Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-12
HORRORS OF POCAH0NTAS
SIXTEEN NIUTIIATED BODIES
RECOVERED so FAR.

All Torn Beyond Recognition Save by
Trinkets and CIOthing-A Dinner Pail
Locked in the Arms of One of the
COrpses-The Crowd Stands in Silent
Sorrow.
LYNCHBURG, VA, April 11.-After
everything had been got in readiness at
Pocahontas yesterday evening a police
force was placed on guard at the main en-
trance to the mines, in order to keep back
the crowd which had been attracted by
the notice posted by superintendent La
thrOp announcing that bodies could be re-
claimed, and then Mining Engineer
Moody, in charge of a rescuing party, en-
tered the mines to note the situation of
affairs. When the party emerged from
the mines it was announced to the assem-
bled crowd that the damage was less than
mad been supposed, and that little trouble
would be experienced in recovering the
bodies of the victims.
THE WORK OF RECOVERY.
Two bodies were recovered yesterday
in a horribly mutilated cOnditiOn-those
of Boon MaXey, a white boy, and Jim
Grim, negro.
The work of recovery was then post
poned until this morning, when it was re-
sumed under the direction of Engineer
Moody. A still larger crowd than that of
the day previous congregated at the en-
trance, and ropes had to be stretched
around to prevent too near an approach
to the entrance. The crowd, however, OBJ
served proper decOrum, and no undue
excitement was manifested, a spirit Of
great sOlemnity seeming to pervade the
assemblage.
IDENTIFYING THE REMAINS.
The bodies as they were recovered were
placed in boxes in the inside of the mine
and several Of them We're brought out to-
gether on car. A number of miners
well acquainted with the victims We're
placed at the entrance for the purpose Of
identifying the bodies, if possible, but of
sixteen recovered so Ear only six have
been identified. These are:
James Grim.
Isham Maxwell.
George Maxwell.
William Slusher.
Young Jewell.
A German who was recognized by his
wife,
HORRIBLY MANGLED.
Many of the bodies are horribly man:
gled, some with the heads blown off,
others with arms and legs torn from the
sockets and with other frightful mutila-
'ANASf -AAA vi III ttAANA q lNS NNlC lOUllu III
the main entrance, but the body to which
they belonged could not be found.
HUGGING HIS DINNER PAIL IN DEATH.
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 miner with his din
ner-bucket clasped in his arms. He was
probably Just partaking of his midnight
meal when the explosion hurled him into
eternity. Several miners were found with
picks in their hands, and the position Of
these bodies indicates that death was in
stantaneOus to all in the mine.
At $3.50 O'Clock announcement was made
that no more bodies would be removed be-
fore O'Clock Saturday morning.
QUARTERING THE DEAD MULES.
The remainder Of the day was occupied
in getting out the carcases Of mules,
which, being to heavy too be dragged out
had to be quartered and taken out. Very
little excitement prevailed at the mines
at any time during the day. A large
crowd of men and women stood near the
entrance hoping by some familiar feature
to recognize the remains of dead relatives,
but as soon as the announcement was
made that no more bodies would be taken
out until Saturday the crowd quietly
withdrew. All the identifcatiOns to-day
were by means of clothing or arti cles in
the pockets. The bodies were not in anv
case recognizable of the mselYes.