gtrtrigpaMfc
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 15, 1869.
DEMOCRATIC STATE TICKET.}
FOR GOVERNOR:
Hod. ABAJPACKEB, of Carbon county.
;FOR!JUDGE OF SUPREME COURT:
Don. CYRUS I. PERSHING, of Cambria co.
Booms of the Democratic County Com
mittee.
The Chairman of the Democratic
County Committee has opened rooms
in Centre Square, where he or the Sec
retary will always be found until the
campaign doses. Democrats visiting
the city are requested to call when they
come to town. By doing so they can
aid the Chairman In oommunicating
with the leaders of the different dis
tricts.
Naturalization.
Let the naturalization of such for
eigners as are entitled to become citl—
zens be promptly attended to. As will
be seen by a card which appears else
where proper steps have been taken by
the Chairman of the Democratic County
Committee in regard to this important
matter. Persons desiring to be natu
ralized will be attended to by calling
upon some one of the attorneys therein
mentioned. Let not a vote be lost which
can be secured.
Tbc Maine Election,
The result of the Maine Election Is
full of encouragement for the Demo
cracy of Pennsylvania. Grant’s ma
jority of 25,000 has not been annihilated,
but the twenty thousand have been
taken from it, leaving only the odd fi
gures for the Radicals to crow or mourn
over, as they may bee fit. In Pennsyl
vania the re-action will be sufficiently
great to ensure us an easy victory if our
full vote is polled.
Organize to Get Out the Vote.
Democrats of Lancaster couuty, in
less than one month election day comes.
What are you doing to get out the vote.
] Vithu full pod of our Vote the (lection
of l'acker and Pershing, and the com*
pht> overthrow of Radicalism in f'enn
i-ylvania is absolutely certain.
In the ISlmrswood campaign, which
greatly resembled the present one, we
constantly assured you that a full vote
wus equivalent to a glorious victory.
We carried the .State that year by a
meugre majority-, and there were twelve
hundred Democrats in Lancaster county
who did not go to the 2>olls.
Nothing of that kind must be permit
ted at the coming election. Such
apathy would insure our defeat by an
overwhelming mujority.
The whole Democratic vote must be
<jot out!
To do that it will bo necessary foryou
to organize and to work. *
Organize at once! Have each school
district carefully cauvassed, and means
provided for getting out every voter!
See that every voter is registered !
See that every foreigner who is enti
tled to citizenship is naturalized !
Let no pains be spared to get out a
full vote!
A full Democratic vote in this State -is
a certain Democratic victory.
REMEMBER THAT!
Do not wait for your neighbor to be
gin the good work. Go to work your-*
self! Have a meeting of the Democrats
of your township held at once. Ap
point one or more men to attend to
each school district, und see that the
work assigned to them is well done.
Never had the Democracy of Penn**
sylvania greater eucouragemeut to la
bor than at, the present moment. A
glorious victory awaits th%rn if they do
their duty
\Vr ran only l>>' beaten by criminal
ajjathy and n> gliguicc on our own part.
REMEMBER THAT AND GO TO
WORK WITH A WILL
OBIUAKY
Rev. E. li. Thomas,
Rev. K. 11. Thomas, editor atul pub
lisher of the Church Advocate, died at
lm residence in this city on Saturday.
The A<iroi-a(c is l,lie organ of that body
of Christians, which follows the teach
ings of Rev. John Wiuebreuuer, orig
inally a minister of the German
Reformed Church, who separated from
that denomination about 183(», while
stationed at Harrisburg, and formed a
separate ecclesiastical body, which he
styled the “Church of God.” This de
nomination has increased rapidly. In
1830 it comprised but three or four small
congregations in the centre of Pennsyl
vania. Now it has its ehurches and
congregations in almost every .State of
the Union, and is still actively pro-
gressing.
Elder Thomas, whose death we record
with regret, was one of the ablest and
most prominent ministers connected
with the organization. As the editor
and publisher of the Advocate, he exer
cised great influence over the body of
Christians with which lie was so long
and so closely connected. In 18li9 he
left the Methodist Protestant Church,
on accuuut of difference of views on
“the subject of human creeds, human
church titles, and the ordinance of bap
tism.” In 1830 he became associated
with John Wiuebreuner, and an
active co-worker with him in his
new church enterprise. In 1835 his
name first appeared upon the Jour
nals of the.Eldership, though he had
been recognized by the church for sev
eral years before that as a valued and
faithful co-worker. In 1837 he was reg
ularly licensed as a Minister, and re
ceived an appointment. In the spring
of 1839 he was given charge of a Circuit
embracing parts of Lancaster, Dauphin
and Lebanon counties. Prom thattime
he continued in Lhe active work of the
ministry, preaching with ability and
success, sometimes every day in the
week, until the spring of ISG7, when
failing health compelled him to desist
from pulpit labor. He still maintained
his connection with the Church Advo
cate, however, doing most of the edito
rial labor uutil a short time ago. Under
his charge the Advocate has been en
larged and improved, uutii it is now a
very eflicient and handsome paper.—
Elder Thomas published, in connection
with the Advocate, a Sunday School
paper called “ The Gem a very neat
little sheet, well adopted to the uses for
which it was designed.
The deceased commanded the respect
of all classes of people in this city. He
was a man of unquestioned piety, dig
nified in his manners, a good citizen,
ami much loved and revered by the
member:-, of his own church. In him
toat b-mominatiou has lost one of Its
ablest and iuur.l prominent ministers.
He died in the full ae-urance of a bliss
ful lmruoitahiy, with the consciousness
that his work in Ji/e had been well done.
G Kant did not Larry long by the grave
of his friend itawiins. The clods had
hardly ceased to rattle upon the colliu
until he was off again. He is expected
in Harrisburg shortly, and rumor says
he is to be the guest of tSimou Cameron
again. The probabilities are that he
may be influenced to make Don. Came
.ion, Secretary of War. .Simon is always
ready to pay big prices for political
favors.
Ojsaiiy was quite poor when he be
came Governor. He has recently offer
ed to invest §30,000 in a farm. His
salary is but §5,000 a year. Where did
ho get the money ?
THE LANCASTER .WEEKLY USTTEXjLIGKEISrCEB. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15. 1869.
The Campaign—local Issues—What Is
Needed.
For the first time in ten years the
Democracy of Pennsylvania are engaged
iti a Gubernatorial contest which is to
be deoided upon local issues and the
merits of the opposing candidates. Cur
tin was elected first during the Presi
dential contest which preceded the war,
when the unfortunate division in the
Democratic party precluded all hope of
success. He was re-elected In the midßt
of the war by the grossest frauds and
the most outrageous abuse of the power
which the Federal Government exer
ercised over the armies. Many thou
sands of soldiers were furloughed and
sent home to vote on the express condi
tion that they would support Andrew
G. Curtin. Geary was elected over
Clymer by the wildest appeals to the
exolted passions of the people in the
year which succeeded the close of the
bitterest and most vindictive civil war
the world ever witnessed. The Demoo
racy of Pennsylvania made a gallant
fight in that campaign against terrible
odds, and were only defeated by the
most outrageous misrepresentations of
their principles and their candidate.
The present campaign presents a very
different aspect from either of the three
to which we have alluded. It has so
far been remarkably quiet, and there is
no appearance of the intense excite
ment which we have been accustomed
to see during gubernatorial elections.
That isafavorableomen for the Democ
racy. They appeal to the reason and
the good sense of the people, and are
sure of success when sound judgment
rules instead ot intemperate passion.
The people of this great Commonwealth
have local affairs of vital importance
brought before them in the present
contest, and to these the attention of all
thoughtful citizens is now being direct
ed. The present gubernatorial election
is to be decided upon State issues.
One of these is the action of John \V.
Geary and the Radical .State Legisla
ture, in regard to the ratification of the
Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitu
tion of the United States. A vast ma
jority of the people of Pennsylvania are
bitterly opposed to negro suffrage. The
naked proposition would be voted down I
by a majority of oue huudred thousand, j
if submitted to popular decision at the !
ballot-box. That Geary and the Radi
cal Legislature knew when, in spite of
the protests and petitions of many
thousands of citizens of both parties,
they rejected the proposition to submit
the question to a vote, though urged to
do so by every Democratic member of
the Seuate and the House. That bold
assumption of power by a Legislature,
which was elected under the strongest
assurances that the Rttyublicau party
would never attempt to force negro
suffrage upon Pennsylvania, is an out
rage for which John W. Geary and
those who obeyed his biddiug, as he
obeyed the. bidding of the extremists of
Congress, will have to answer to the
masses at the coming election. What
should be the voice of the people upon
this issue we know, and what their
verdict will be we think wo can safely
predict. Thousands who have hereto
fore acted with the Republican party
will take pleasure in voting against John
W. Geary on account of his action in
regard to the Fifteenth Amendment.—
The people of this State are not prepar
ed to surrender the most valuable right
they possess—the right to regulate the
elective franchise for themselves. .State
pride and the principieof self-preserva
tion alike forbid it.
There are other local questions of vast
importance involved in the campaign.
The expenditures of the State govern
ment have been almost doubled under
Geary’s administration, while the cor
ruption of the Legislature has exceeded
anything ever known in history. For
this John W. Geary is largely responsi
ble. Leading newspapers of his own
party have denounced him as the li tool"
and the “nominee” of the “Ring.” That
his reuomination was secured by the
“roosters” and “pinchers,” who held a
carnival of corruption in his immediate
presence lastrNvinter, no one pretends to
doubt. He was hand-in-glove with the
legislative thieves, and the Republican
State Convention was packed by their
willing and superseryiceable tools. We
make these grave charges on the high
est Republican authority, and they can
not be successfully denied. The people
of Pennsylvania know the truth of these
allegations, aud are preparing toexpress
their opinion of Geary and the Ring at
the ballot- box.
Upon these uud other local issues, all
well-known and recognized, the pres
ent gubernatorial contest is to be de
cided. The result cannot be doubtful
if the Democracy of Pennsylvania do
their whole duty. If there is a full poll
of our vote Packer and Pershing will
be elected by overwhelming majorities.
It is absolutely certain that we can only
be beaten by the most criminal apathy
in our own ranks. We may, however,
throw away the most splendid oppor
tunity for winning a glorious victory
by our own negligence and want of
proper organization. A vigorous and
well directed effort to bring out our full
vote must ensure a triumph which will
make glad the heart of every patriotic
man in the nation.
Democrats of Pennsylvania, the eyes
of millious are turned to you! Such a
victory as you can and ought to win in
October would seal the fate of Radical
ism and bury that corrupt and lawless
party in a grave so deep that it could
never, know a political resurrection.
Will you do your whole duty? Will
you get out the full Democratic vote in
each district? That is the momentous
question, aud victory or defeat depends
upon the manner in which you answer
it.
We talked thus to the people in the
Sharswood campaign. Our candidate
was then elected by less than a thou
sand majority, and there were twelve
hundred Democrats in Lancaster County
who did not go to the p>olls. Had they
done their duty the majority of Share
wood would have been more than dou
bled. , /
Remember that! Aud remember thjA
three votes in each of the twenty-five
hundred election districts of the State
will more than overcome.t he Radical ma
jority on the State ticket last fall! Keep
these things in mind—work as freemen
should—get out the entire vote —and a
glorious and overwhelming triumph is
absolutely sure to come with the closing
of the polls on the second Tuesday of
October.
Work as you should, and you will be
surprised at the splendor of your vic
tory.
Can't Stop It.
Geary admits in his speeches that he
cannot stop the stealing and corruption
of the Legislature. Such a confession
is weak aud cowardly—aud, more than
that, the assertion is untrue. He could
stop it if he would. Let Asa Packer be
put in the gubernatorial chair and there
will be a speedy end of it. He will use
the veto power to some purpose, and
will npt cower before the Ring. Geary
did not dare to thwart the thieves, be
cause he depended upon them for a re
nomination. Should he be re-elected
he will be bound to aid them for past
services. He has been, still is, and will
continue to be in league with them so
longas he isGovernor. Thank Heaven !
that will not be long.
A J'JioHkfC'jTox for libel, instituted
against the Pittsburg Dispatch by J. B.
O’Kiel, has just come to a proper end,
a majority of the jury refusing to con
vict. When will foolish people learn
that the most foolish thing they can do
is to attempt to punish newspaper edi
tors for publishing the truth.
Trust no one, but go yourself apd
see that your name is properly Regis
tered.
The Avondale Horror.
The whole country has been shocked
by the reports concerning the horrible
catastrophe at the Avondale Coal Mine.
As the telegraph presented to the view
of those who live remote from the scene,
the agonizing details of the efforts being
made to ascertain the fate of more than
two hundred men and boyß, the excite
ment in the public mind became in
tensely painful. The eyes of millions
were turned to the mouth of the dark
shaft from which came not a word of
hope, not even a wail of despair or a
cry of expiring agony. The sympa
thies of all men were excited, and deep
and sincere was; the pity expressed
for those imprisoned and doomed to so
dreadful a death, as well aB for the
multitude of helpless and stricken ones
who survived as mourners of those
who were dearest to them on earth. *
Plymouth, the scene of the terrible
catastrophe, is a station on the Lacka
wanna and Bloomsburg road, twenty
miles south west of Scranton. It is sit
uated on the western bank of the Sus
quehanna river, which at this point
runs nearly due west. The town is in
the heart of the Wyoming Valley, and
is one of the great coal mining depots
of our State.
Many of the anthracite coal mines in
Wyoming Valley are entered by drifts
or tunnels similar to those on railroads;
but the Avondale mine, like numbers
of others, is entered by a perpendicular
shaft. Immense wooden structures are
erected at the mouths of the mines,
containing the coal screens, the engine
and tool houses, and other necessary
appendages. The burning of these
works, which were located right over
the shaft by which the descend
ed, led to the horrible catastrophe
which has excited so much interest.— I
The entrance was choked up by the
burning debris, aud the speedy aid
which was necessary to insure the sav
ing of life could not be rendered. Two
brave fellows gallantly sacrificed their
lives in a vain attempt to aid their per
ishing comrades.
This is the most terrible mining acci
dent which has ever happened iu the
United States. The last great accident
iu the Pennsylvania mines occurred in
Carbondale about ISoO. A large mine
caved iu, destroying over a huudred
lives, and ruining the mine. When the
cave occurred the pressure of air from
the falling mass was so great that it blew
a boy and a mule au eighth of a mile out
of the narrow entrance to the mine. A
few of those entombed worked their
way out through all the dangers of fire
damps aud foul air, but the most of them
perished by starvation, or fell a prey to
Ibe rats, which in coal mines grow to
jan enormous size. One man was seven
i days in digging his way to the surface,
j Happily, in this country, these terrible
I catastrophes are rare, compared with the
i experiences of Europe, and especially of
England. Among the most disastrous
of those which have recently occurred
in the mines of.the latter country, was
the explosion at St. Helen’s, near Liver
pool, on the 22d of July last, which re
sulted iu the death,of fifty-three men.
The Fernandale colliery disaster, on the
loth of June, iu South Wales, in which
a like number of victims—fifty-three
perished ; that at Lancashire, England,
twenty-eight killed ; the coal mine ex
plosion, near Dresden, Saxony, on the
2d of August, iu which'32l perished;
the colliery explosion at Firmtny, near
rit. Etienne, Frauce, whereby fourteen
persons lost their lives.
This awful catastrophe which has
electrified the Nation, should lead to
the passage of most stringent laws by
our Legislature. No such man trap as
this Avondale mi,ue should be permit
ted to have an existence in Pennsylva
nia. The owners of mines should be
compelled by law to provide against
such accidents by constructing means
of escape, and opportunities for venti
lation. Had their been another shaft
sunk at the Avondale mine, the two
hundred men and boys who perished so
horribly aud so miserably, would all
have btfen living to-day. Capitalists
must not be allowed thus to imperil
human life. The law must take the
miners of the State under its protection,
and au Inspector must be appointed to
see to it that there is no neglect or eva
sion of the statutes. The working men
of Pennsylvania are the source of its
prosperity, and they must be fully pro
tected.
Geary hcis a Price on the Lives and
Limbs of the People.
One of the grossest outrages perpetra
ted by John W. Geary was his approval
of an act of Assembly which takes away
from juries the right to determine the
amount of damages to which persons
may be entitled, whoare injured by the
carelessness of railroads. Express
agents, mail route ageuts, postal clerks
and other employees about railroads can
be crippled or killed with impunity.
Not one dollar can any one of them re
cover though every limb be stripped
from their bodies by the grossest care
lessness. If they are killed by the most
inexcusable negligence their wives aud
children are prevented by a law which
bears Geary’s signature, from suing for
or recovering one penny.
The second section of this infamous
law fixes the maximum of indemnity
for any injury done to a passenger, short
of loss of life, at three thousand dollars.
The limbs, the flesh and blood of his
fellow-citizens is rated at a verj' low
price by Geary; and their lives are only
valued at five thousand dollars a piece.
That is the limit fixed by him, beyond
which a jury is prohibited from going.
The law was one of the most outrage
ous acts of Lhe ring, and they no doubt
made a good thing out of it. If Geary
had not been th eir tool he would have
vetoed it, and left the Courts and Juries
of the Commonwealth to determine the
amount of damages to be assessed in
each case, according to the evidence
presented. John Hickman, of We a*
Chester, an extreme Radical, but not a
thief, thus denounced this outrageous
bill when he gave his reasons for voting
against it:
“II confers most extraordinary powers
and unjust immunities upon all the rail
road companies of lhe State, at the expense
of rights of citizens, not only,of tbe Stute,
but of the nation.”
Let every citizen of Pennsylvania,
and every other person who rides on
one of our railroads, remember that
Geary has fixed a maximum price on
his limbs of three thousand dollars, and
upon his life of five thousand dollars. —
And let the voters remember that thi9
is only one of the many infamous enact
ments of the Legislative Ring which
Geary signed. Let us hear no more of
his vetoes. When the Ring demanded
his approval of any measure he freely
gave it. He was always the corrupt tool
of that rascally combination, and he is
the nominee o r the “roosteis” and
“pinchers.” 4
Tiik calm which prevails in political
circles will inevitably prove fatal to
Radicalism in Pennsylvania and Ohio
if it continues. The people are think
ing, aud when they do that they are
sure to vote the Democratic ticket. The
only hope of Geary is that the Ku-Klux-
Klan may skin a few negroes this week
or next. A skinned niggeror twomight
get up another insensate furor. It must
be a genuine article though—bogus con
cerns of that kind are played out. Look
out for the skinned nigger!
Tiif. Radicals of Juniata county held
the queerest Convention the other day
that was ever seen in Pennsylvania.
It was gotten up on the Tennessee plan.
There were two Presidents and two full
Conventions going on in the Court
House at the same time. The most
opprobious epithets were freely bandied
betweeu the contending factions, and
two separate and distinct tickets, each
claiming to be the only Simon pure,
were nominated.
What Republican Newspapers .Say of
It is not often that the Republican
press of this State assails any promi
nent member of the Radical party. So
perfect is the drill of the organization,
that scarcely a murmur of insubordi
nation is ever heard in the ranks. For
the sake of the spoils, the party journals
are content to take things as they find
them, and to cover up all the iniquities
and short comiDgs of the leaders under
columns of Indiscriminate praise. In
view of that notorious fact, the people
will not be Blow to believe the accusa
tions which leading Republican news
papers have made against John W.
Geary. A few out of many extracts
which might be produced will show the
estimation in which this tool and can
didate of the corrupt ring is held by
honest and influential Radical journals.
The Erie Dispatch , the ablest Radical
newspaper published In North Western
Pennsylvania had a true appreciation
of Geary when he was first elected, and
it has never changed its opinion of him.
After he was elected and before he was
inaugurated it spoke out as follows :
“Wo do not know but thut we aro gtviug
too much prominence to Geary, as be la
such an Ignoramus, und such a miserable
apology for a man, such a complete loafer,
wbo is allowed to sponges subsistence from
his more prosperous neighbors, that ho
alone is not able to gaiu distinction as a
knave or even as a loafer. The promises
which be has already made and violated,
the influence which he consented to have
used to effect bis election, and the manner
in which bo is dovetailed with men in the
State wbo are known to be knaves, ought
to be sufficient to keep him from being in
augurated as Governor of the State. But
tdey will not. He will be placed in the
office of Chief Executive with a howl of tri
umph, amidst a tournament, of sin and
corruption.
Our uninitiated readers may wonder why
we have not befure given our opinion upon
this subject, if they were held from the be
ginning. We have iulimated them before,
aud have warned the people of the State in
general, ttie Republican party in particular,
that they were egregiously sold to John W.
Geary ; but we hoped the managers which
had him in charge would bo sufficiently
prudent to cover up a portion of their naked
ness, and manifest by subsequent events
thut it was their desire to foster the princi
ples as well as the interests of the party.
But they have dene nothing of the kind.
They see.it to sacrifice every principle to
policy, and bury not only the honor and
power of the party but all its adherents in a
grave of dishonor and oblivion.
“The power of the Republican party iu
Pennsylvania is for tin* present used up.
The imbecility and inefficiency of our next
Governor, us u man within himself will
disgust every member iu both parlies, and
the great public of the Commonwealth will
not dure trust the party with the selection
of another man to rule over them, The
term of John W. Geary will bo the era from
which date the decay of the Republican
party iu Pennsylvania, aud which will
furnish examples of lolly to be guarded
against in the future It will constitute a
severe, and we hope, a beneficial lesson to
the party, which will leach it that honesty
and consistency must not be sacrified to
the policy of the time being. Or, in other
words, that availability will avail nothing
when it does not bring with it an amount
of brains and legitimate power sufficient to
control at all times uu honest majority in
the party. The people are already dis
gusted with Geary. Their expressions are
loud apd uumistakutfle, and though they
may bo smothered for a time, it will be
but a lit:le while before they flume out all
over the Stale in all their truth and power.
Iu Us issue of May 17th, the Phila
delphia Evening Telegraph, a Radical
paper which is well known as a lead
ing organ of the party, said ;
“The mare is a very good mnre, only the
1 mare is tleud,” said Ariosto. In Just that
unfortunate position do we now fiud John
W. Geary, w ho seeks the position of Gov
ernor for a second term. Thut he is comely,
wbo can doubt? Thut be is six feet high
und admiranly proportioned, who deny?
That bis whiskers are soldierly and of
graceful curve, who cannot see? And yet
he is not a man iu the sense thut the Chief
Magistrate of u great Commonwealth like
Pennsylvania should be. He yet lacks
something befitting his great office. Most
of all, be has not that stern integrity which
should be as much a part of ins office as bis
oath, as hjs aubservieucy to the “Ring” has
amply proved. He wants altogether not
only statesmanship, but even that leaser
quality of intelligence which he should bring
to the discharge of his responsible trusts.
His self-esteem is preposterous, his talents
tawdry as the tinsel of the stage. His as
sumptionsof capacity renderbim ridiculous,
and what he thinks are proofs of his wisdom,
only confirm us iu his ignorance. His
dignity is as sham as that of the false duke
in the Honeymoon. His associates, while
they should be of such a character as to
hedge him about with respect, aro of such
origiu as to lead the world to think them
his jackals, and no more. His office, iu
which only the grave a flairs of state should
be considered, has been desecrated to the
vilest purposes of brokerage and sale, and
then, when he should alone go to discharge
his solemn duties, he retires ouly to pry
upon the “Ring” and the seekers after his
clemency. With a profundity of ignorance
which nothing but Ins personal vanity
equals, he mukes speeches, which, eveu
after his clerk has corrected their gram
mar, are miracles of bosh aud nothing
ness.”
“ Without possessing a single qualifica
tion for the otlice, without having the re
spect of any significant portion of the
people of the Commonwealth, and really
Jacking every quality which should recom
mend him lor such a high position, the
sublimity of his impudence and his grasp
ing need alone induces him to thrust him
self forward as u candidate for Governor.
The slave of the “ Ring,” aud their willing
coadjutor, ho is lor them the most fitting
instrument, and he will, it is feared, receive
tiieir nomination. But they and he must
clearly understand that ho is not, cannot
he, the choice of the great Republican par
ty, whom lor one term lie has already
shamefully misrepresented. The email
ward politicians may possibly foist him
upon us, but just us certainly as they do,
just so certainly will our party organiza
tion see in the nomination of John W.
Get\ry the defeat of its principles, and the
State will, for one gubernatorial term at
least, lose the benefits of Republican inilu
ence. The Republican party is a great and
powerful organization, and' it may not be
lightly broken down ; but while it was
sufficiently strong to send to the field scores
upon scores of regiments, to spend scores
of millions of dollars in perpetuating the
Union, yet it is not strong enough to stand
another term of the misrule of the present
Governor.”
“The opposition see our weakness in
John W. Geary, and are already taking
advantage of it. They will put forward in
the contest no mere party hack—no creature
of their “Ring.” They recognize the lact
that the people are tired of imbecility and
want of character in their Chief Magistrate,
and they mean to nominate a man of char
acter arrayed against John W. Geary,
their task will be an easy one. They will
have the triumph, and the defeat.”
In spite of that solemu warning John
W. Geary, the slave of the “Ring,” was
made the cundidate of the Republican
party. It was not fairly done. He was
forced upon the masses by the legisla
tive “roosters” and “pinchers.” They
packed the convention with their tools
and set him up in the vain hope that he
mightpossibly bere-elected. The leaders
in the corrupt legislative ring are all
going’" to Harrisburg again, and their
fondest hope is that Geary may be re
turned to help them in their schemes of
plunder. They know that he will op
pose no obstacle to any rascally plan
they may devise, anil already their
hands are Btretched out to clutch ill
gotten gains, and their sleeves rolled up
for another dive up to the elbows into
the State Treasury,
The Telegraph in another article:
“ Governor Geary has managed, during
his official term, to dissatisfy both the poli
ticians and lhe people, iu a vain effort to
appease both. He has proved a poor poli
cian, aud given not a title ol evidence that
he possesses a spark of statesmanship.—
Pennsylvania has hut little cause for pride
or congratulation as she looks back on the
long line of her Governors. If a lew good
and brilliant men are stricken from the list,
there is little left to raise it up above the
level of mediocrity; and Geary has done
nothing as Governor to distinguish himself
over the mass of his predecessors. Mean
while, although corruption reeks at Harris
burg, and the interests of the State are most
shamefully neglected and betrayed, his
voice bus never been heard protesting,
in the clarion tongue that some men might
have made ring throughout the common
wealth against the carnival of folly and
fraud.” *
Ju9t after the meeting of the State
Central Committee in February, which
fixed the day for holding the Radical
State Convention, the Pittsburg Dis
patch, tbe ablest Republican paper in
Western Pennsylvania, said, in an
article speaking of the probable candi->
dates for Governor:
But very few Republicans here believe
that Geary will be renominated, OR IF
NOMINATED THAT HE CAN BE
ELECTED. The party desires to see the
office FILLED BY A MAN OF MORE
BRAINS AND LESS YANITY THAN
GOVERNOR GEARY is said to possess
and judging from the temper of the people,
hereabouts, at least, its wishes to this end
are likely to be gratified. GEARY IS
ABOUT THE BIGGEST HUMBUG that
ever filled tbe Guoernatorial chair, and the
sooner the party throws him overboard the
better, as, strong though tbe organization
is. it ffitJ'd. IF IT ATTEMPTS TO CARRY
HIM, SINK UNDER THE BURDEN
Again ip its issue of April 7th. the
same journal said t
"There are not in this county a dozen
Sromlnent Republicans wbo desire to see
eary re-nominated. The party has bad
quite enough of him already, and, if the
Convention be wise and desire to see the
Republican banner carried to victory in
October, some other standard-bearer than
THE HUMBUG WHO NO W FILLS THE
OFFICE WILL BE PUT IN NOMINA
TION.”
And in its issue of May 17th, it thus
assails Geary for a gross abuse of the
pardoning power.
“Governor Geary has done another good
thing in the exercise of his authority as
Chief Executive of the State. He has par
doned Mr. J. W. Robinson, wbo a couple
of weeks since was sent to the penitentiary
because of a little “unpleasantness” with
Manager Smythe, and we suppose be con
siders nlmself certain now of receiving the
“undevided support” of Allegheny county
in the ooming Slate Convention ; for, after
such a wise and judicious exercise of the
pardoning power, who will pretend to say
that be Is not “the right man in the right
place?” Geary is, no doubt, a model Gov
ernor in all respects, eloquent, truthful and
conscientious, yet, WE PITY THE
PARTY THAT MUST CARRY HIM IN
THE COMING CAMPAIGN.”
And the Philadelphia Telegraphy
speaklDg of Geary’s reckless abuse of
the pardoning power said ;
The present Governor of Pennsylvania
has scarcely been behind tbo “ greatest
criminal or the age” in this respect; be
has used the pardoning power, not for the
purpose of rectifying mistakes made by the
courts, not for doing Justice when the law
had been too severe, but to make himself
POPULAR WITH A CLASS THAT MAICES IT
A BUSINESS TO PREY UPON THE COM
MUNITY.
Prior to the assembling of the Repub
lican State Convention, the Lancaster
Daily Express warned the party that
Geary was a very weak candidate, and
besought the delegates not to force him
upon the party. That old and well
known Radical journal, the Lancaster
Examiner also spoke out plainly. It
said:
“The delegates iu Philadelphia were
elected last week, and a majority of them
are believed to be in favor of Gov. Geary.
There was a demoralizing want of interest
taken in the election, and we regret to say
that there is a very unhealthy atmospbero
surrounding Republican politics in Phila
delphia. Honored and trusted men do not
hesitate to say that under certain contin
gencies, very probable to happen too,
they will allow the election to go by de
fault, if not do worse, iu favor of the Demo
cratic candidates this fall. This conditiou
of affairs calls for the iuterposiliou of the
wise and prudent men of the party. Will
Lancaster county do her duty and elect
prudent men delegates to the State Conven
tion who will be able to meet thecrlsis fair
ly and deal with it honestly?
And now, in view of what the Radi
cal newspapers of this State have said of
John W. Geary, how, we ask, can any
honest and intelligent citizen vote for
him? What more is needed to prove
his utter unfitness for the position to
which he/aspires? Nothing worse
could be'sald of him by any Democratic
newspaper than what has already been
sakf by leading newspapers of his own
'party. Let honest aud Intelligent
Republicans read the extracts which
we have made, and then let them say
whether, as good and conscientious cit
j izens they can help to re-elect such a
1 man Governor of Pennsylvania.
I By the best Republican authority he
j is admitted, proven and pronounoed to
| be “lacking in stern integrity , wanting
: in intelligence, with preposterous self*
J esteem, and only possessing talents taw*
j dry as the tinsels of the stage ; his digni
ty is a sham , his associates are jackals,
j and his office has been desecrated to the
vilest purposes of brokerage and sale ;
his speeches arc miracles of bosh and
nothingness , he is without a single qual *
ijicationfor the office , without the respect
of any significant portion of the people
of the Commonwealth, and really lack
ing in every quality which should recom
mend him for such a high jiosition ; he
IS TIIE SLAVE OF THE RING, TIIEJII
COADJUTOR, THEIR MOST FITTING IN
STRUMENT, AND THEIR NOMINEE.”
Wo cannot possibly say anything
worse of JohnW. Geary. Those who
know him most intimately have given
to the world the pen portrait of him,
which we have set out in italics and
caps, so that it may be distinguished
from anything of our own which we
have to say. Let this likeness of Geary,
so admirably drawn by Radical artists,
be held up before the eyes of the people
of Pennsylvania, that all may know
what manner of man this candidate for
Governor really is. If, with that pic
ture before them, decent Republi
cans can still vote for Geary, then
must devotion to party be a stronger
sentiment with them than self-respect,
State pride, love of country, or any of
those higher and more ennobling emo
tions which mark true manhood, and
make the patriotic citizen.
The Temperance Dodge.
The Examiner returns to the charge
on the temperance dodge, and two arti
cles which we select from its editorial
columns and publish elsewhere will
show the status of this new cause of
quarrel among our Radical brethren.
Warfel and Billingfelt may not be
pledged secretly to- favor a prohibitory
liquor law, but it is certain that Geary
is. He took the obligation upon him
when he entered the Order of Good
Templars with a lie in liis mouth. It
was a gratuitous and needless lie. When
he asserted that he had never tasted in
toxicating liquor sinee he was seven
years old he uttered an unqualified
falsehood. There are many men in this
State who know that to be a bold, bare
faced lie. He could take his toddy with
the free and easy Irishman when he
clerked on tin* Old Portage Road, he
resorted to stimulants for lack of cour
age in the army, and he made a ridicu
lous spectacle of himself when he was
a candidate for Governor in ISGG, by
drinking beer with the Germans of
Erie and proposing a toast so silly qs to
make himseif a laughiug stock to all
who were present. Yet, in the face of
a cloud of witnesses, he stated to the
Committee of Good Templars, who in
itiated him into the mysteries of the
Order in the Gubernatorial mansion at
Harrisburg, that he had never tasted
intoxicating liqnor since he was seven
years old. With that lie in his mouth
he pledged himself in favor of a pro
hibitory liquor law. He had a right to
make such a pledge, but where was the
necessity for telling such a lie? How
any man, be he Good Templar or not,
can vote to make such a liar Governor
of Pennsylvania is more than we can
tell.
llow They Do Lie
The Radicals are utterly uuable to
briDg a single truthful accusation
against Asa Packer. His life has been
so pure, and his character and talents
place him so completely beyond the
reach even of calumny that the more
respectable Republican newspapers of
the State praise him. A few scalawag
journals, which rely solely upon the
defamation of political opponents, are
forced to resort to the most barefaced
lies. The latest we have noticed is a
report that the Lehigh Railroad found
ed that magnificent public charity, the
Lehigh University. The President of
the road published a card some days
since, denying that the company ever
contributed a dollar for any such pur
pose. Yet such sheets as the Harris
burg Telegraph are still harping upon
tbe lie When a party is reduced to
such disgraceful shifts it has sunk very
low indeed.
John Covode, being short of
has assessed the Radical clerks from
this State, in Washington, to the ex
tent of one per cent, an their salaries.
The clerks are growling, and refuse to
“sock up.” The consequence is Covod e
is in great tribulation, and Geary is in
despair.
Gen. Canby has issued his procla.
mation announcing the result of the
Virginia election. The election of six
Walker and three Wells Congressmen
is announced. The State Legislature
will meet October 6th. On the 21st
inst. Walker is to be installed provis-
Governor—only provisional, mind
you,
A Speech For Farmers to Bead.
On our outside we publish a speech
which every farmer and workingman
in Pennsylvania should read. It was
delivered, not by a Democrat, but by
one of the best known Republicans of
Ohio. The author, Col. Don Platt, has
gained a wide reputation as the Wash
ington correspondent of a leading Radi
cal newspaper, the Cincinnati Com*
mercial. What he said to Western
farmers will apply equally well to the
farmers of Pennsylvania. The obnox
ious and UDjust legislation of the last
eight years, which has reduced the ag
ricultural and laboring claaes of thiß
country to their present condition, has
all been framed and manipulated by the
monopolists of New England. Rings
have been formed by the capitalists of
that section, and Congress has been
completely controlled by them. The
interests of the great Middle and West
ern States have not been regarded for a
moment when Yankee greed stood in
the way. The result is seen in the low
prices of grain and all of our ordinary
agricultural products. So apparent haye
the fruits of iniquitous and unjust leg
islation become, that Republican news
papers and orators are at last compelled
to protest against it. The New York
Post, one of the formost Radical jour
nals of the country spoke as follows in
a recent issue :
“ The produce of the farmer no longer
possesses the purchasing power it had ten
or even five years ago It is hard to con
vince a well-to do farmer, who ten years
ugo raised only two thirds the amount of
wheat, corn, and other produce he grows
now, and who then found the means readi
ly at hand to clothe his family well and lay
in his supplies, that now, when he raises
one third more, or eveu In some instances
double the amount of produce, he ahould
not be able to live iu the style he and his
family are accustomed to. Indeed, he can
not understaud it, and Is going into debt,
though no doubt deploruble, is inevitable.
The lessened purchasing power of produce,
when exchunged for manufactured articles,
for groceries, wines, spices, medicines, far
ming tools, iron, steel, saddlery, iu fact for
every article ho uses, slowly, hut surely,
works a mischief which we hardly venture
to depict, especially in a market report, It
is enough to say thut the prospect Is not re
assuring; and as long as the purchasing
power of. one hundred bushels of corn is
diminished by half, because the price of
manufactured articles is enhanced beyond
their real value by special legislation, the
evil eauuot be cured ”
Is not that a true picture? We appeal
for an answer to the farmers of Lancas
ter county, in whose garners is now
stored away an immense amount of
wheat for which they cannot get paying
prices. A majority of them have been
steadily voting the Radical ticket from
year to year, without question or protest.
By so doing they have been continually
adding to„the power of New England
monopolists, and encouraging that spe
cies of class legislation which has at last
brought about the difficulties under
which they now labor and groan. The
Radical members of Congress from
Pennsylvania have beeu in the “ rlDg ”
which has passed the obnoxious laws
that have precipitated the present
state of affairs.
How long do the farmers and the
working men of the great Middle .and
Western States intend to be mere hew
ers of wood and drawers of water for a set
of Yankee monopolists? When will they
wake up to their own interests aud
break the chains of party? Will they
do it at the coming election ? We hope
and believe so. We think many oftkem
are getting their eyes open at last. Their
pockets are being touched, and appeals
are beiDg made to them which are
stronger even than the arguments of
honest and disgusted Republicans which
we adduce. Still it would be well for
them to read tbe speech of Don Piatt,
aud the remarks of the N. Y. Post, just
to see how like Democrats, intelligent
Radicals do talk,when they forgetparty
and tell the truth. We hope Democrats
will lend their papers to their Republi
can neighbors and ask them to read for
themselves.
Tlic Election in Wilmington,
The Radicals crowing over tho
result of the recent municipal election
in Wilmington. _ It seems that the
Democratic legislature of the State
made come changes in the election dis
tricts, increasing the number of wards
from five to nine. The Radical news
papers of this State, the F.xjircsa in
cluded, denounced that as a gross out
rage. Vet it was all right when the
same game was attempted in Lancaster.
The four old wards<t>f this city were cut
up into nine, and the most unnatural
divisions were made, with the hope of
insuring a Radical majority in the City
Councils. The game failed utterly, and
one patch after another has since been
put upon the original bill, for the express
purpose of defeating the will of the
Democratic majority in this city.—
Some new piece of rascality has been
adopted by each succeeding Legisla
ture. Last winter a special act was
passed, summarily legislating cer
tain Democratic members of the City
Council out of office, and legisla
ting certain Radicals in. We venture i
to say that so outrageous a gerrymander
as that to which Lancaster has been
subjected was never seen or heard of.
The action of the Democratic Legisla- j
ture of Delaware was fair and honora* ;
ble when compared to the course which j
has been pursued in regard to this city, i
Harrisburg was served in the same way. !
The Radicals of this State have left no j
chance slip to insure to their friends
offices, regardless of legitimate majori
ties and the rights of the masses. Before
any Radical paper in this State darss
to condemn the action taken in regard
to Wilmington, we would advise them '
to read the amended charters of Harris
burg and Lancaster. They have been i
mended and amended so often within j
the last five years that it is hard to tell '
which is the original cloth ancLwirich
the patches. So far as Lancaster is con- 1
cerned their efforts have all been in j
vain. This good old city remains j
Democratic, and it will so continue. I
A Dirty Quarrel Between Two Radical
Berguer of the Harrisburg Daily Tel
egraph, and Geist of the Lancaster
Daily Express are busy just now paying
compliments to each other. Geist
charges Bergner with stealing thous
ands of dollars from the State Treasury;
Bergner does not deny this soft im
peachment, but retorts by showing that
Geist was sent to the penitentiary
for forgery; Geist rejoins by alleging
that Bergner would be in the State
prison if he had his dues. Bergner’s
last dab at our pious neighbor is in the
following malicious style:
The forger of the Lancaster Express of
fers fifty dollars for proof that the Tele
graph announced the result ol the Lancaster
nominations. This he can obtain by calling
at our office, or on any of our subscribers
in Harrisburg. And then while here he
can use that fifty dollars to pay that bill
of costs and fine still due the couuty of
Dauphin from the time he was convicted of
forgery. After he pays that, he might as
well pay the notes on which he obtained
the names of friends who kindly endorsed
for him.
Bad as are the stories which these
loyal fellows tell of each other, we have
no doubt they are all true. Of such is
the kingdom of loyalty.
An Ugly Sink.
Actual investigation has shown that
the recent order holding clerks to a
strict accountability for their time will
result in a great saving to the govern
ment. The books of the treasury de
partment show that in that department
alone, during the last fiscal year, the
loss of the government by absence
without leave reached the enormous
sum of $40,000 per month, or nearly
half a million for the year. This loss
of time was by absences for whole days,
and no record was kept of the time lost
by tardy arrivals and early departures
of clerks.
We understand this leak istobestop
ped, and it is high time it was. Haifa
million dollars a year subtracted from
the hard earnings of the taxpayers to
be paid government clerks for idle time
is no little matter,
THfi ATONDAIE MINING HOBROB.
Intelligence frem the Scene of the
Appaiiug Calamity.
Two Hundred and Two Dead.
Removal of the Bodies.
Heart-rending Scenes among iho snr>
vi vers.
The Dead Bodies oratl the Miners Found
in the Pit—Bodies Broavbt tint of
the Jllno—Scenes Aronud the Pit
Avondale, Sept. B.— The great disaster
at this place, by which some 200 persons
lost their lives, Is Btlll exciting the public
miodtoa great degree. Up to last even
ing, there was still hope that the men in tbe
m j a 1 _ were alive, and every effort was
made by numerous willing hands to rescue
their fellow beings from a horrible c eath.
Before daylight to day, however, word was
brought up that all hopes of finding the
men alive was abandoned, as the dead bo
dies of Pulmer Steele, stable boy aud Den
ison Slooum, driver, were found In the
Btable.
Every avenue leading to Avondale was
filled with wagons and other vehicles, con
veyiDg persons to the mine, aud the crowd
during the day was swelled to thousands.
Severul car loads of provisions were sent
from Scrantou for the families of the de
ceased miners, and everything possible is
being done to relieve their necessities aud
mitigate their sorrow. M rs. Evans, one of
thesufferers, loses eight of her family by the
disaster—her lather, husbaud, three Bons
and three brothers.
The origin of the fire has been ascertained
to be as follows: On Monday morniug, as
is usual, a fire was kindled in the furnace,
situated in a chamber off from a gangway
of the mine, about 150 feet from the bottom
of the shaft, the object of the fire being to
produce a draft which ventilated the mine.
The fire was started with wood, and the
blaze set fire to the gas in the shaft, and the
flume spread to the breaker, which was in
stantly set on fire. The timbers from the
breaker and building above falling into the
shaft set fire to tbe lining of the shaft, and
thus prevented all entrance or exit from the
mine.
Mr-Archibald, Senior, considered compe
tent authority, is fully of the opiuion that
all life in the mine was destroyed very soon
after the fire began—that the entire force of
the beat and flame drew directly into the
mine, sweeping the whole extent of the
workings as with the bosom of destruction.
The accuracy of this theory may be said to
bo demonstrated beyond question by the
discovery made last evening that tbo car
cases of the two dead mules which lie about
fifty yards from the mouth of the shaft are
crusted over with soot a quarter of au inch
thick. But if this fact had left any ground
for hope. It must have been dissipated by
tbo unfortunate oporntlons of yesterday,
which during the whole day tended direct
ly to quench whatever spark of life might
possibly still have lingered and cowered in
some remote nook of the workings.
The error of the men who, on their ascent
from the pit, Monday night, reported thut
the fire in tbo ventilating furnaco within
the mine was extinguished, was a fatal
error. Treating their report as true, the
mine map showed that the most favorable
circuit through which to drive the air cur
rent created by the fan was that which hud
formerly been tbo “up-cast,” or current out
of tbe mine. This, of course, Jed right
through the furnace. At six iu the morn
iug a brisk current was started through this
avenue, and it was not until four in the af
ternoon that it was discovered that the fur
nace was u glowing mass ot anthracite, and
that for ten hours the fan Intended to purify
the mine had been driving into its depths
the full volume of poisonous and stilling
gases thrown off by the furnace. The mis
fortune wastorrible, and its only alleviation
is found in the probability that misfortune
had done its worst even before the first
efforts for relief began.
Scranton, Sept. B.—The Republican is
iu receipt of the following additional bul
letins from the scene of the greut colliery
accident:
At twelve o’clock David S. Jones, Henry
Atherell, Samuel Morgan und John Wil
liams went down, and, after twenty minutes
came up in a very bad conditiou, the blue
damp that now commenced rising making
them quite sick, but not insensible, u* the
others were effected. They threw water
upon the fire, and think it is out.
Later.—Two bodies have beeu brought
up by the gang that went down since the
lust telegram. The excitement is great.—
The bodies are in a bad condition and not
recognizable.
2.55 a. M. —Tbe air is getting better in the
mine. Two bodies, badly bloated, were
j found in the stable—one a young man, pro
bably IS years of age; the other middle
aged, not recognizable at present. There
is blood ia clots about their mouths, aud
they are torrible objects to look upon.
Scranton, Sept. B.— At 5.15 a. m., a par
ty weut down and remained 35 minutes.
They discovered a dinner can and cups.
At (3.30, a. m., another party remained down
thirty minutes, and uncovered a whole
company of miners, dead, on the east side
of the planes. Preparations are making to
send down six gangs of four men each, and
the bodies will be brought out as rapidly
rh possible. Thejfoul air does not in
terfere to any gretjrtJSxteut.
7.30 A. M.— gangs has just re
turned, and reporetbat they weut up the
plane just beyond which a barrier was met,
consisting of a car packed around with coal
aud clothing. This was cleared away, and
proceeding a little further, another barrier
wasmet. nearly completed, and constructed
as the fh jt. One man was found upon the
outside, where he hnd been at work laying
up the wall. It was completed, except a
small aperture,; just sufficient to admit the
passage of human body, and it is inferred
that he had just finished his task, and wus
preparing to join his companions on the
opposite side by crawling back. This bar
rier wus removed, when the whole force of
miners were found congregated and piled
one upon auother, dead.
Active preparations are making for the
immediate removal of the bodies, which
work will consume the greater part of tbe
day, owing to a luck of lacilities for hoist
ing. The condition of the mine is improv
ing-
At S. 15 A. M., Coroner Eno, of Plymouth,
who is on tho ground, empannellecffc jury
of inquest, us follows: W. J. Hurvey, fore
man ; Samuel Yon Loon, Martin McDon
ald. James George, Charles Hutchinson
and Thomas Patton. They will view the
bodies as they are brought out.
8 40 A. M.—The body of John Bowen, of
Plymouth, miner, was the third one brought
out. Age 31. lie formerly lived in Provi
dence, and leaves a wife and one child in
Plymouth. Found outside the barricade,
behind which wero all tho other bodies. Ho
was evidently overcome before he could get
through.
The coroner’s Jury has Just viewed the
bodies of Steele and Slocum. The men
engaged in bringing out the bodies are re
quired to be sworn to the facts in each case.
Father O’Harra, of Wilkosbarre, is pres
ent.
9 A. M.—The fourth body exhumed was
that of Wm. P. Ewell, of Plymouth, Turkey
Hill; leaves a wife and children in tho old
country and a daughter in Plymouth, and
a son in tho mine.
9.30 A. M.—Daniel Jones, who lost his
life in an effort to release his companions
on Monday night, and Thomas Williams,
who also sacrificed his life for tbe same
object, are to be buried this afternoon.
The fifth body brought out was William
Williams, aged 14, of Hyde Park ; had
worked here only one day.
Tbe sixth body was Matthew Evans of
tbe Steuben Colliery. Appears to bavo
died in great agony, his hands being
clenched.
The seventh body recovered was that of
William Evans, brother of Steuben. His
fiends were also clenched. These boys were
found in the arms of their father. The
eighth body, Evan Hughes, inside boss,
was found sitting down, with his head for
ward on his knees. His watch had stopped
at 5.15, supposed to have been Tuesday
morning, as the miners usually wind their
watches at night. Evans’ watch had stopped
at 4.42. 1 F
At 11 o’clock a barrel of lime was sent
down to mark the pathway to tho chamber
where the men lie, for the reason that two
men Inst their way this morning.
The boy supposed to be-Matthew Evans,
turns out to be Willie Phillips, cousin of
Mrs. Captain Blair, of Hyde Park. The
ninth body was an unknown man. who
was found three or four hundred yards in
the west path of the mine, a long diatauce
from the rest. He was lying on his face,
which had apparently been forced into the
ground and much disfigured. The tenth
body is supposed to be thut of Peters, of
Upper Plymouth.
Scranton, Sept. 8, 7.15 P. M.—The work
of bringing the dead bodies to the surface
proceeded steadily, and sixty have now
been raised; Their funerals will be held
to-morrow, from Avondalo. A despatch
has been received from President Sloan, of
tbo Delaware, Lackawanna and Western
Railroad Company, ordering all the shops
and w. rks of the company to be closed,and
from Avondale and all prominent points
on the road.
The stores in Piltston were closed to-day
and a meeting held to raise funds for the
relief of the sufferers. Mayor H.ll, of this
city, will in the morning issue a proclama
tion ordering plpeesbf business to be closed
on the 9th and 10th inst. Relief subscrip
tions have been received—ss,oCo from the
New York Board of Brokers, 82,500 from
Hon. Asa Packer, and 8500 from Gov.
Geary.
The Fatal Mine ami Its Appearance—The
Death of the Miners—The Grief of the
Women—Who Is to Blame lor All the
Misery ?
A special correspondent of the New York
Herald sends to that paper the following
graphically described details of the Avon
dale calamity:
Avondale, Pa., Sept. 8, 1569.
Standing on the track of the Lackawanna
and Bloomsburg Railroad to day at noon
and looking up the steep hill side at the
ruins of the once flourishing coal mine oi
Avondale—the shattered engine house built
of stone, the torn, twisted and scattered ma
chinery, the sloping ridge of fiercely fired
embers filling the motionless air with a
strong and shimmering heat, the blackened
wreck of coal shuts and breaker, the charred
oak and hickory trees upon the hill above
and the utter wreck and ravage of the scene
all over, impressed the spectator with awe
and seriousness. Bat much more awful
and serious must become the color of his
thoughts which told that from beneath that
fearful ruin the bodies of2oo human beings,
a few days since full of strong and palpitat
ing life, were being brought out, one fly one,
black and bloody corpses and bearing m,any
marks of a brief bQt desperate struggle with
thedoom of suttbeation in the horrible klqq©
ftf the pit below.
Knowing the character of the occurrence
and the purpose for which these crowds of
saddened women and solemn men have
gathered, lining the dismantled walls in
oompact and sorrowful numbers, it had a
strangely dismal effect upon the mind to
see Issuing from the month of a low, dark
tunnel at Intervals of every fifteen minutes
through the day and night, four weary,
y bearing on a stretcher the black
ened form of a human being, across the
distorted face of which a coarse,Jwhlte cloth
was thrown ; and as the melanoboly cor
tege moved up between the ranks at either
side or mourning miners the awful presence
of death made Itself asserted. Voices were
hushed, and in the women’s eyes grief and
fear alternately found expression. It was
also a strange effect to watch, as each mi
ner’s name was called In stentor tones that
echoed along the hill, how all the men
turned their eyes upon the women In pain
ful suspense that some wild startling shriek
might rend the air and some poor heart
broken creature reveal tbodreaaful grief of
her bereavement.
The day Is over now. Sixty dead bodies
have beeu rescued from the fatal pit and
three score widowed wives sit by desolate
hearths this evening.
COULD IT HAVE BEEN AVOIDED?
Could all this misery huvo been avoided
Is a question that might as easily be
answered as asked. It certainly could.
Coal mines ure at all times, of course, sub
ject to risks, and those who engage to work
in them are satisfied to take the conse
quences oi whatever natural casualties at
tend the operation of mining coal. Many of
these casualties the intuor's lustluct and
experience will teach him to avoid; but
where human Ingeuully, prompted 'l)y a
spirit of greed, provides ouly Just such
means for the miner us will enablo him to
work at tho loast possible expense on tho
part of his employer and at the greatest risk
on his own, no forethought or intelligence
can provide against the accidents that are
likely to occur. An air hole at an expense
of from $lO,OOO to $15,000 sunk in the Avon
dale coal mine would have saved perhaps
every man in the mine. The short-sighted
aud iQhumun policy thut refuses to make
this simple provision against emergencies
at nuy timo likely to arise must have a
terrible recoil In the long run. But Avon
dale is not au exception to other mines. All
around this section of country are mines to
each one of which but one shaft is attached,
and when the means of escape are cut off in
that quarter no hope remains for the men at
work below. Mines in the couulry seem
to be constructed ou the principle of getting
out the most coal at the leust expense, and
without a particle of consideration us to the
health und safety of the miner. Had v/e any
such deep shafts and extensive galleries
among the mines of this .Stato as they have
in Eughunl accidents like this of Avondale
would be of trequent occurrence aud of
equally appalling horror.
The Delaware and Lackawanna Corpora
tion is immensely wealthy, and has another
mine, called tho Tuylorville sliuft, run on
precisely the same principle as llie Avon
dale mine, and liable at any time to the
same leartul uccldeut. It remains tn bo
seeu whether this corporation will
steps even in compliance with the statute
law of tho Stute to render their mines a lit
tie less like hugo traps for human life. Tho
feeliug on this head is confined to no par
ticular class. Men ask, is it not about tune
thut this recklessness of life should cease?
If the wretches sent to the State Legislature
prefer using human life as u means of ex
torting black mull to doing their honest
duty, is thHtany reason why the companies
should feel themselves at liberty to disre
gard every means of providing against
such calamities us this at Avondale. The
most sensible advice that could be glveu
the miners in the matter is to reject all so
licitaiiouH to go into any mine constructed
alter tb« fashion of tho one at Ayondale.
HISTORY AND APPEARANCE OF THE MINKS.
Avondale is a sweet, suggestive name
that in no manner belies its application to
this beautiful section of the Wyoming Val
ley. A high und bold range of hills over
looks as green and pastoral a plain as the
keenest lover of rural sceuery might desire.
This high rangeof hills, clad to the summit
with oak, ash, hickory und chestuut, is one
great vein of coul, in someplucesof exceed
ing richness, und nowhere too poor to
reward the toll and expense of seeking it.
On the steepest aud most commanding side
of the Shawnee hills the Avondale colliery
was built uud finished In 18(17. It was
constructed under tho supervision of Mr.
y. D. Kingsley, and cost $150,000, Tho
Dickson Manufacturing Compuny put in
the machinery, tho remains of which, now
visible in tho engine house, attest the splen
did character of the work. Through the
Wyoming Valley this mine had the repu
tation of being the host and largest;
whence it is to bo inferred that all the rest
must be of a rather iuferinr class When
in full working order it yielded 700 tons of
coal per day ; but during a receut strike of
the miners it was idle for a term of three
uiODths. It was leased by the Delawure,
Lackawanna and Western Railroad Com
puny, who ulso lease mauy other mines in
the valley, and by this ingenious plan of
leasing in place of opening mines them
selves, they avoid the charge of being held
responsible for the manner of their con
struction. Tho lessee of a mine, however,
is practically tho owner, for when he comes
to yield up his lease perhaps there la no
mine left.
There is no doubt, however, that the
Avondale mine wat one of the best and
worst in t lie valley. The masonry work,
running down the sides of the shaft some
twenty feet, was as strong as stoue and
cement could make it. The engine bouse
was firmly built, the machinery of the finest
kind used in the colliery business, the
breaker, that covered engine house uud
through which the brokon coal was de
spatched through a long shoot to the rail
road track below, was built in tbo mostsub
stantial manner,and altogether tho works to
(he casual observenseemed to leave no room
for improvement. The shaft was sunk toa
depth of 237 feet, with a space twenty-six
feet by twelve, divided in the centre bv a
wooden partition, ou one side of which "the
; pure air descended to the mine, und on the
other the impure vapors nseended to the top
and were dissipated abroad. Alter going
in a sheer descent to tho bottom of this shaft
the explorer of the mine lound on either
hand two long galleries or avenues, one
branching east, 120 U leet, aud the other west
800 feet. Moving straight onward at right
angles to the shaft, aud at a distance from it
of 220 feet, the furnace for creating a draught
of air through the galleries and chambers of
tho mine might be found blazing away in
dangerous proximity to the woodwialDg of
tho passage way reserved for theadmisslon
of the fresh air currents. It was a spurk
from this furnace falling on the dry scant
ling adjacent that caused the aceideut. It
blazed up rapidly; the flames mudo a run I
ning leap to the bottom of tbe shaft, caught I
the wooden partition already mentioned,
and clamoring up the 237 feet, seized on the
heavy wooden breaker overhead, which
never should have been there, and piercing
with a fierce und steady tongue of fire |
through the supporters, brougut down the |
ponderous beams, the debris of the breaker
and tho coal within it into the shaft, choking
up its space to a depth of forty feet, shutting
out the fresh air from above, and turning
back the sulphureous gases from the blaz
ing furnace into the galleries' andchnrabers
where the miners were ai work. This took 1
buthalf an hour or so on Monday morning !
last. The men had desoended to their work i
but three hours before. I
lIOW THE MEN MET THEIR DEATH.
It should be explained that the galleries
which penetrate this mine are irregular in
line, running east and west under the bill
to a considerable distance, with chambers
at intervals and doors at varying distances
to keep out currents of foul air. There is
no doubt but that the miners at once di
vined the accident that.had occurred, and
took prompt measures to save thomsolves.
In the loug galleries, runniug deviously
east and west, the miners were scattered at
work, some in gangways, others In the
chambers, following tho usual routine of
daily toil. Laborers were filling the cars
from the broken coal brought down by the
miner’s pick ; boys were driving forward
the mules to the mouth of the shaft with
car-loads of coal to be hoisted to the world
above- ; all was proceeding in the customary
wav, when the rush back of the sulphurous
gas from the furnace told the miners too
well the nuture of the disaster that bad oc
curred.
In the light of what the brave men dis
covered on going down early this morning
to rescue their fallen comrades, we can easi
ly trace what followed when the discovery
became kuown through the mine tbut tbo
shaft wus stopped and the fresh air of heaven
excluded. All those in the vicinity of the
furnace retreated by winding ways so as to
avoid all contact with the poisonous gases,
to the utmost limits of the mine, to a gang
way 1,200 feet from the bottom of the shaft.
Nodoubi there was a fearful hurrying back
wards, for the fatal carbon rushed with hot
and rustling breath along the galleries and
overtook many a poor fellow who vainly
strove to reach some place of delusive
safety. r
At the entrance to the last gallery of the
mine sixty seven appalled butyet collected
miners met and with the true instinct ofc
self-preservation proceeded at once to bar
ricade themselves in between u space ex
tending in a semi-circular sweep some 200
leet. At either end of this limit were two
doors which were Instantly closed, and on
some crevices being discovered the men
pulled their shirts off and stopped the in
terstices, but not before tbo fearful demon
in the air had penetrated their lust retreat
not in force, however, but in sufficient
strength to do the work of death with un
erring certainty. In this terrible chamber
tbeirlarapa extinguished,and the blackness
of eternal nighVdosed around them. It is
carefully estimated that the strongest of the
men succumbed in eight hours after their
self-immurement. The supply offrosh air
which they locked in was quickly exhaust
ed by the breathing of sixty-seven pair of
powerful lungs : while all the time the coal
aboye, below and around them was emit
ting the deadly carbon. Mr. Thomas, one
of the first of the heroic fellows who pene
trated to this point in search of the missing
men, reports that after breaking in the
barrier and gaining entrance to the gang
way where all those human lives surren
dered to the King of Terrors the sight that
met bis gaze completely unmanned him,
and he wept like a little child. To him
there was nothing terrible in the spectacle ;
the men were once his comrades; their
cold, begrimed faces’.: were familiar to his
eye, ana from the danger of which tboy
were the victims he himself had many nar
row escapes. It was the touching friendship
for each other which these rude sons of toil
showed in the last moments of their strug
gle for life that melted the soul of the brave,
stern man who descended the perilous shaft
to savo them if he could. Men were found
locked in each other’s embraces; others
with hands olasped laid themselves down
to die j one was discovered calmly sitting
by a prostrate companion, as though listen •
ing to his dying request. A father fell into I
his eternal sleep holding his son to hlabo- 1
som, Nothing harsh or ahgrf was ob
served in the features of thopoor fellows.
Within a space of forty feet they had all
yielded up their Uvea, evidently wlfh a
herolo resignation and a calm resolve to die
like men.
OTHER SCENES. '
Outside (he entrance to this gangway two
men were found lying prostrate, as though
In desperation they nad burst out of tho
enclosure whore the others lay, resolved on
one final effort to get free, but meeting full
in the tooth the fatal current that now
ooursed through all the galleries they fell
suddenly forward and expired.
Mr. Hughes, “boss” of the Inside min
ing operations, was found silting on a heap
of coal, h!a face resting on his hands, as
though modltatlng his awful situation, and
while thus occupied was silently roleaaed
from existence. A great many wore caught
1q the retreat to tho rear of tho cave and
woro found In all kinds of uttitudes through
tbo galleries and chambers. •
THE ORIUF OF TIIK WOMEN
Not all the women who came to sco Him
deud bodies taken out hud relatives lu the
pit. Many were rnovod to travel long dis
tances to seo this sickening spectacle from
motlvos of rnero morbid curiosity. The
bereaved and sorrowing widows wero easy
to tell. None of that wild, demonstrative
grief that many of tho reports speuk or,
could be seen ou any day since the catas
trophe happened. There was no loud, long
wall, and ull the sorrow that gavo Itself
vocal utterunco was couttnod to a fesv.
Wet oyes aud.looks of intense desolation
too deep for expression might be seen on
every side. There was one beautiful young
Welsh girl who excited a groat deal of
sympathy. She had ouly been. In this
country three weeks; knew not a word of
English, aud knew uo one but the line
-vimg follow to whom she was niurned in
Wales, ami who went down iu the vigor of
lilo through the fatal shaft on Monday
morning last to bo brought out to-day at
noon a black uud swoih-u corpse. Lie had
evidently struggled hard for life and sur
rendered with a look of defiance in his face,
iwo kiudly women bore away the poor
young widow, who through tho Hooding
tears cried aloud in her ualivo Welsh iu a
tone of voice so touching as to melt a heart
of stone. This was the saddest sorrow in
the whole scone.
Si-hantow, Si-pi. il.—A L'iin.fu! ostium!.'
of tho number of persons in the Avondale
mine has boon made, ami it is not thought
that there woro 150 at tho outside, instead
of 200 as first reported. At tho latest uc
counts 00 bodies hud been rescued. I’p to
9.-15 L\ M. Inst night If, bodies, all that could
be then found, had'been brought up. At
10.30 l\ M. a party returned, after explor
ing five breasts, und finding nothing. Dr.
Kicord, of Plymouth, lias arrived, to la.
ready to resuscitate the men going down if
more foul air bo encountered.
11.20 P. M.—A party just up reports two
more bodies found.
12 Midnight Thirteen more bodies found.
12 •!.» A. M.—Another lot of bodies not vet
counted have been found. The aft is still
so bad as to prevent more than a low min
utes stay in tho mine.
1.30 A. M. —highly two bodies are now
up and eight more huvo been found.
Tile Number I.ost N«t no l.nrtco un at
First KcpurtoU.— \uiiiom o! Those He
covered.
Scranton Pa., Sept. 9.— At a meeting of
the relief committee, at Avondale, George
Coray, of Scranton, was appointed in pro
ceed to Now York to solicit subscriptions.
Avondale, Sept. P. M.—Thomas
Carson, of Hampton mine, and George Mor
gan, of Nantiookc, experienced and compe
tent miners, with twenty men, have ex
plored every part of the workings aud are
satisfied that all tho bodies have been re
covered. Outside parties any two are (■till
missing. One hundred aud eight is the
number of the bodies tukoiLoul.
Scranton, Sept. 9.— The following Isa
list ol the dead who have been brought out
of tho mine: Palmer Steele, Dennison
Slocum, John Bowen, Win. Rowell, Win.
Williams, Willie Phillips, William Kvans,
Murray E. Edwards, Jacob E. MnsU-r,
Peter Coulin, John Clark, Win. J. Evans,
George Stackhouse, Edwin Jones, Morgan
Watktns, Andrew Frothlnglmm, Thomas
D. Jones, Peter Johnson, Evan Hughes,
inside fireman, William Bowen, James
Powell, Thos. Hughes, Wm. Reese, Win.
Porfet, William N. Williams, Wiw. SjevriN,
John liughcH, Thus. Morris, Elijah Rrynni,
Thos. Roberts, Wm. Dick, Daniel Jones,
David Thomas, Daniel Givens, Evens
Reese, Edward W. Edwards, Henry Nor
ris, William T. Williams, David N. lteese,
Richard Molley, John U Davis, David
James, Wm. Evans, Wnn Williams, Rich
ard Owens, Willie Ilatton, Win. Evans,
James Powell, Thomas Hulton, K. Owen,
J. Burtoh, J. Burtcb, jr., John Jonkens,
i Win. R. Evans, Daniel Wood, Wm. Noss u
David Reese, Jr.. Griffith Roberts, Johr.
Ruth, Joseph Morris, Patrick M’Gurriok,
Henry Smith, Stephen Howell, Thomas
Davis, William Dmvdlo, John Kobrly,
Thomas Ryan, Hugh Gilroy, John M>s
ker, Patrick Burke, William T.
Jas. Murray, Michael Dally, D. P. fcVloor,'
James Phillips, James Williuma, John D.
Evans, Wm. Herding, Samuel it.
Wm. R. Evuns, 'Win. WLidnek, Reuse
Latndry, Thomas Llewellyn. Reese Llovp.
ellyn, Win. Davis, John Thomas, JuUv*
Duyis, Wm S. Williams, Wm. I). Johus,
Darius Guyter, Wm. Reese, Wm. Silicic,
John Harris, Thomas Jones, Thomas Phil
lips, Lucas Davis, Charles Freur, John
Thomas. Darius Jnbuson, James Million,
James Haskins, Wm. D. Jones, Madison
Allibock, Daniel Edwards, John Powell.
About 108 in number were In tho mine be
sides these. Thomas Williams and David
j Jones wero suffocated on Monday evening
: in attempting to enter.
Plymouth, Pa., Sept. 9.—lt has from the
first been hoped that Mr. Evan Hughe-,ii. .
sido foreman, would have inado ao‘no*.
memoranda, which being found would givo
inlormation as to tho timo life was prolong-,
ed, ami when his body was brought up his
coat was off, and his tools, time books, tfco.,
were missing. After it wus deemed certain
that no moro bodies remained in the mine.
Mr. Benjamin Hughes, gonoral inside fure
man of all tho Delaware, Lackawunna and
Western Rallroud Company’s fninos, and
brother of Evan Hughes, taking four men
with him, went down to search for bis
brother’s coat, hoping to find in it tin*
memoranda so much desired. Ho found
tho oout five or six hundred yards from
where Mr. Hughes’ body had been found,
and outside of both barricades. It contain
er his compass uud other tools, anil two
tiinebooks, but uo memoranda whatever,
so that ull hope of having record of the
last hours of tho dead is lost.
No doubt ull tbo bodies arc now up, as
thorough explorations of the mine reveal
no more, and 10S represents tho total loss
of life.
There are 59 widows, and 109 orphans
made by this disaster. Numbers of the
men had children living iu the old country,
and the destitution is greut, and requires
immediate relief. The strike of 3i months
had reduced ull tho families to tho verge ot
starvation, aud tho men not being at work
long enough to receive any pay, there was
never a case t hat appealed tnoro strongly
to tho charitable.
Funeral of tti« Dead miners.
Avondale, Sept. 9.—ln every «otrag«.
except one in tbe neighborhood of tho mine
a dead minor lay in his coffin, surrounded
by friends who mourned his terrible fate.
No wonder that an absorbing sense of her*,
ror and grief pervades tbo entire mining
district. It will ho a long while boforo the'
inlluoncoof tbe calamity upon tho hearts
and minds of the minerscun bo sufficiently
removed to bring back tbe labor in the dis
trict to its wonted efficiency.
It is hoped that on some of tl>w bodies,
still to be recovered some writing vGU be
found embodying a statement ia regard to.
the conduct of the mon iu the mine, after
they found themselves fatally imprisoned
iu the bowels of the earth. Tho fact, how
ever, that the dinner pails of tho inen wero
found with their contents untouched is
accepted by many experienced miners ns a
proof that all of the men, or at least nearly
ull of them, perished soon utter the shaft,
took fire.
Others argue that tho fact of over slxty
of the men being found together shows that
.these victims assembled together for the
purpose of considering the matter of escape,
and devising, if possibly uome plan by
which the extent of th* fire in tho shaft
could be ascertained.
In several instances boys wer* ibund
locked in the amis of their fathers, aud this
fact is taken as evidence of life haying benn
sustained for some time alter the explosion.
If this be true, tho horriblo situation in
which the doomed miners so suddenly
found themselves can easily be Imagined.
The awfulness of their fate, the sure ap
proach of death, the utter helplessness of
their position—all these must have been
sufficient to palsythe stoutest hearts in tint*-
fated band.
A special time table was prepared hu*l>
evening by the Lackawuna and Blwins
burg Ruilway Company, and this morning
funeral truins were run from Hcruaton und
Avondale, and from Avondale to Scranton.
jTbe announcement made by tho 'Com
pany in the time table Is this:
'•Paneral trains will ran for tho accommo
dation of all who wish to attend the funeral
services on Thursday, -eptember l*. lsot). These
trains will be free to all.”
One train left Scranton at 11 o’clock, car
rying not less than 2,500 persons. Two
other truins soon followed, eacli bearing not
less than 2,000 passengers. Men, women
Pmd children huddled together on common
construction cars, and so great was the.,
generul desire to visit Avondale that hun
dreds of persons subjected themselves to
the most uneomfortablo riding in order to
reach that place.
At 11 o’clock a train loft Avondale ibr
Scranton. This was a funeral train indeed,
for it carried the coffined corpses u 1 thirty
nine of the victims of the appalling disas
ter. The train consisted of some fifteen
cars, nearly all of which were crowded with
the relatives and friends of tho deceased
miners.
Long before the arrival of the train at
Scranton, the public square back of tho
depot, the depot platform, and every Bpot
in the immediate neighborhood were
, thronged with thousands of spectators.
Hearses and other vehicles were in. waiting
to receive the bodies, and as fast as the cof
fins could be removed from tho cars they
were placed In them and borne to tho
Welsh Cemetery at Hyde Park, where the
funeral services and burial took place*
Itayor Hill of Scranton, was present and
did all In his official power to make the
occasion pass off as quietly as possible on
reaching the cemetery, to which the corpses
were followed by a funeral train or thou
sands of persons.
The oofflns were placed side by aide, and
the funeral services were at once begun
The services .rare eonduoted by the Rev
Mr. Evans, the Rev. Mr. Bevins, of Soran
ton, and several other clergymen from vil
lages on ths line of the road between
Scranton and Avondale.
If it were not that so much has already