IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) h A c^. y. Ua % 1.0 I.I 1.25 IM IIIIM ^ lis 12.0 1.4 1.6 V] <^ /^ / "ci^l c*: 'V y /^ Hiotographic Sciences Corporation 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 873-4503 '^ V :r Mi.\[\( l)i->\Mi;i< IN Canada, with \ 1)Kii;i- 1 )i;S(:kIl'ri()N AND I IlSli iRicAi, Skkt( II (i|. riti.: Spkixc- IIII.I. CMl,i,ii:Kii;s. /V7>V./V///;/i /,'!' H. A. Mcknight, SPRILGHILL, N. S. ) PRICE 25 CENTS. Si'Kisi;nir,i. Niius Pjunt, ^r Kntered ^cronling to Act ,,f I'nrliaiiiunt .,f ( aiMila, III ilic In H. A, McKXIOIIT, year iSyi, In the Office ..f ilie Minister of At; n. iiltiire, at ( )tt.-i W»*"i*«("l"^«w»*tiW«^W5»*^ AT THE MORGUE AWAITI MORGUE AWAITING IDENTITY, INTRODUCTION. The Inlldwing description of the (ire:i( ColHery I^xplo- sion at Sprini^hill, l)y which one huiKlred and twenty-five nu-n and Ijoys lost their lives, is the most complete and trustworthy obtainable. This account of the scenes which followed -the direful calamity is puljlished on the spot and is strictly accurate. H. A. Mcknight, rublisluv. Si'KiNcnu.i., jolli March. /Sy/. M^ ^^OSl^ iiii; Sl'RIXCIIILL COLLlliKIHS. The largest in Canada, Are situated in ruiiilierlaiul rcninty, Nova Scotia, and are coniiLCted with the Intercolonial Railway by a branch road five miles loni^. The Collieries, three in number, are owned and operated by the Cumberlaiul Railway and Coal Co'y, which is composed of Montreal cajjitalists, and represents invested capital of o\er Si, 000,000. This Com])an\' jjur- chased, in 1.SS2, the Miniiii^ property at Sprin,<;hill, and tlic Railway, extending to the shippini:;- port of I'arrsboro, from St. John capitalists, by whom the coal tukl had been profitably de\-eloi)id for ten years previously. Since becomin,^- the property of the present owners the capacity of the Collieries has been doubled. The average daily output exceeds 2,000 tons, and it has occasionally risen to 2,300 tons. The number of persons eniployed is from thirteen to fourteen hundred. This small army of workmen finds steady employment minint; and preparing coal for shipment. The shipment of such large quantities of coal, indirectly affords many others means of earning a livelihood. The total (juantity of coal shipped since the Collieries were oi)ened in 1873, is about 3,500,000 tons. The underground workings are very extensive ; and already three lifts have been exhausted, and the depth of No. r Slope is I, goo feet, while preparations are now being made to increase it to 2,500 feet. The supply of coal, however, on the authority of geologists competent to form an accurate estimate, is said to be practically inexhaustible. The facts recited convey an idea of the extent of the mining operations, and a description of the different seams and methods of working will assist in understanding what loUows. Three seams of coal, from ten to twelve feet in thickness, are now worked, while smaller seams have not yet been touched. These seams dip in a northerly direction 6 Springhill Colliery E.xplosioi. at an anj^;le of 35''. The surface outcrop of each seam is about 500 feet above sea level, and l)eginnin_t>- at the outcrop three slopes have been sunk. The west seam underlies tlie east, from which it is separated by seventy feet of rock, and the top, or north seam, is separated from the east by about 160 feet. By holding in a standing position three thin pieces of wood, and imagining the intervening space to be stratified ri>ck, and at a certain depth tunnels driven through the rock connecting the seams, a clearer idea of the under- ground workings may be obtained. r.AST si.oi'i;, siiouiNc; dimi' THE EXPLOSION. Two sloi)es, Nus. I and 2, were at work on Saturday, February 2iHt, 1S91. Owing to lack of sufhcient empty coal cars in which to transport the output, No. 3 Slope was idle. The pits had been carefully examined, and the reports of the examiners for the previous night stated that the work- ings were free from gas. Work began at the usual time, 7 Spri)ighiil Col/icrv I'^.vp/osioi. w^ JA.'n o'clock, a. m., and continued without any misliap up to 12 o'clock, noon, when there was a cessation of lialf an hour for dinner. The machinery was attain put in operation at half-past twelve, and everything was ruiniing smoothly, when suddenly the loud roar of a terrific explosion startled those underground, and was felt on the surface by a tremor of the earth. Nos. [ and 2 Slopes, ff)r purposes of ventilation, were connected by a tunnel at the 1,300 foot level. In No. 2 Slojie the explosion extended a short distance through this tunnel, but in iSo. 1 Slope it swept along the 1,900 foot level a considerable distance. I^ye-witnesses describe it as pre- ceded by a sudden gust of wind, which swept like a tornado through the dark [lassages, hurling timbers and clouds of dust and Hying missiles before it. This was followed in a few seconds Ijy balls of tire, large and small, and then came a solid body of fierce flame that filled the passages, and literally roasted everything in its jxith. Those near the pit bottom, nearly half a mile from the supposed seat of the ex- plosion, alone are left to describe it. Little John Conway, a driver, was the furthest in the le\el of those rescued, and, therefore, the nearest to the district where the explosion originated. His escape was almost miraculous. Manager Swift luul relie\ed Mr. Conway, and was in charge of the pit at tlie time, about one o'clock. He went into the west level half an hour before, and was killed. Those at the pit bottom were without a leader. They w'ere the first to venture into the level, which was still thick with clouds of heated smoke and coal dust. Their names were James Lambert, Wm. McC.ilvray, Geo. Morrison, Malcolm Blue, Geo. (3ulton. Wm. Murray, James Ferguson, Joseph Robinson, Dan. O'Brien, James Miller, and Chas. H. VVeller. They proceeded to the foot of No. 3 chute, where they dis- covered some clothing and wood on fire. James Lambert went up the chute and extinguished the fire, which probably prevented great damage to property. This party picked up and carried out a number of the wounded, among whom was Willard Carter, a 13 year old trapper, whose door was com- pletely demolished. Cries for help could be heard, and men, flying for their lives, howling frantically, were met. At No. 4 Balance, with the assistance of James Harvey and 8 Spyi)i^/iil/ Colliery Explosion. John Maiden, who descended from the surface, they rescued Adolph Landry, who was lying beneath a dead horse, severely burned. About 40 feet farther cries of " Mother " were heard, and after removing a dead horse and a (juantity of rubbish, John Conway, a driver, was found crazctl with the shock and fright, but unscratched. The wounded, so soon as taken to the pit bottom, were hoisted rapidly to the surface, and conveyed to their homes in sleighs, warmly wrapped in blankets. For the first two hours after the explosion a score or more of unfortunates were brought up, ten of whom were Pff!^'-*'''"'^' KNTK/VNCK TO WH.ST SLOPE. seriously injured, the others suffering from after-damp. Four of these have siuLX- died. Medical aid was summoned from outside places. The response was prom|)t. Doctors Bliss, Black, Allen, Cami)bell and Hcwson, of Amherst; Atkinson, Babbitt and Boggs,of I'arrsboro; Dr. McDougall, of Oxford, together with the colliery doctors. Cove and Hayes, did everything possible for the alleviation of suffering. The scenes on the surface, as ixuiic-stricken men made their appearance, Sprinffhiil CoUioy Explosion. g and could give no tidings of the missing to grief-stricken relatives who eagerly surrounded them, beggar description. To prevent the overly-curious and anxious from drawing too near, a rope was stretched across the mouth of the pit, and the entrance to the buildings guarded by policemen. Several colliery officials, among them Deputy Inspector Madden, Assistant Manager Mclnnis, and Underground Managers Conway, Hargreaves, and Simpson, who were on their way to a meeting of colliery officials at Maccan, were notified, and at once returned and descended No. i Slope. Under- ground Manager Conway, assisted by James Ferguson, Peter Shannahan, and John Tarris, directed his attention to restoring ventilation with canvas. Bratticing was proceeded with systematically. Meanwhile, Assistant Manager Mclnnis led an exploring party to No. 6 Balance, up which he went a short distance, till overcome by after-damp, he had to be assisted out. Underground Manager Hargreaves and Cecil Parsons, civil engineer, pushed their way into No. 2 Slope. On the levels in No. i Slope several heavy falls were en- countered, and over these the searching party had to climb and crawl, sometimes laden with their dead comrades' bodies spread on a canvas sheet, and carrying their safety lamps between their teeth. After the wounded had been taken out, and it became evident that there could be no living person in the pits, the officials consulted, and ordered the searching parties to withdraw from the pit for five hours in order to admit of the circulation of air, and see if there were any indications of fire, as reported, which might allay fear ol a second explosion. At six o'clock the men withdrew from No. i .Slope. When it became known that the destructive explosion had extended to No. 2 Slope, a crowd gathered there and the wounded were speedily taken to the surface. The first to enter the pit to search for the dead and wounded were William Reese, Ralph Turner, Malcolm McMuUin, Moses Jones and Alex. Chisholm. They penetrated through the tunnel where the after-damp had poured out of No. 6 and 7 Balances into the 1,300 foot level, and saw at once indica- tions of its deadly effect. Jesse Armishaw accompanied the party only to find his three sons cold in death. A. A. McKinnon and Daniel Murray went down to search for T lO Sprhiqliill Colliery Explosio)i. McKinnon's brother, whom they found dead on the level, overcome by the powerful narcotic poison. Amonji^ others who were the first to ljo to the relit.'f f)f the wounded were Charles R-'unie, John Matheson, jr., John Moffatt and R. W. McDonald, all of whom exerted themselves nobly in their endeavor to succor the dyinq; and the death W'ithin a c(jmparatively short distance on the k\el, twenty bodies were found lyin^' on their faces, their safety lamps in their hands, where they fell as they ran. Some had succeeded in MANGLED RODIES OF HORSES FROM THE MINES. running nearly half a mile along the dark, narrow passages, groping their way probably when they succumbed. Most of the dead were in the attitude of making violent efforts to escape, when they became rigid under the influence of the poison which they inhaled. A little boy named Ross was found standing with one arm encircling a prop ; he had been dead for some time. Horses had dropped on their knees and expired leaning against the side of the levels. w 1 ««■■ Springhill Colliery Explosion. 1 1 When it was found that all in this pit were beyond doubt dead hours before, and that the lives of the searchintr party niiyht be endangered by proceeding further, they were also withdrawn. THE SECOND DESCENT. At eleven o'clock, Saturday night, a large party ot brave men descended both No. r and 2 Slopes, and the work of recovering the dead began. The searching i)arty in No. 2 Slope found ventilation almost perfecdy restored, and were enabled to carry out those found in the levels. All through the night the gruesome work went on, and Sunday morning all the dead, with three exceptions, had been recovered in this Slope, making 47 for the night. The work was under the direction of Underground Manager Hargreaves, who was assisted by Underground Manager Simpson of No 3 Slope. Large crowds, sorrowful and anxious, watched with eagerness each load of dead brought u[). At No. i Slope, owing to the terrific force of the explosion, great obstacles had to be overcome before the recovery of bodies coukl be undertaken. The remains of two boys badly muti- lated were picked up and taken out of the pit in bags. A young man was found standing where he stood at the time of the fearful blast, which piled debris around him to the height of his waist, and where he was probably instandy killed ik>f()re morning the explorers reached the explosion district, which was literally covered with dead. The men appeared as though instandy killed. They were covered with a lead colored powder, the ash of the burnt coal dust. They did not seem badly burned. Most of them had their hands before their faces, to shield them from the fierce llame. They were t)lown hither and thither by the force of die explosion. With few excei)tions their faces wore a peaceful look, and there were evidences of sudden death. One man had a piec< of bread in his mouth and had not finished eating his diiuier. Another had his teeth firmly set upon the amber mouthpiece of his pipe, which had to be broken to be released from his death grip. Others were lying beside their picks and slunels. Iron rails were Vm\ up and twisted into every conceivable shape ; stout timbers snapped like pipe stems, and heavy material driven hun- 12 Spyiufi/ii/l Colliery Explosion. dreds of feet by the violence of the explosion, before which human life could not last for a moment. Sunday morning the recovery of bodies in No. i Slope began in earnest, and continued during several days. Owing to over-exertion, and the effects of after-damp, Underground Manager Conway was completely prostrated, and his j)lace taken by Thomas Scott. Entering the pit with Overman Reese and others, smouldering fire was discovered in No. 2 Bord, No. 6 Balance. This was extinguished with little .M.\.\.\(ii;K (o\\.\\> Ki.siDi'.Nri-; ditihculty. Inspector (iilpin and Deputy Inspector Madden descended No. i Slope, and passed through into No. 2. They concluded that there would be no further danger from fire. Volunteers entered the pits hourly, and it was only during .Sunday forenoon that tlu" appalling extent of the direful calamity became known. Including two, who died from injuries, the dead numbered 123, antl with two, who have died since, the number (jf killed is 125, A complete Sp>iii!^hiU Cullicry K\ plosion. 1 3 list of the killed, together with those who died from injuries (marked * ), compiled from official sources, giving: the ages, and persons dependent on those killeii, is as follows : N'amb. Anderson, Arthur Armishaw, Jesse, Jr. Armishaw, Herbert Boyd, John Bentliffe, John Brown, William Bunt, Andrew Bunt, Alexaniler , Bond, George Birchell, William Budd, Alonzo Bainbridge, Ernest Chandler, Ernest C'lmpbcll, Donald Campbell, Alexander Campbell, John D. Carter, Reid Carter, Clarence *Carter, Willard Crawford, John Casey, Jude Carmichael, Andrew Carmichael, William Carmichael, John Clark, Robert Conway, James Connerton, John Carrigan, William Collins, Matthew Dawson, Richard DaW'Son, Samuel Dillon, Fred. Dupee, Joseph Dunn, John Davis, Thomas Ernest, Roger Eurbow, Samuel Francis, John Fife, Hiram Fletcher, Thomas Findlayson, Daniel Guthro, Lazarus ■ Died from injuries, Agb. 17 21 18 27 39 19 19 15 18 22 27 20 16 47 30 23 50 23 13 20 21 32 21 36 37 24 ^7 35 45 20 17 12 13 15 15 17 35 37 35 38 56 Pbhsons Df.i'endknt on THOSR KiLI.KU. Wife. Wife and 5 children. Mother. Mother. Wife and 7 children. Wife and 3 children. Wife and 4 children. Wife. Wife and 3 children. Wife and child. Wife and 2 children. Wife and 3 children. Wife and 6 children. Wife. Wife and 2 children. Wife and 2 children. Wife and 3 children. Wife and 4 children. 14 Springhill Colliery Explosion. — - ! Pkksons Drvendent .in Namb. , Age, THOSE Killed. Gallagher, Peter '35 Wife and 3 children. Gillis, John 24 Hallet, Thomas 25 Hannigar, Peter 25 Hayden, John 23 Hunter, John 33 Wife and 4 children. Hyde, William 35 Wife and 4 children. Johnson, James 16 Kent, William 40 Wife and 6 children. Letcher, Frank 22 Wife and child. Lockhart, Dan 24 Wife and 2 children. Livingston, Henry 24 Legere, Samuel '^l Martin, George 14 Murphy, Richard 21 Morrison, Thomas 18 • Muckle, Samuel 21 Maiden, Wm. J. 22 Morris. James 50 Wife and 6 children. Murphy, Jeremiah 37 Wife and 3 children. Miller, James, Sr. 50 Wife and 6 children. Mitchell, John 38 Wife and 4 children, Mott, Ernest 26 Wife and 2 children. McKinnoii, Allan 35 Wife and 2 children. McKinnon, Angus 2nd. 51 Wife and 8 children. McKinnon, John ist. 26 Wife. McKinnon, I.aughlin 23 McEachran, John I). 22 McKay, A.J. 25 \ McKay, Donald 2nd. 50 Wife and 2 children. Mc^Tilverv. William 2nd. 2.5 Wife and child. McKee, VVilliam 45 : Wife. McDonald, lohn J. 42 1 Wife and 4 children. McDonald, Rory B. 40 W^ife and 4 children. McFaddcn, Robert 28 McPhee, Neil 28 McNutt, Charles 24 McLeod, Neil 23 Mother. McLeod, Henry 18 McLeod, Rory 32 Wife and 2 children. McLeod, Norman 29 Wife and child. McNeil, John F. 32 Wife and 2 children. McNeil, Rod. C. 25 *McNeil, Joshua 21 *McNeil, NeilS. 23 McVey, David , 16 *Died from injuries. Spr'nighill Collicrv Explosion. 15 Persons Dki'kniiknt on Nami:. A(.E. rHo>,K KlI.IlK. 1 McVey, James 14 Nash, Charles Wile and child. ■'^Nash, Henry 24 Wife and child. Nairn, John 50 Wife. Nairn, James 20 Nairn, Malcohn 21 Wife. Noiles, Roger 33 Wife and 2 children. Nicholson, Malcolm 42 Wife antl child. Overs, James 25 Pitt, Joseph 20 Mother. Pequinot, James 15 Ryan, Bruce 14 Mother. Ross, Philip i 14 Ross, Murdoch 16 Reid, Peter 13 Ripley, Clifford 21 Rogers, Thomas 21 Mother. Robbins, James 31 Rushton, Stephen 31 Wife and 4 children. Robinson, Hugh 39 Wife and 4 children. Swift, Henry 42 Wife and 5 children. Sherlock, Rol^ert A. 45 Wife and child. Shipley, Archibald 35 Wife and 6 children. Sharpies, James 36 W' ife and 3 children. Simmonds, Howard 17 Smith, Edward 14 Taylor, Douglas 16 ' Turner, William H. 64 Wife and 5 children. Tatterstal, Joseph 45 Wife and 5 children and Mother Vance, Alexander 35 Wife and 4 children. Watt, David 17 Wood, George 21 W'ife and child. Wry, Henry IS Mother. Wry, Edgar 22 Wife anil 2 children. White, Philip B. 30 Wife and 4 children. Williams, John 40 Wife and 6 children. Wilson, Thomas 40 Wife and child. ♦Oied from injuries. mmmmmm i6 Springhill Colliery Explosion. THE WOUNDED. Anoi.i'HUS Laxdrv, 14 years old, a little French boy, louiid beneath a horse, was painfully burned, and was delirious for several days. He will recover. 1).\NNIK RoiuNSON, 14 years old, who distinguished himself by saving a little trapper boy, had his face, head and arms covered with burns. David Lii)I>i,f„ aged 22, struck by a flying missile, sus- tained injuries to his spinal cord that paralyzed the lower SI'RINtilUI.I. I'ROM rHi: RAII.WAV STATION. parts of his body. 1 le was afterwards removed to the hos- pital at Halifax. James Daniel McDonald, aged 30, was panic stricken, and after recovery from the effects of after-damp became demented. Consciousness is slowly returning. Danill Blatox, 13 years old, was struck by a Hying missile. His skull was laid bare by a scalp wound and he Vv"-'t 1 f:''^losion. pit only a coupli- (jf days, and was numbered with the dead. A lnoken hearted lather, Oliver Dupois, whose son josepii was killed, was ttMulerlv conveying the remains to liis house. His lour year (jld boy ran out to mei-t him, slipi)cd on the iec, and struck his head so violently in fallinj^ that he expired instantly. The grief of the little family was \i'ry s^reat, and the sad event added to the gloom which overspread the community. rwff- (;oiN(; TO Tin-: (toietkrv. THE SEARCH. Though the absence of Ihx' made the work of recovering the bodies tolerably easy and safe, yet, owing t(j the tiinl)ers for the support of the roof being in many cases blown out, access to the working places where the men were suddenly killed was rendered somewhat dangerous, and many of the dead were buried beneath immense quantities of roof stone m p^^^*^^" ARRIVAL AT THE MORGUE OF BODl iiMMfeMi -Tv^ Mr~t ! *?'" y- "^' RGUE OF BODIES FROM THE PITS. Spn')ifiiii// Colliery I\xfylo<;ion. 19 that had caved in. The search, h()\ve\er, was prosecuted with tlie utmost \i,ii;or, and with s^reat success. Two and three bodies were brought up at a time during Sunday, and the crowd which surrounded tlie Slopes' mouth made way in silence for the men who carried some poor victim on tlieir shoulders, wrajjped in a sheet or blanket, with only the boots visil)le at one end to denote that another human being had gone to rest. The bodies were all taken to the carpenter shoi), which was used temporarily as the morgue. There, on two rows of benches, from si.xtcen to twenty could sometimes be seen at one time awaiting identification. The sights within the large building, illuminated at night by the electric light, were sickening. The door was closely guarded. Outside, sleighs awaited the bodies, which were first strii)])cd of the clothiiig worn at the time of the accident, prepared for burial, and then conveyed to their former homes. This work was most trying, aiul few men could stand it longer than a few hours. 'I"he men hail to be con- stantly refreshed with stimulants. .Spectators surrounded the building, and those unable to gain admittance, an.xiously peered through the windows. The dead were identified amid most pathetic scenes. Fathers wept piteously over sons, and widowed mothers and wi\'es ulteretl Ijitler wails of anguish as they were taken to the side of a co\ered body, which proved to be the lost one. " That's poor dear John," was the broken-hearted cry heard as a grief-stricken woman leaned for support on the arm of a friend and itlentified her relative. These tragic scenes among the deatl will never be forgotten by hundreds who looked in upon the rows of corpses. From Saturday atternoon till Thursday evening — five long days — this building was ne\er closed. During that time the bodies were taken up and buried. Those re- cox'cretl after Tuesday were in a bad state, and carbolic acid had to be used as a disinfectant. .Still the attendants continued faithful. Bodies that had begun to decompose had to be at once interred. Some of these were in places not accessible earlier, and those found beneath falls of stone were well preserved. The last to come out ot the ill-fated pit was that of Henry Swift, the Manager of the Collieries. His remains were found near the face of the 1,900 foot level, covered by nearly three feet of stone. 20 Sprin^/ii// Co/fiery lixplosion. THE FUNERALS. No services were held, except short ones in the ICpiscojxil and Roman Catholic Churches, on Sunday, the day after the explosion. Throughout the precedinf,^ ni^ht few of the inhabitants of the town sle[)t, and at day break many were astir. The clert^ynien of the different denominations moved anions the bereft widows and children and offered conso- lation; but the whole population centred its thoujjht on the I.i:.\VING THE CHtlRCH. tragic scenes that attended the recovery\)f bodies at No. i Slope Anxiety was depicted on the faces of even strangers by whom the town was thronged. Sunday evening admass meeting was held in Fraser's Hall ; Mayor Hall presided. Arrangements were made for the funerals. P'or the pur- pose of attending to the burials, and relieving the stricken families of care, a committee was appointed to attend to the Springhill Colliery Explosion. 21 1 digging' of the gra\es and to appoint the time of funerals. Sub-committees at the cemetery and at headquarters in town assisted greatly. The digging of graves was difficult, owing to the earth being frozen hard. Volunteers were called for, but it was found on Monday that little progress had been made, and at another meeting held Monday even- ing, another call was made for more volunteers. Tuesday morning the grave diggers faced blustery weather, and at- tacked with greater success the frozen earth. \ lot coftcc and other refreshments were provided for the workers, near the cemetery. When more than one member of a family were to be buried, they were buried side by side in one grave. Two and three were laid in several graves, made large enough for this purpose. The strangers were buried in a large grave sixteen feet square. The funerals began Mon- day afternoon, and continued every day till Friday. It was not an unusual sight to see two and three coffins on a sleigh followed by sorrowing relati\es. At times the Clergymen of different dennminations conducted burial services simul- taneously in different parts of the cemetery. The resident Clergy were assisted by others. Twd members of the 93id battalion Band, Jesse Armisiiaw and Thomas b'letcher, were\ictims of the exi^losion ; the band i)layed at their fune- rals Tuesday. Monday afternoon one long procession followed ele\'en of the dead to the cemetery. The funerals each day were: Monday, 33 ; Tuesdaw ,S3 ; Wednesday, 14; Thursday, 3 ; Friday, i. besides these funerals, the remains of 21 were taken by rail to other places for burial. The committee appointed to look after the funerals were F. L. Peers, Wm. Wylie, U. J. Weatherbee, (ieo. A. .Smith, William Cargeig, A. D. Ferguson, James Murphy, James Highton, Martin Black and Robert Dykens. At the Pro- testant cemetery, .Samuel Russell and John Murray, sr. directed operations, and at the Roman Catholic cemetery, Thomas Shannahan attended to the placing of the graves, of which there were over twenty. Several funerals were conducted by the different Societies, among them the Odd- fellows, Orangemen and Masonic lodges. The funeral of Manager Swift, P'riday afternoon, was of the nature of a public funeral ; it was largely attended. The procession was nearly three-quarters of a mile long, and the streets 22 Springhill Colliery li.xplosion. were lined by luiiKircds of sorrowful people, many of whom followed thf remains on foot to the i^-rave. The Masons took charj^e of the remains, which were buried accordiiig- to their rites. The jtrocession was headed hy the 93rd Bat- talion Hand, reinforced by members (jf the Cumberland Cornet Band, and played a mournful dirt>e. The closing scene of the calamity will long be memorai)le. HEROISM. There were many instances of heroic conduct. Those who disiilaycd the coolest courage, and faced the greatest ^,, -■'%'*" ki tS A LONELY I'UNEKAL. dangers, were Mie men who, momentarily expecting a second explosion, risked their own lives for the sake of their wounded comrades, whose plaintive cries for help fell upon their ears. They penetrated the smoking levels as far as they could without endangering their lives from the choke- damp, which met them after proceeding about half a mile. When the first party left the pit-bottom they were accom- spring hi 11 Colliery Explosion. 23 panied by John Dan Beaton, whose thirteen-year-old brother was working not far from the scene of the explosion. When nearing the place where his brother was supposed to be, young Beaton — who is seventeen years old — dashed ahead, and was soon met carrying his wounded brother toward the pit bottom. He declined assistance offered him, and succeeded in taking out his brother severely wounded. Beaton's heroism is greatly admired. Little Dannie Robertson, though badly burned himself, assisted little Judson Tarris, a ten-year-old trapper, to make his escape. Robertson was badly burned about the back, arms and face. Malcolm Blue and Joseph Robinson exerted themselves nobly for the rescue of their comrades, antl succeeded in carrying out many of the wounded. Robinson was more than once overcome by after-damp, but never gave up. Assistant Manager Mclnnis pushed ahead too far and fell. Me was assisted out by those who were with him. Underground Manager Conway displayed great cool- ness, and at once exerted himself to render the work of recovering the dead less dangerous. Overman Reese rendered most heroic service, which was gratefully ajjpreciated by at least one of those rescued, who has shown his appreciation of such a noble act. J. R. Cowans, the General Manager of the Company, who had just returned from Montreal, did not hesitate to descend No. i .Slope, and see for himself the extent of the disaster. Rev. David Wright went down No. 2 .Slope, and re- freshed the exploring part}- with hot cottee. On the surface, while there was a possibility of fire. Deputy Inspector Madden ])laced thermometers in the return air shafts, which registered the temperature of the pits. These were frequently examined, and any change of temperature carefully noted. These and other observa- tions were taken as a guidance for the men. The Deputy Inspector was present from a short time after tlie explosion took place, and stated that in his experience at four coliierv explosions, he had never observed greater spon- taneity on the part of volunteers. When appealed t(j, the response of the men was hearty. Many were disappointed 24 Spyi)i^hill Colliery lixplosion. because their services were declined, owing to the number who were anxious to descend to succor their icllow- work- men. From ten to fifteen men went down in each searching party, and these were relieved hourly. SYMPATHY AND RELIEF. Sunday afternoon a meeting of prominent citizens, Town Council, rcprescntati\e workmen and Clergy, tt)ok place, at A SAD SCENE IN THE CEMETERY. which it was decided to issue an appeal for aid for the sufferers. The appeal, which was as follows, was telegraphed free by the telegra])h companies to the principal cities of Canada and the United .States: A minin,^; disaster. atlendt;tl with fatal results unparallelled in the history of Canadian mines, lias fallen upon the town and peo|)!e of .Spririi;hill. The loss of life is prul)aljl3- as ^leat as the conil)ined appallini;- loss at the Dniinniond and Iniord pit explo- sions. About 117 lives are known to be lost. Fifty-one widows have been left behiiul, and 157 children made fatherless. The widows and fatherless will reciuire alnuidaiit assistance, and that Springhill CoUicry lixplosion. • .1 1 ^^.•^ I promptly, from a pul)lic ^lluckl'(l and liorrilk'd l)y lliis liorrible calamity. Seventy tliousaiul dollars will he rtHpiirnd to niLC-l the demands and to alleviate the sul1'erin,<;s of the bereaved and dis- tressed tinriii};- the most i)ressin,L; period ol" their direful misfor- tune. The residents of Sprin,L;liil1, in meeting assembled, have appointed a committee, consistin.n of the Mayor, Town Council, and all the resident Cler^^y, to soli<-it and acknowled|;e subscrip- tions to the .Siirin.uhill Relief lund, and tln-y conlidently and earnestly ask for an mimediato response of all denominations, societies, guilds, trades, and nationalities. Wii.i.iANt IIai.i., A/avDr. A. Mtl,i:< )i>, Si'i /■('/(! ly. The response to the appeal has been hi.uhly j^nitifying, and it is expected tlial the amount asked tor will he sub- scribed. Among those who contrilnited was Oueen Victoria, who also sent a tcleg-ram concerning the loss ol" life and the wounded, asking lor particulars, to which Mayor tlall replied. The Governor General subscribed S500, and other amounts followed. Since the appeal was issued several names have been added to the list, making 125 deaths. The number of i)er- sons dependent on those killed is 57 widows, 169 fatherless children, and S widowed mothers. These will be provided for out of the relief fund. THE INQUEST. Coroner Dr. C. A. Black, of Amherst, began his inquest Monday evening, February 23rd, in Fraser's Hall. The twelve jurors sworn were: William Hall (foreman), A. E. Fraser, Richard Piennett, Robert V. Scott, George Watt, Daniel Coghill, R. W. McDonald, Timothy Leadbeater, Daniel Ferguson, Robt. Gray, Charles Simpson, and Simon Fraser. After viewing the remains of John Connerton, the jury visited the scene of the explosion, descending No. i Slope for that purpose. The inquest continued during Tuesday, and was then adjourned till March loth. The workmen were ably rei)re- sented by Robert Drummond. Inspector Gilpin watched proceedings for the Government, and Hector }fclnnis, of Halifax, on behalf of the Comjiany. Voluminous evidence was submitted. From the begin- ning it was asserted that the explosion was caused by coal dust, and took place in No. 3 Bord of No. 7 Balance. It 26 Sprin^i^hill Collioy hlxplosion. w.ns also broui^ht out in the cxiclence that it had hcen cur- rently rcporti-'d tliat Mrs. (\i(), a reputed prophetess of niininm^ tlisasttrs. had |)redicted an explosion in May, which had causeil a feelinjr ol' uneasiness amoni; the men. Manager Swilt consulted I'ndermround Mana,t;cr Conway re^ardin^q; this, and to ri'assure die men ol" the sat'ety ot tlu' pits, they were invited t(j make a thorough inspection. This they A niKlAL. did. Wm. I). Matthews and Thomas .Scott, who examined No. I Slope, i)resenletl the following; report: "We, tlie undersigiied Cr/fii^//f7/ CoUicty Ii.\/>losion. atU.T ixxcivinj; a meagre education at llic Natidii.il School, yf)iin},f Swilt entered tlic employ of the Rainford Coal Company. In iSo^ he Ictl ICnglaiid ior the rniitid States, wlure he w Hiked as a miner in the anthracite coal region, attciuard going to Maryland. Mr. .Swift (lid not reniain long in the States, lie removed to the .Albion .Mines, Tictou County, when: he was married. He then came to .Springhill, and for si.xteen years hekl various positions in tiie colliery here, beginning as a miner and ending as manager. Mr. .Swift was 42 year old at the time of his death. His wife and live children survive him. He was Vice-I'rcsident (if the Xova .Scotia Institute of Mine ( )fticials, and took a deep interest in mining subjects. Ten years ago he was appointed a Justice of the Peace. He was a memljer of the rresbyteri-in Church, and for manv years had been .Secre- tary of the Congregation. The Colliery I'jigineer of .Scranton, I'a., referring to Mr. Swift's untimely death, says : " hi llif (leatli iif Iliiuy .Swift, llie late manager of tlie C'lini- herlaiid Railway and Coal Coiiii)aiiy, the miiiini; fiat' rnity of .\i)\a Scotia loses one of its brightest lights. Mr. .Swift met his death in the sail .Springhill calamity while in the pursuit of his ofticial duties. While the loss (if each of the victims was to his own immediate friends and family just as great as that of ^b■. .Swift, the hitter's attainments and liie prominent position which he filled so skilfully and .icceptably, makes more than a passing n(Aice of his vlealh necessary. While we never had the i)leasure of Mr. .Swift's ac(iuaintance, we knew him through corres|)ondence and ri_pute. Professionally, he ranked very high as a successful col- liery manager, and he possessetl the good-will and respect of all Ills subordinates, as well as the confidenct; and esteem of his superior officers in the directory of the Com|)aiiy. When this is said of a man who has managed successhilly interests ;is large as lliose of the Cuml)erland Railway and C(jal Company, and has had control of a small army of workmen, it furnishes such an inde.x of his ch.iracter and attainments that nothing more need hu said." J 4^' 4 wm wm i I I M! J r .ff DATE DUE DATEDERETOUR