Both Emma and Jane Smurl perished when the company home they were living in collapsed into a sink hole on 22 July 1872. At that time, mine shafts were commonly tunneled dangerously close to the surface. Their father, Samuel took The Delaware and Hudson Canal Company to court. The case was heard in April of 1876 and a verdict of "non-culpable" was returned.
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ANOTHER FATAL MINING ACCIDENT!
Caving in of the old Baltimore mines near this city!
About Half an Acre Gone Down With a Double House!
2 Children still in the mine!
Great Excitement- Many of the Inmates Barely Save Their Lives - Some Severely Injured.
Robbing the mine of the coal props, the cause!
The news of the caving in of the old Baltimore mines, about one and a half miles from this city created considerable excitement. Many hastened to the scene to witness the melancholy spectacle. It appeared that about half-past 6 o'clock this morning, a rumbling noise was heard by the inmates of the fatal house, and they thought it was the coal cars, when the house began to crack and the plaster commenced falling; they first discovered their danger and rushed to the doors to effect their escape. It was quick work for them, for the large two story house, containing two families, had then gone down a number of feet; one end of the building fell in first, and this enabled all in the upper end to save their lives, but two little girls, one 5 and the other 3 years of age, who were still in bed in the lower story, were carried down with the ruins. The others escaped with more or less injuries. A large number of miners and others have been working vigorously to remove the dirt and timbers many feet down in the hope of finding the children alive. Up to 4 o'clock they had been unsuccessful.
These old mines are owned and worked by the Del.[aware] & Hud.[son] Canal Co., and the coal pillars or props which have been left at this point for many years have been removed in part lately. Our reporter was informed this morning that the miners had removed the pillars at a late day within a few feet of this fatal spot. Nothing left to support the earth, and no warning to the families upon the surface.
The house had been built 40 years.[ago?] About 22 by 44 feet, two story frame building, and occupied by two large families. Prince Alden, his wife, two children and four boarders, occupied the east end of the house. Nearly everything in it was lost, but the inmates were all saved, Erastus Alden, a young man, badly cut about the head; Chas.[Charles] M. Sayer, and the old man, Mr. Alden, were off to work at the time; Chas. Chambers, an old man injured about the body, and his son Samuel, escaped without harm.
Samuel Smurl, wife and four children, [should be 8 unless some of the older ones were living nearby?] occupied the west end of the house, which fell in first, and proved fatal to the two girls. Jane 3 years old and Emma 5 years.
The father was at his work several rods from the house, and the mother, and oldest daughter, [see previous about # of children, I'm guessing Maggie as she was not old enough to work at this time NOT Mary Eliza] and babe, [Martha, b. Jan 1872] were at the breakfast table and managed to escape. Poor Jane and Emma were still in their bed on the first floor, and in a moment were engulfed in the fatal cave.
The depth of the gangway of the old mine at this point was about 20 feet, and the thickness of the rock and gravel covering about 50 feet.
Several miners went into the old mines, during the forenoon, and discovered that portions of the house and pieces of the furniture had come entirely through. They found a pair of gaiters which the mother assured them was in the very room where her dear children were sleeping. This fact seemed to indicate that the remains of the girls could best be recovered by working in the mines.
Words cannot describe the anguish of the parents for their lost ones, in a calamity like this. The lingering hope against chance that they may yet be alive, allows no relief to the afflicted heart.
The fearful responsibility for this fatal accident should be placed upon the shoulders of the proper parties.
Wilkes-Barre Daily, 22 Jul 1872, Page 1
********************
ANOTHER FATAL MINING ACCIDENT!
Caving in of the old Baltimore mines near this city!
About Half an Acre Gone Down With a Double House!
2 Children still in the mine!
Great Excitement- Many of the Inmates Barely Save Their Lives - Some Severely Injured.
Robbing the mine of the coal props, the cause!
The news of the caving in of the old Baltimore mines, about one and a half miles from this city created considerable excitement. Many hastened to the scene to witness the melancholy spectacle. It appeared that about half-past 6 o'clock this morning, a rumbling noise was heard by the inmates of the fatal house, and they thought it was the coal cars, when the house began to crack and the plaster commenced falling; they first discovered their danger and rushed to the doors to effect their escape. It was quick work for them, for the large two story house, containing two families, had then gone down a number of feet; one end of the building fell in first, and this enabled all in the upper end to save their lives, but two little girls, one 5 and the other 3 years of age, who were still in bed in the lower story, were carried down with the ruins. The others escaped with more or less injuries. A large number of miners and others have been working vigorously to remove the dirt and timbers many feet down in the hope of finding the children alive. Up to 4 o'clock they had been unsuccessful.
These old mines are owned and worked by the Del.[aware] & Hud.[son] Canal Co., and the coal pillars or props which have been left at this point for many years have been removed in part lately. Our reporter was informed this morning that the miners had removed the pillars at a late day within a few feet of this fatal spot. Nothing left to support the earth, and no warning to the families upon the surface.
The house had been built 40 years.[ago?] About 22 by 44 feet, two story frame building, and occupied by two large families. Prince Alden, his wife, two children and four boarders, occupied the east end of the house. Nearly everything in it was lost, but the inmates were all saved, Erastus Alden, a young man, badly cut about the head; Chas.[Charles] M. Sayer, and the old man, Mr. Alden, were off to work at the time; Chas. Chambers, an old man injured about the body, and his son Samuel, escaped without harm.
Samuel Smurl, wife and four children, [should be 8 unless some of the older ones were living nearby?] occupied the west end of the house, which fell in first, and proved fatal to the two girls. Jane 3 years old and Emma 5 years.
The father was at his work several rods from the house, and the mother, and oldest daughter, [see previous about # of children, I'm guessing Maggie as she was not old enough to work at this time NOT Mary Eliza] and babe, [Martha, b. Jan 1872] were at the breakfast table and managed to escape. Poor Jane and Emma were still in their bed on the first floor, and in a moment were engulfed in the fatal cave.
The depth of the gangway of the old mine at this point was about 20 feet, and the thickness of the rock and gravel covering about 50 feet.
Several miners went into the old mines, during the forenoon, and discovered that portions of the house and pieces of the furniture had come entirely through. They found a pair of gaiters which the mother assured them was in the very room where her dear children were sleeping. This fact seemed to indicate that the remains of the girls could best be recovered by working in the mines.
Words cannot describe the anguish of the parents for their lost ones, in a calamity like this. The lingering hope against chance that they may yet be alive, allows no relief to the afflicted heart.
The fearful responsibility for this fatal accident should be placed upon the shoulders of the proper parties.
Wilkes-Barre Daily, 22 Jul 1872, Page 1
Both Emma and Jane Smurl perished when the company home they were living in collapsed into a sink hole on 22 July 1872. At that time, mine shafts were commonly tunneled dangerously close to the surface. Their father, Samuel took The Delaware and Hudson Canal Company to court. The case was heard in April of 1876 and a verdict of "non-culpable" was returned.
********************
ANOTHER FATAL MINING ACCIDENT!
Caving in of the old Baltimore mines near this city!
About Half an Acre Gone Down With a Double House!
2 Children still in the mine!
Great Excitement- Many of the Inmates Barely Save Their Lives - Some Severely Injured.
Robbing the mine of the coal props, the cause!
The news of the caving in of the old Baltimore mines, about one and a half miles from this city created considerable excitement. Many hastened to the scene to witness the melancholy spectacle. It appeared that about half-past 6 o'clock this morning, a rumbling noise was heard by the inmates of the fatal house, and they thought it was the coal cars, when the house began to crack and the plaster commenced falling; they first discovered their danger and rushed to the doors to effect their escape. It was quick work for them, for the large two story house, containing two families, had then gone down a number of feet; one end of the building fell in first, and this enabled all in the upper end to save their lives, but two little girls, one 5 and the other 3 years of age, who were still in bed in the lower story, were carried down with the ruins. The others escaped with more or less injuries. A large number of miners and others have been working vigorously to remove the dirt and timbers many feet down in the hope of finding the children alive. Up to 4 o'clock they had been unsuccessful.
These old mines are owned and worked by the Del.[aware] & Hud.[son] Canal Co., and the coal pillars or props which have been left at this point for many years have been removed in part lately. Our reporter was informed this morning that the miners had removed the pillars at a late day within a few feet of this fatal spot. Nothing left to support the earth, and no warning to the families upon the surface.
The house had been built 40 years.[ago?] About 22 by 44 feet, two story frame building, and occupied by two large families. Prince Alden, his wife, two children and four boarders, occupied the east end of the house. Nearly everything in it was lost, but the inmates were all saved, Erastus Alden, a young man, badly cut about the head; Chas.[Charles] M. Sayer, and the old man, Mr. Alden, were off to work at the time; Chas. Chambers, an old man injured about the body, and his son Samuel, escaped without harm.
Samuel Smurl, wife and four children, [should be 8 unless some of the older ones were living nearby?] occupied the west end of the house, which fell in first, and proved fatal to the two girls. Jane 3 years old and Emma 5 years.
The father was at his work several rods from the house, and the mother, and oldest daughter, [see previous about # of children, I'm guessing Maggie as she was not old enough to work at this time NOT Mary Eliza] and babe, [Martha, b. Jan 1872] were at the breakfast table and managed to escape. Poor Jane and Emma were still in their bed on the first floor, and in a moment were engulfed in the fatal cave.
The depth of the gangway of the old mine at this point was about 20 feet, and the thickness of the rock and gravel covering about 50 feet.
Several miners went into the old mines, during the forenoon, and discovered that portions of the house and pieces of the furniture had come entirely through. They found a pair of gaiters which the mother assured them was in the very room where her dear children were sleeping. This fact seemed to indicate that the remains of the girls could best be recovered by working in the mines.
Words cannot describe the anguish of the parents for their lost ones, in a calamity like this. The lingering hope against chance that they may yet be alive, allows no relief to the afflicted heart.
The fearful responsibility for this fatal accident should be placed upon the shoulders of the proper parties.
Wilkes-Barre Daily, 22 Jul 1872, Page 1
********************
ANOTHER FATAL MINING ACCIDENT!
Caving in of the old Baltimore mines near this city!
About Half an Acre Gone Down With a Double House!
2 Children still in the mine!
Great Excitement- Many of the Inmates Barely Save Their Lives - Some Severely Injured.
Robbing the mine of the coal props, the cause!
The news of the caving in of the old Baltimore mines, about one and a half miles from this city created considerable excitement. Many hastened to the scene to witness the melancholy spectacle. It appeared that about half-past 6 o'clock this morning, a rumbling noise was heard by the inmates of the fatal house, and they thought it was the coal cars, when the house began to crack and the plaster commenced falling; they first discovered their danger and rushed to the doors to effect their escape. It was quick work for them, for the large two story house, containing two families, had then gone down a number of feet; one end of the building fell in first, and this enabled all in the upper end to save their lives, but two little girls, one 5 and the other 3 years of age, who were still in bed in the lower story, were carried down with the ruins. The others escaped with more or less injuries. A large number of miners and others have been working vigorously to remove the dirt and timbers many feet down in the hope of finding the children alive. Up to 4 o'clock they had been unsuccessful.
These old mines are owned and worked by the Del.[aware] & Hud.[son] Canal Co., and the coal pillars or props which have been left at this point for many years have been removed in part lately. Our reporter was informed this morning that the miners had removed the pillars at a late day within a few feet of this fatal spot. Nothing left to support the earth, and no warning to the families upon the surface.
The house had been built 40 years.[ago?] About 22 by 44 feet, two story frame building, and occupied by two large families. Prince Alden, his wife, two children and four boarders, occupied the east end of the house. Nearly everything in it was lost, but the inmates were all saved, Erastus Alden, a young man, badly cut about the head; Chas.[Charles] M. Sayer, and the old man, Mr. Alden, were off to work at the time; Chas. Chambers, an old man injured about the body, and his son Samuel, escaped without harm.
Samuel Smurl, wife and four children, [should be 8 unless some of the older ones were living nearby?] occupied the west end of the house, which fell in first, and proved fatal to the two girls. Jane 3 years old and Emma 5 years.
The father was at his work several rods from the house, and the mother, and oldest daughter, [see previous about # of children, I'm guessing Maggie as she was not old enough to work at this time NOT Mary Eliza] and babe, [Martha, b. Jan 1872] were at the breakfast table and managed to escape. Poor Jane and Emma were still in their bed on the first floor, and in a moment were engulfed in the fatal cave.
The depth of the gangway of the old mine at this point was about 20 feet, and the thickness of the rock and gravel covering about 50 feet.
Several miners went into the old mines, during the forenoon, and discovered that portions of the house and pieces of the furniture had come entirely through. They found a pair of gaiters which the mother assured them was in the very room where her dear children were sleeping. This fact seemed to indicate that the remains of the girls could best be recovered by working in the mines.
Words cannot describe the anguish of the parents for their lost ones, in a calamity like this. The lingering hope against chance that they may yet be alive, allows no relief to the afflicted heart.
The fearful responsibility for this fatal accident should be placed upon the shoulders of the proper parties.
Wilkes-Barre Daily, 22 Jul 1872, Page 1
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