MANY MINERS IN PERIL

 

A BURNING BREAKER THAT THREATENED HUMAN LIFE.

 

 

      Scranton, Penn., July 17.  --  The breaker of the Dunn Colliery in Old Forge, on the outskirts of Scranton, caught fire this evening at 7:30 o’clock, and in a short time was burned to the ground.  The night force of 50 men went into the colliery at 6 o’clock to their work, and were in the mine when the breaker caught fire.  The flames were first seen in the tower of the breaker, 100 feet high, and spread so rapidly that it was impossible to reach the mouth of the shaft until the destruction was complete.  Fortunately a trumpet from the blacksmith’s shop, some distance away, was connected with the pump room, and through this the outside hands communicated with the pumpman at the foot of the slope and told him of the disaster, bidding him to warn the miners to make their escape through the slope.

     By the time a shower of blazing sparks and timber fell down the shaft and drove the pumpman from his work.  There was intense excitement in the neighborhood of the burning breaker, which was surrounded by thousands of eager and anxious persons, waiting to hear from the men in the pit over which the fearful fire was roaring.  At last there was a cry of joy in the crowd as the glad news “the men are safe” was passed along the line.  The miners made their escape through the slope, and managed to reach the surface about 8:30 o’clock.  The burned breaker was built by John Jermyn of this city a short time ago, at a cost of $100,000.   The workmen there had been on strike some time ago, and had but recently settled their differences with their employer.

 

The New York Times

Published:  July 18, 1888