The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-04-12
RECOVERING The. BODIES
OF P0CAHONTAS.MINE VICTIMS.
"h'een BROUGHT Out, but Only Six Identi-
heo-frsghtfui Mutiia,ions-I Indications OF
instantaneous Death 10 ALL
lBy telegraph to the DIspaich.I

'"s'ahtnneous Death 20 All.
lBy telegraph to the Dispaich.l
LYNcHBURo, Va, April 11.-Aiier every
.n,nV had been got in readiness at Po-
canontas yesterday evening the police
force was placed on guard at the main en-
trance to the mines in order 10 keep back
the crowd which had been attracted by the
notice posted by Superintendent Lathrop
announcing that the bodies could he re-
earned. and then Mining Engineer Moody,
III charge OF rescuing party, entered the
mines 10 note the situation OF affairs.
Wnen the party emerged from the mines
IL was announced TO The assembled crowd
that the damage was less than had been
supposed, and that little trouble would be
experienced in recovering the bodies OF
the victims. Two bodies were recovered
yesterday in a horribly-mutilated condi-
tlon--th0se OF Boon MaXey, a white boy,
and Jim Grim, a negro.
The work or recovery was then post
poned until this morning. when il was re-
sumed under the direction OF Engineer
Moody. a still larger crowd than that Of
The day previous cOngregated at the en-
trance, aud ropes had TO be stretched
around 10 prevent too near an approach TO
the entrance. The crowd, however, OBJ
served proper decOrum. and no undue ex-
element was manifested, spirit OF great
solemnity seeming TO pervade the entire
asSembllgc. The bodies, as they were re-
covered, were placed in boxes on the
inside of the nine, and several Of
them were brought Oat together on
car. A number Of miners we'll
acquainted with the victims were placed
a the for fhn rf iHanfifV-
ing the bodies II possible, but OF sixteen
recovered so far only six have been ldenti-
fed These are jim Grim. Isham Max
well, George Maxwell, William Slusher,
young Jewell, and a German who was re-
cOgnized by his wife. Many Of the bodies
are horribly mangled-some with heads
blown OF. Others with arms and legs
torn from the sockets, aud witt! other
frightfdl mutations. An arm and leg
were found in the main entrance, but the
body TO which they. belonged could not bc
found. A thrill OF horror passed through
the crowd OF spectators in front OF the
mines as the reScuing party brought out
the charred remains OF a miner with his
dinner-bucEet claSped in his arms. He
was probably just partaking Of his mid
night meal when the explosion hurled him
INTO eternity. Several miners were found
with picks in hand, and the position OF
these bodies indicates that death was in
Simultaneous to all in the mine. At $3.50
O'Clock an announcement was made that
no more bodies would he removed before
Q O'Clock Saturday morning.
The remainder of the day was occupied
in getting out carcaSses of mules, which,
being too heavy to be dragged out, had to
be quartered and taken out. Very little
excitement prevailed at the mines ut any
time during the day. A large crowd of
men and women stood near the entrance,
hoping by some familiar feature to recOg-
nize the remains OF dead relatives. but a
soon as the announcement was made that
no more bodies would be taken out until
Saturday the crowd quietly withdrew.
All OF the identificatiOns to-day were by
means of clothing or articles IN the peck
cts. The bodies were not in any case re-
cOgnizable OF themselves.