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Archiver > PAWASHIN > 1998-10 > 0907525936


From: "Helen in Pa." <>
Subject: Re: Mariana Mine Disaster? Part 2
Date: Sun, 4 Oct 1998 18:32:16 -0000


Washington Observer, Monday Morning November 30, 1908
SIXTY-ONE BODIES HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM ILL-FATED MINE
Worst Disaster in History of Mining in Washington County
Some Unseen Force at Work Wrecks What Was Considered the Finest Mine in the
World--Cause of Disaster Leaves Science and Invention to Wonder.
THE STORY OF THE AWFUL CATASTROPHE
Marianna, Nov. 29.--Shortly before 11 o'clock Saturday morning a terrific
explosion took place in the Marianna mines of the Pittsburg-Buffalo company
in which 130 men were working and all but one of this entire number were
killed outright. The shafts at No. 1 and No. 2 Rachel and Agnes, were badly
wrecked by the force of the explosion, one man was killed and others
seriously injured who were just starting down the shaft in the cage at No.
2.
the explosion came without a moment's warning and with such force that
it could be heard for miles around. The steel derrick over the No. 2 shaft
was wrecked and the cage torn to pieces. The temporary derrick in
construction at the Rachel shaft was literally blown to atoms and scattered
in a thousand different pieces about the opening of the shaft.
Inspector Henry Louttit had just stepped from the cage of shaft No. 2,
when the explosion took place. He had been at Marianna for two days and had
inspected the mines every half hour on Friday and during the same intervals
Saturday morning up until the time of the explosion.
The mine is gaseous. All the mines in this end of Washington county are
in this condition. But Mr. Louttit said that there were no accumulations of
gas anywhere in the mine so far as he had been able to observe. Engineer and
General Superintendent A.C. Beeson had come to the surface just a few
minutes before Louttit. He had found the mine in perfect condition.
to be continued...
Helen in Pa.

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