The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-03-15
vIRGINIA,S HOLOCAUST.
--latest Particulars Concerning the
Nine Explosion.
Fire Adds Another Horror to the Ca
Iamity.

LYNCHBURG, Va, March 14.-Words cannot
convey the faintest idea of the destruction
that was wrought in few short seconds. Signs
of it are plainly visible on every hand. The
entrance to the main shaft was entirely torn
out and scattered pell NEIL for hundreds OF
feet. The little train track was torn ana
twisted, and sbapeless timbers and ties mixed
in confusion all around. The cars we're taken
up bodily and torn in part, and tnelr IRON
wheels we're shivered. They were thrown
three and four hundred feet away. Inc
searching party fouud a pair of shoes that nad
been blown tn the summit of the ridge, ana
mule was found al the same place twisted INTO
an indescribahle shape. The second entrance
to the mine presented similar appearance 70
the first. At this point lived q Hungarian
family named Glassee, whose house was sniv-
cred almost to atoms, but wonderful TO relale
the inmates of the house escaped without serl-
GUS injury. AT the entrance OF the Ian tunnel
stood the company's large ventilator, which,
with the house around it, was swept entirely
away, leaving the engine standing on the foun-
dation. shattered and broken, with the pipes
twisted ana forced. AS indicated, the force OF
the explosion was terrific. Rocks were thrown
through the workshops, and every object that
stood in the direct course of the forced air was
demolished. Several workmen in the shops
were severely injured. The shops, as we'll as
the locomotive house, were leveled with the
ground. OF the 150 men who were in the
mine at the time OF the explosion, not one has
returned to the surface to tell the fate of their
companions, and there is no probability that
single one OF them survived. Parties that
ventured into the mine this morning discover
cd several manged bodies, one of which was
identified as that of NJ L. Hampton, night
foreman, " no leaves widow and large fami-
ly. The carpenters and laborers, after much
suffering and sickness, succeeded last evening
in erecting fan, and it is hoped that the re-
moval of the dead bodies can be accomplished
today, although the smell from the mine is
still sickening and sutfocating. About 80
HuDgaTians are among the victims. The 9TH
ers are colored men and white miners from
this State and Pennsylvania. 1t is generally
thought that the explosion was caused by fire
damp, but it is inexplicable how a horizontal
coal vein, above the water level, could contain
SO much explosive gas Churches and houses
at Pocahontas are draped in mourning and
business is entirely suspended
PocAHoNTAs, Va, March 14.-The mine is
still on fire, and the only means of extinguish-
ing it is to close it, which is now being done.
The mine will remain sealed up for probably
two weeks. None of the bodies have been re-
covered.
RICHMOND, Va, March a. The legislature
today passed resolution requesting GOV. Cam
eron to ascertain at once the necessities of the
families and dependents of the 155 miners who
were killed by the explosion at the Laurel
Creek coal mines at Poeahontas yesterday.
This is done with view to making an appro-
ger will at once be despatched by the execu-
tive to the mines to obtain the desired infor-
nation.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, March 14.-An officer
of the company operating the Pocahontas
mine, said today that the company never sus-
pected The presence of fire damp in the mines.
There was no odor, and the men were in the
habit OF going through the mines with naked
lamps. No cause can be assigned for the ex-
plosion. In the future, however, covered
lamps will be used.
The following despatch from the superin-
tendent of the mine was received today:
'We will make desperate attempt to get In
tonight Have temporary fan up. The in
dications are that the mine is on fire. Will
know in few hours, and if it is found to be
the case, we will seal all the openings at once,
and fill the mine with steam. Have five boil
ers placed ready, and the steam pipe will be on
hand at II p. M No lives have been saved,
and no one can live in the atmosphere inside"
CENTRAL, Va, March IA visit to the
mine this morning presented spectacle baf-
fling description. From mountain peak to
base, could be seen evidence of the frightful
havoc that bad bsen wrought by the explosion.
The hill sides in every direction were strewn
with debris and coal dust, and all OF the la
borers' shanties in the vicinity are more or less
wrecked. 1t is instanced that SO terrific was
the force OF the explosion that the windows in
q house two miles off were shivered. The first
entry effected was by Hungarian, whose son
was buried in the mines. Nearly crazed by
grief he could not be restrained, and penetrat-
ed TO considerable distance, but was forced
TO retire. He reported seeing q number of
bodies congregated in one chamber indiscrimi-
Dstely, torn and msngled beyond recognition.
Most of the killed were unmarried, the night
force being mainly composed OF the youngest
and most vigorous men.