Aid Crews Summoned
On learning of the mishap, company officials from Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Plymouth, joined by first aid crews from Loree collieries at Plymouth, Baltimore, Latlin, Delaware, Pine Ridge and Laurel Run collieries, started work of rescuing the fifteen victims.
Because of timbers strewn about the mine and the dense smoke which followed the blast, rescue work at first was difficult. But the rescuers pushed on, the first help reaching the affected district shortly before noon.
Doorboy's Body First Found
The first body which rescuers encountered was that of Morris Ryan, a doorboy, who had been working in Conyngham mine only about a month. One by one the dead and injured were brought to the surface, the dead being taken to different morgues and the more seriously burned and injured to Wilkes-Barre General Hospital for treatment.
Fourteen of the fifteen caught in the blast had been brought to the surface before 2:30. Trouble was found, however, in establishing positive identification of Zapatoczy, who, according to reports, was working for the first time in this particular section of the mine. Zapatoczy, regularly a laborer for John Dane of Ash street, offered to work in the Hillman vein yesterday when Mr. Dane, because of illness, failed to report. Colliery officials hastily summoned Mr. Dane, but even he, because of burns and bruises received by Zapatoczy, was unable to recognize his laborer, who lay at the bottom of the shaft unidentified for more than three hours. Toward 3:30 a cousin of Zapatoczy came to inquire and identification was established.
News of the explosion quickly spread through the city. Hundreds of persons thronged about the shaft, pressing hard against ropes stretched by colliery officials to prevent curious from interfering with the rescue work. Gradually the crowd dwindled until about 4 in the afternoon, when Zapatoczy's body was brought to the surface. The greater part of the crowd then left and remaining only were a few knots of miners discussing the catastrophe among themselves in foreign tongues.
Survivor Watches
For about a half hour yesterday afternoon a small man, obviously of foreign extraction, whose hands bore the black marks characteristic to an underground worker, sat on a window sill of the colliery boiler house opposite the shaft watching. His face wore a picture of sorrow as he sat and stared. But fortune had been generous to this man, Konstine Martin of North Washington street, near Chestnut street, for he was one of a group of four men whom the Jagged path of the catastrophe had missed.
Martin had been sitting on a mine box in a crosscut talking with his laborer, Kansavage, who was standing in the main chamber, and a short distance from them was the motor, with McLaughlin, the motor runner, conversing with Vincent Miscavage.
A deafening sound and Martin, still conscious, was hurled through space for a distance of about fifteen feet. Scurrying to his feet and with cap over his face to prevent breathing, for a minute at least, the poisonous fumes which followed the explosion, he made a mad dash toward the head of the shaft and was one of the first to spread the alarm of the disaster.
Officials Deny Rumor
Coal company officials put to rout last night a report which had circulated among the curious watching at the head of the shaft that fourteen men in the chamber at the time of the disaster had crawled through a pipe to safety. This would be impossible, officials said, because the largest pipe in that district is only five inches in diameter.
Veteran Employes
George Oko, who lived at 638 South Grant street, had been employed at Conyngham mines for many years. He was a member of SS. Peter and Paul's Church, Plains, and leaves his widow and the following children, Mrs. Helen Kozibroda, Mrs. Mary Bombay, Mrs. Josephine Czubek, John, Joseph, Walter, Edna, Lottie, Stephen, Genevieve, Stella, Andrew, Anna, Stasia and Stanley.
Lewis Olson was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and leaves his widow and three children, Violet, Florence and Leonard; also several brothers and sisters in Sweden.
George Zapatocsy of 92 George avenue, Parsons, worked at the Conyngham colliery for the past six years. He leaves a widow and four children, Anthony, Jenny, Walter and Edward.
Vincent Miscavage of 748 North Pennsylvania avenue, son of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Miscavage, had been working at the Conyngham only two weeks and would have drawn his first pay yesterday. Besides his parents, he leaves a brother, Joseph, and a sister, Helen.
Morris Ryan was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ryan of 338 George avenue, Parsons.
Daniel Norton of 82 Blackman street, was a member of Grove Street Evangelical Church and leaves his widow, two children, Gertrude and Marjorie; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Norton, and the following brothers and sisters, Ellsworth, Mrs. Evelyn Glance, Albert, Norman and Jacob.
Michael Konsavage of 816 North Pennsylvania avenue, boarded with his sister, Ahafia Konsavage, and besides her leaves a widow in Europe.
Daniel Gallagher of 263 Wyoming avenue, had worked in Conyngham mines for the past five years. He leaves his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Gallagher, and the following brothers and sisters, Patrick, Jr., assistant station master at Lehigh Valley station; Charles, noted Scotch comedian; Michael, James, Joseph, Edward, Frank, Mrs. Anna Lynn of Pittston and Mrs. John Toole of this city.
(Wilkes-Barre Record, 26 May 1928)
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Nine Workers Escape as Death Tears Through Red Ash Vein
--------------------------
CAUSE OF EXPLOSION IS UNDETERMINED
--------------------------
Hudson Co. Officials Deny Motor Responsible for Disaster
--------------------------
Eight mine workers were killed instantly, another died at 11:30 last night in Wilkes-Barre General Hospital and six others were injured by a gas explosion in Conyngham shaft, Hudson Coal Co., yesterday morning.
The disaster came Just one day before the first anniversary of the initial squeeze and concussion in Baltimore vein of No. 3 shaft of Woodward colliery, Glen Alden Coal Co., Luzerne County's worst mine disaster of last year.
The site of yesterday's explosion is along West North street, at a point only a short distance front Luzerne county court house.
--------------------------
THE DEAD
Vincent Miscavage , laborer, aged 19, of 748 North Pennsylvania avenue. Single.
Morris Ryan, doorboy, aged 18, of 338 George avenue, Parsons. Single.
Daniel Gallagher, miner, aged 24, of 263 Wyoming street. Single.
Lewis Olson, miner, aged 56, of 614 North Franklin street. Leaves widow and three children.
George Oko, miner, aged 53, of 630 South Grant street, Miners Mills. Leaves widow and thirteen children.
Daniel Norton , mine runner, aged 24, of 82 Blackman street. Widow and two children.
Michael Konsavage, laborer, aged 35, of 860 North Pennsylvania avenue. Widow.
George Zapatocsy, laborer, aged 33, of 92 Warren avenue, Parsons. Widow and four children.
Michael Popovich, laborer, aged 38, of 802 North Washington street, died in Wilkes-Barre General hospital at 11:30 last night of burns about body.
--------------------------
THE INJURED
Joseph McLaughlin, locomotive engineer, aged 28, of 140 Storm hill, Wilkes- Barre Township. Patient in Wilkes-Barre General Hospital with burns on hands, face and back. Condition good.
Michael Monka, bratticeman assistant, aged 26, of 685 North Washington street. In Wilkes-Barre General Hospital with burns to face and hands. Condition good.
Anthony Mescavage, road cleaner, of 748 North Pennsylvania avenue. Removed to his home.
Michael Morga, miner, of 12½ Schyde street. Taken home.
Peter Olshefski, sectional foreman, Willow street, Wilkes-Barre Township. Taken home.
John Jones, miner, aged 30, of 202 George avenue, Parsons. Taken to his home.
Many Bereaved
Five wives were made husbandless and twenty-two children became fatherless as the force of the concussion and heavy mine timbers, which had been torn from their positions, swept through the chamber dealing death and injury to the fifteen underground workers.
The path a death was jagged, however, for nine men who had been working in the same position escaped safely to the surface, spreading news of the tragedy and bringing scores of relief crews to the fifteen men who had been caught by the death sweep.
Cause Undetermined
Mine officials still were in doubt last night as to the cause of the disaster. Official denial was given to an assertion that a mine motor in the territory where the explosion occurred had set off a pocket of gas. The motor, Cadwallader Evans, general manager of Hudson Coal Co., said last night, uses storage batteries and was stationary when the first puff of the explosion was noticed. There are no electric trolley wires in the section, Mr. Evans said, in discounting further any explanation that the electric power system had caused the disaster.
The spot where the explosion occurred is in the Red Ash bed, No. 1 slope in gangway No. 2, west. This is a section of underground workings formerly belonging to Smith colliery and sold about ten years ago by Hillman Coal Co. to Hudson Coal Co. Conyngham shaft, in which the explosion occurred, is a part of Baltimore No. 5 operation of Hudson Coal Co.
Big Area Affected
An area approximately 1,000 feet long was affected by the explosion. Timber and brattice work were torn down by the force of the blast and a large staff of workmen, called from different other Hudson Coal Co. operations in the Wilkes-Barre and Plymouth districts, was engaged last night in clearing away the debris and restoring the mine to a safe condition.
First knowledge of the disaster came to the surface shortly before 11 o'clock yesterday morning as nine men, nervous, breathless and gasping for air, came to the foot of the shaft and spread the alarm.
First Aid Crews Summoned
On learning of the mishap, company officials from Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Plymouth, joined by first aid crews from Loree collieries at Plymouth, Baltimore, Latlin, Delaware, Pine Ridge and Laurel Run collieries, started work of rescuing the fifteen victims.
Because of timbers strewn about the mine and the dense smoke which followed the blast, rescue work at first was difficult. But the rescuers pushed on, the first help reaching the affected district shortly before noon.
Doorboy's Body First Found
The first body which rescuers encountered was that of Morris Ryan, a doorboy, who had been working in Conyngham mine only about a month. One by one the dead and injured were brought to the surface, the dead being taken to different morgues and the more seriously burned and injured to Wilkes-Barre General Hospital for treatment.
Fourteen of the fifteen caught in the blast had been brought to the surface before 2:30. Trouble was found, however, in establishing positive identification of Zapatoczy, who, according to reports, was working for the first time in this particular section of the mine. Zapatoczy, regularly a laborer for John Dane of Ash street, offered to work in the Hillman vein yesterday when Mr. Dane, because of illness, failed to report. Colliery officials hastily summoned Mr. Dane, but even he, because of burns and bruises received by Zapatoczy, was unable to recognize his laborer, who lay at the bottom of the shaft unidentified for more than three hours. Toward 3:30 a cousin of Zapatoczy came to inquire and identification was established.
News of the explosion quickly spread through the city. Hundreds of persons thronged about the shaft, pressing hard against ropes stretched by colliery officials to prevent curious from interfering with the rescue work. Gradually the crowd dwindled until about 4 in the afternoon, when Zapatoczy's body was brought to the surface. The greater part of the crowd then left and remaining only were a few knots of miners discussing the catastrophe among themselves in foreign tongues.
Survivor Watches
For about a half hour yesterday afternoon a small man, obviously of foreign extraction, whose hands bore the black marks characteristic to an underground worker, sat on a window sill of the colliery boiler house opposite the shaft watching. His face wore a picture of sorrow as he sat and stared. But fortune had been generous to this man, Konstine Martin of North Washington street, near Chestnut street, for he was one of a group of four men whom the Jagged path of the catastrophe had missed.
Martin had been sitting on a mine box in a crosscut talking with his laborer, Kansavage, who was standing in the main chamber, and a short distance from them was the motor, with McLaughlin, the motor runner, conversing with Vincent Miscavage.
A deafening sound and Martin, still conscious, was hurled through space for a distance of about fifteen feet. Scurrying to his feet and with cap over his face to prevent breathing, for a minute at least, the poisonous fumes which followed the explosion, he made a mad dash toward the head of the shaft and was one of the first to spread the alarm of the disaster.
Officials Deny Rumor
Coal company officials put to rout last night a report which had circulated among the curious watching at the head of the shaft that fourteen men in the chamber at the time of the disaster had crawled through a pipe to safety. This would be impossible, officials said, because the largest pipe in that district is only five inches in diameter.
Veteran Employes
George Oko, who lived at 638 South Grant street, had been employed at Conyngham mines for many years. He was a member of SS. Peter and Paul's Church, Plains, and leaves his widow and the following children, Mrs. Helen Kozibroda, Mrs. Mary Bombay, Mrs. Josephine Czubek, John, Joseph, Walter, Edna, Lottie, Stephen, Genevieve, Stella, Andrew, Anna, Stasia and Stanley.
Lewis Olson was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and leaves his widow and three children, Violet, Florence and Leonard; also several brothers and sisters in Sweden.
George Zapatocsy of 92 George avenue, Parsons, worked at the Conyngham colliery for the past six years. He leaves a widow and four children, Anthony, Jenny, Walter and Edward.
Vincent Miscavage of 748 North Pennsylvania avenue, son of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Miscavage, had been working at the Conyngham only two weeks and would have drawn his first pay yesterday. Besides his parents, he leaves a brother, Joseph, and a sister, Helen.
Morris Ryan was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ryan of 338 George avenue, Parsons.
Daniel Norton of 82 Blackman street, was a member of Grove Street Evangelical Church and leaves his widow, two children, Gertrude and Marjorie; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Norton, and the following brothers and sisters, Ellsworth, Mrs. Evelyn Glance, Albert, Norman and Jacob.
Michael Konsavage of 816 North Pennsylvania avenue, boarded with his sister, Ahafia Konsavage, and besides her leaves a widow in Europe.
Daniel Gallagher of 263 Wyoming avenue, had worked in Conyngham mines for the past five years. He leaves his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Gallagher, and the following brothers and sisters, Patrick, Jr., assistant station master at Lehigh Valley station; Charles, noted Scotch comedian; Michael, James, Joseph, Edward, Frank, Mrs. Anna Lynn of Pittston and Mrs. John Toole of this city.
(Wilkes-Barre Record, 26 May 1928)
NINE KILLED, SIX INJURED IN CONYNGHAM SHAFT BLAST
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Nine Workers Escape as Death Tears Through Red Ash Vein
--------------------------
CAUSE OF EXPLOSION IS UNDETERMINED
--------------------------
Hudson Co. Officials Deny Motor Responsible for Disaster
--------------------------
Eight mine workers were killed instantly, another died at 11:30 last night in Wilkes-Barre General Hospital and six others were injured by a gas explosion in Conyngham shaft, Hudson Coal Co., yesterday morning.
The disaster came Just one day before the first anniversary of the initial squeeze and concussion in Baltimore vein of No. 3 shaft of Woodward colliery, Glen Alden Coal Co., Luzerne County's worst mine disaster of last year.
The site of yesterday's explosion is along West North street, at a point only a short distance front Luzerne county court house.
--------------------------
THE DEAD
Vincent Miscavage , laborer, aged 19, of 748 North Pennsylvania avenue. Single.
Morris Ryan, doorboy, aged 18, of 338 George avenue, Parsons. Single.
Daniel Gallagher, miner, aged 24, of 263 Wyoming street. Single.
Lewis Olson, miner, aged 56, of 614 North Franklin street. Leaves widow and three children.
George Oko, miner, aged 53, of 630 South Grant street, Miners Mills. Leaves widow and thirteen children.
Daniel Norton , mine runner, aged 24, of 82 Blackman street. Widow and two children.
Michael Konsavage, laborer, aged 35, of 860 North Pennsylvania avenue. Widow.
George Zapatocsy, laborer, aged 33, of 92 Warren avenue, Parsons. Widow and four children.
Michael Popovich, laborer, aged 38, of 802 North Washington street, died in Wilkes-Barre General hospital at 11:30 last night of burns about body.
--------------------------
THE INJURED
Joseph McLaughlin, locomotive engineer, aged 28, of 140 Storm hill, Wilkes- Barre Township. Patient in Wilkes-Barre General Hospital with burns on hands, face and back. Condition good.
Michael Monka, bratticeman assistant, aged 26, of 685 North Washington street. In Wilkes-Barre General Hospital with burns to face and hands. Condition good.
Anthony Mescavage, road cleaner, of 748 North Pennsylvania avenue. Removed to his home.
Michael Morga, miner, of 12½ Schyde street. Taken home.
Peter Olshefski, sectional foreman, Willow street, Wilkes-Barre Township. Taken home.
John Jones, miner, aged 30, of 202 George avenue, Parsons. Taken to his home.
Many Bereaved
Five wives were made husbandless and twenty-two children became fatherless as the force of the concussion and heavy mine timbers, which had been torn from their positions, swept through the chamber dealing death and injury to the fifteen underground workers.
The path a death was jagged, however, for nine men who had been working in the same position escaped safely to the surface, spreading news of the tragedy and bringing scores of relief crews to the fifteen men who had been caught by the death sweep.
Cause Undetermined
Mine officials still were in doubt last night as to the cause of the disaster. Official denial was given to an assertion that a mine motor in the territory where the explosion occurred had set off a pocket of gas. The motor, Cadwallader Evans, general manager of Hudson Coal Co., said last night, uses storage batteries and was stationary when the first puff of the explosion was noticed. There are no electric trolley wires in the section, Mr. Evans said, in discounting further any explanation that the electric power system had caused the disaster.
The spot where the explosion occurred is in the Red Ash bed, No. 1 slope in gangway No. 2, west. This is a section of underground workings formerly belonging to Smith colliery and sold about ten years ago by Hillman Coal Co. to Hudson Coal Co. Conyngham shaft, in which the explosion occurred, is a part of Baltimore No. 5 operation of Hudson Coal Co.
Big Area Affected
An area approximately 1,000 feet long was affected by the explosion. Timber and brattice work were torn down by the force of the blast and a large staff of workmen, called from different other Hudson Coal Co. operations in the Wilkes-Barre and Plymouth districts, was engaged last night in clearing away the debris and restoring the mine to a safe condition.
First knowledge of the disaster came to the surface shortly before 11 o'clock yesterday morning as nine men, nervous, breathless and gasping for air, came to the foot of the shaft and spread the alarm.
First Aid Crews Summoned
On learning of the mishap, company officials from Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Plymouth, joined by first aid crews from Loree collieries at Plymouth, Baltimore, Latlin, Delaware, Pine Ridge and Laurel Run collieries, started work of rescuing the fifteen victims.
Because of timbers strewn about the mine and the dense smoke which followed the blast, rescue work at first was difficult. But the rescuers pushed on, the first help reaching the affected district shortly before noon.
Doorboy's Body First Found
The first body which rescuers encountered was that of Morris Ryan, a doorboy, who had been working in Conyngham mine only about a month. One by one the dead and injured were brought to the surface, the dead being taken to different morgues and the more seriously burned and injured to Wilkes-Barre General Hospital for treatment.
Fourteen of the fifteen caught in the blast had been brought to the surface before 2:30. Trouble was found, however, in establishing positive identification of Zapatoczy, who, according to reports, was working for the first time in this particular section of the mine. Zapatoczy, regularly a laborer for John Dane of Ash street, offered to work in the Hillman vein yesterday when Mr. Dane, because of illness, failed to report. Colliery officials hastily summoned Mr. Dane, but even he, because of burns and bruises received by Zapatoczy, was unable to recognize his laborer, who lay at the bottom of the shaft unidentified for more than three hours. Toward 3:30 a cousin of Zapatoczy came to inquire and identification was established.
News of the explosion quickly spread through the city. Hundreds of persons thronged about the shaft, pressing hard against ropes stretched by colliery officials to prevent curious from interfering with the rescue work. Gradually the crowd dwindled until about 4 in the afternoon, when Zapatoczy's body was brought to the surface. The greater part of the crowd then left and remaining only were a few knots of miners discussing the catastrophe among themselves in foreign tongues.
Survivor Watches
For about a half hour yesterday afternoon a small man, obviously of foreign extraction, whose hands bore the black marks characteristic to an underground worker, sat on a window sill of the colliery boiler house opposite the shaft watching. His face wore a picture of sorrow as he sat and stared. But fortune had been generous to this man, Konstine Martin of North Washington street, near Chestnut street, for he was one of a group of four men whom the Jagged path of the catastrophe had missed.
Martin had been sitting on a mine box in a crosscut talking with his laborer, Kansavage, who was standing in the main chamber, and a short distance from them was the motor, with McLaughlin, the motor runner, conversing with Vincent Miscavage.
A deafening sound and Martin, still conscious, was hurled through space for a distance of about fifteen feet. Scurrying to his feet and with cap over his face to prevent breathing, for a minute at least, the poisonous fumes which followed the explosion, he made a mad dash toward the head of the shaft and was one of the first to spread the alarm of the disaster.
Officials Deny Rumor
Coal company officials put to rout last night a report which had circulated among the curious watching at the head of the shaft that fourteen men in the chamber at the time of the disaster had crawled through a pipe to safety. This would be impossible, officials said, because the largest pipe in that district is only five inches in diameter.
Veteran Employes
George Oko, who lived at 638 South Grant street, had been employed at Conyngham mines for many years. He was a member of SS. Peter and Paul's Church, Plains, and leaves his widow and the following children, Mrs. Helen Kozibroda, Mrs. Mary Bombay, Mrs. Josephine Czubek, John, Joseph, Walter, Edna, Lottie, Stephen, Genevieve, Stella, Andrew, Anna, Stasia and Stanley.
Lewis Olson was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and leaves his widow and three children, Violet, Florence and Leonard; also several brothers and sisters in Sweden.
George Zapatocsy of 92 George avenue, Parsons, worked at the Conyngham colliery for the past six years. He leaves a widow and four children, Anthony, Jenny, Walter and Edward.
Vincent Miscavage of 748 North Pennsylvania avenue, son of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Miscavage, had been working at the Conyngham only two weeks and would have drawn his first pay yesterday. Besides his parents, he leaves a brother, Joseph, and a sister, Helen.
Morris Ryan was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ryan of 338 George avenue, Parsons.
Daniel Norton of 82 Blackman street, was a member of Grove Street Evangelical Church and leaves his widow, two children, Gertrude and Marjorie; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Norton, and the following brothers and sisters, Ellsworth, Mrs. Evelyn Glance, Albert, Norman and Jacob.
Michael Konsavage of 816 North Pennsylvania avenue, boarded with his sister, Ahafia Konsavage, and besides her leaves a widow in Europe.
Daniel Gallagher of 263 Wyoming avenue, had worked in Conyngham mines for the past five years. He leaves his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Gallagher, and the following brothers and sisters, Patrick, Jr., assistant station master at Lehigh Valley station; Charles, noted Scotch comedian; Michael, James, Joseph, Edward, Frank, Mrs. Anna Lynn of Pittston and Mrs. John Toole of this city.
(Wilkes-Barre Record, 26 May 1928)
--------------------------
Nine Workers Escape as Death Tears Through Red Ash Vein
--------------------------
CAUSE OF EXPLOSION IS UNDETERMINED
--------------------------
Hudson Co. Officials Deny Motor Responsible for Disaster
--------------------------
Eight mine workers were killed instantly, another died at 11:30 last night in Wilkes-Barre General Hospital and six others were injured by a gas explosion in Conyngham shaft, Hudson Coal Co., yesterday morning.
The disaster came Just one day before the first anniversary of the initial squeeze and concussion in Baltimore vein of No. 3 shaft of Woodward colliery, Glen Alden Coal Co., Luzerne County's worst mine disaster of last year.
The site of yesterday's explosion is along West North street, at a point only a short distance front Luzerne county court house.
--------------------------
THE DEAD
Vincent Miscavage , laborer, aged 19, of 748 North Pennsylvania avenue. Single.
Morris Ryan, doorboy, aged 18, of 338 George avenue, Parsons. Single.
Daniel Gallagher, miner, aged 24, of 263 Wyoming street. Single.
Lewis Olson, miner, aged 56, of 614 North Franklin street. Leaves widow and three children.
George Oko, miner, aged 53, of 630 South Grant street, Miners Mills. Leaves widow and thirteen children.
Daniel Norton , mine runner, aged 24, of 82 Blackman street. Widow and two children.
Michael Konsavage, laborer, aged 35, of 860 North Pennsylvania avenue. Widow.
George Zapatocsy, laborer, aged 33, of 92 Warren avenue, Parsons. Widow and four children.
Michael Popovich, laborer, aged 38, of 802 North Washington street, died in Wilkes-Barre General hospital at 11:30 last night of burns about body.
--------------------------
THE INJURED
Joseph McLaughlin, locomotive engineer, aged 28, of 140 Storm hill, Wilkes- Barre Township. Patient in Wilkes-Barre General Hospital with burns on hands, face and back. Condition good.
Michael Monka, bratticeman assistant, aged 26, of 685 North Washington street. In Wilkes-Barre General Hospital with burns to face and hands. Condition good.
Anthony Mescavage, road cleaner, of 748 North Pennsylvania avenue. Removed to his home.
Michael Morga, miner, of 12½ Schyde street. Taken home.
Peter Olshefski, sectional foreman, Willow street, Wilkes-Barre Township. Taken home.
John Jones, miner, aged 30, of 202 George avenue, Parsons. Taken to his home.
Many Bereaved
Five wives were made husbandless and twenty-two children became fatherless as the force of the concussion and heavy mine timbers, which had been torn from their positions, swept through the chamber dealing death and injury to the fifteen underground workers.
The path a death was jagged, however, for nine men who had been working in the same position escaped safely to the surface, spreading news of the tragedy and bringing scores of relief crews to the fifteen men who had been caught by the death sweep.
Cause Undetermined
Mine officials still were in doubt last night as to the cause of the disaster. Official denial was given to an assertion that a mine motor in the territory where the explosion occurred had set off a pocket of gas. The motor, Cadwallader Evans, general manager of Hudson Coal Co., said last night, uses storage batteries and was stationary when the first puff of the explosion was noticed. There are no electric trolley wires in the section, Mr. Evans said, in discounting further any explanation that the electric power system had caused the disaster.
The spot where the explosion occurred is in the Red Ash bed, No. 1 slope in gangway No. 2, west. This is a section of underground workings formerly belonging to Smith colliery and sold about ten years ago by Hillman Coal Co. to Hudson Coal Co. Conyngham shaft, in which the explosion occurred, is a part of Baltimore No. 5 operation of Hudson Coal Co.
Big Area Affected
An area approximately 1,000 feet long was affected by the explosion. Timber and brattice work were torn down by the force of the blast and a large staff of workmen, called from different other Hudson Coal Co. operations in the Wilkes-Barre and Plymouth districts, was engaged last night in clearing away the debris and restoring the mine to a safe condition.
First knowledge of the disaster came to the surface shortly before 11 o'clock yesterday morning as nine men, nervous, breathless and gasping for air, came to the foot of the shaft and spread the alarm.
First Aid Crews Summoned
On learning of the mishap, company officials from Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Plymouth, joined by first aid crews from Loree collieries at Plymouth, Baltimore, Latlin, Delaware, Pine Ridge and Laurel Run collieries, started work of rescuing the fifteen victims.
Because of timbers strewn about the mine and the dense smoke which followed the blast, rescue work at first was difficult. But the rescuers pushed on, the first help reaching the affected district shortly before noon.
Doorboy's Body First Found
The first body which rescuers encountered was that of Morris Ryan, a doorboy, who had been working in Conyngham mine only about a month. One by one the dead and injured were brought to the surface, the dead being taken to different morgues and the more seriously burned and injured to Wilkes-Barre General Hospital for treatment.
Fourteen of the fifteen caught in the blast had been brought to the surface before 2:30. Trouble was found, however, in establishing positive identification of Zapatoczy, who, according to reports, was working for the first time in this particular section of the mine. Zapatoczy, regularly a laborer for John Dane of Ash street, offered to work in the Hillman vein yesterday when Mr. Dane, because of illness, failed to report. Colliery officials hastily summoned Mr. Dane, but even he, because of burns and bruises received by Zapatoczy, was unable to recognize his laborer, who lay at the bottom of the shaft unidentified for more than three hours. Toward 3:30 a cousin of Zapatoczy came to inquire and identification was established.
News of the explosion quickly spread through the city. Hundreds of persons thronged about the shaft, pressing hard against ropes stretched by colliery officials to prevent curious from interfering with the rescue work. Gradually the crowd dwindled until about 4 in the afternoon, when Zapatoczy's body was brought to the surface. The greater part of the crowd then left and remaining only were a few knots of miners discussing the catastrophe among themselves in foreign tongues.
Survivor Watches
For about a half hour yesterday afternoon a small man, obviously of foreign extraction, whose hands bore the black marks characteristic to an underground worker, sat on a window sill of the colliery boiler house opposite the shaft watching. His face wore a picture of sorrow as he sat and stared. But fortune had been generous to this man, Konstine Martin of North Washington street, near Chestnut street, for he was one of a group of four men whom the Jagged path of the catastrophe had missed.
Martin had been sitting on a mine box in a crosscut talking with his laborer, Kansavage, who was standing in the main chamber, and a short distance from them was the motor, with McLaughlin, the motor runner, conversing with Vincent Miscavage.
A deafening sound and Martin, still conscious, was hurled through space for a distance of about fifteen feet. Scurrying to his feet and with cap over his face to prevent breathing, for a minute at least, the poisonous fumes which followed the explosion, he made a mad dash toward the head of the shaft and was one of the first to spread the alarm of the disaster.
Officials Deny Rumor
Coal company officials put to rout last night a report which had circulated among the curious watching at the head of the shaft that fourteen men in the chamber at the time of the disaster had crawled through a pipe to safety. This would be impossible, officials said, because the largest pipe in that district is only five inches in diameter.
Veteran Employes
George Oko, who lived at 638 South Grant street, had been employed at Conyngham mines for many years. He was a member of SS. Peter and Paul's Church, Plains, and leaves his widow and the following children, Mrs. Helen Kozibroda, Mrs. Mary Bombay, Mrs. Josephine Czubek, John, Joseph, Walter, Edna, Lottie, Stephen, Genevieve, Stella, Andrew, Anna, Stasia and Stanley.
Lewis Olson was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and leaves his widow and three children, Violet, Florence and Leonard; also several brothers and sisters in Sweden.
George Zapatocsy of 92 George avenue, Parsons, worked at the Conyngham colliery for the past six years. He leaves a widow and four children, Anthony, Jenny, Walter and Edward.
Vincent Miscavage of 748 North Pennsylvania avenue, son of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Miscavage, had been working at the Conyngham only two weeks and would have drawn his first pay yesterday. Besides his parents, he leaves a brother, Joseph, and a sister, Helen.
Morris Ryan was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ryan of 338 George avenue, Parsons.
Daniel Norton of 82 Blackman street, was a member of Grove Street Evangelical Church and leaves his widow, two children, Gertrude and Marjorie; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Norton, and the following brothers and sisters, Ellsworth, Mrs. Evelyn Glance, Albert, Norman and Jacob.
Michael Konsavage of 816 North Pennsylvania avenue, boarded with his sister, Ahafia Konsavage, and besides her leaves a widow in Europe.
Daniel Gallagher of 263 Wyoming avenue, had worked in Conyngham mines for the past five years. He leaves his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Gallagher, and the following brothers and sisters, Patrick, Jr., assistant station master at Lehigh Valley station; Charles, noted Scotch comedian; Michael, James, Joseph, Edward, Frank, Mrs. Anna Lynn of Pittston and Mrs. John Toole of this city.
(Wilkes-Barre Record, 26 May 1928)
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