The Evening Times

SIXTEEN MULES BURNED.

The Dorrance Pit at Wilkesbarre the Scene of a Disaster.

Wilkesbarre, Pa., Nov. 4.-Another accident has occurred at the Dorrance mine, of the Lehigh Valley Company, where seven engineers were recently killed.

This time sixteen mules were burned to death. A little before midnight Saturday night a miner was loading some hay into the mule stable in the mine, when his naked lamp fell into a mass of loose hay at his feet. So quickly did the fire spread that before the miner could reach down for the lamp the hay was a mass of flames.

For a moment or two he tried to separate the burning hay from the mass piled up in the stable, but while he stamped out the fire in one part it started in another. He was at last obliged to run and save himself and give the alarm.

As quickly as possible a line of hose was carried down the shaft and attached to one of the big pumps, but before this could be done the flames had reached and enveloped the whole line of stables. Seventeen mules were fastened in stalls in the stable, and every effort to reach them after the alarm was given failed, as the pathway was blocked with flames.

One of the would-be rescuers was carried out unconscious, overcome with smoke.

The fire was fought under great difficulties, the men being unable to remain in the gangway more than a minute or two on account of the smoke.

The shrieks and cries of the imprisoned mules were horrible to hear, and there was also the danger of their breaking out of the stable and in their terror running down the fire-fighters. Three did get out of the stable and dashed down the gangway, but the men managed to avoid them.

Two of these had to be shot, they were so badly burned; the other was not injured.

The remaining fourteen were burned to death. It was six hours after the fire started before it was put out. The mine was badly damaged.