Newspapers"Miners' Journal February 15,1862

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by David P. Welsh
dpwelch@erols.com

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From the Miners' Journal of February 15, 1862: 

"At Bear Ridge two miles above Port Carbon, this county, on Tuesday morning last, 
between seven and eight o'clock, five men named Richard Doggat of Bear Ridge, 
Thomas Cann of Port Carbon, James Higgins of Port Carbon, William Fitzcharles of 
Bear Ridge, and Matthew Kilsh of Bear Ridge, entered old mines formerly worked by 
James Beury for the purpose of securing a dam in the gangway constructed to 
prevent the extension of a fire in the works which commenced about a year since and 
which has been burning ever since. 

The immediate objective of this is to recover a quantity of iron which has been 
lying in the works since they were abandoned. About eight o'clock while working in 
the gangway, a fearful explosion of fire damp took place killing Doggat and seriously 
burning all the rest, Fitzcharles the worst. 

Three of the unfortunate men, Higgins, Fitzcharles, and Kilsh, succeeded in forcing 
their way from the mine to the surface after the explosion took place during the day 
rendering the efforts of the workmen to rescue Cann exceeding dangerous and hazardous. 
After several attempts to penetrate to where he lay, each time being driven back, the men 
finally rescued him about seven o'clock on Tuesday evening, he having lain ten hours in 
a wounded condition. Cann says that after the explosion he threw himself in a pool of 
water and covered his head with stones, in which position he laid until he was rescued. 
This plan unquestionably saved his life. His head was much swollen and mutilated. 

All the wounded are in a fair way of recovery. Doggat leaves a large family in destitute 
circumstances. Too much praise cannot be awarded to the workmen who at risk of their lives 
persevered until they rescued Cann. Theirs was an exhibition of true courage."