Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-04-15
Recovering the Bodies of POehahOntas-Mine
Victims.
SIXTEEN BROUGHT OUT, BUT ONLY SIX
IDENTIFIED--FRIGHTFU AFFILIATIONS
INDICATION, OF INSTANTANEOUS D III

[ By telegraph to the Dispatch.


| INDICATIONS OF INSTANTANEOUS tn
TO ALL.
| by telegraph to the Dispatch
LYNcHBURG, VA, April 11-After
everything had been got in readiness at Po-
chahontas yesterday evening the 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 Lathrop
announcing that the bodies could be re-
claimed, and then Mining Engineer Moody,
in charge of the rescuing party, entered the
mines to note the situation of affairs. When
the party emerged from the mines it was
announced to the assembled crowd that
the damage was less than had been sup
posed, and that little trouble would be ex-
perienced in recovering the bodies of the
victims. Two bodies were recovered yes
terday in a horribly mutilated condition
those of Boon Maxey, 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
the entrance The crowd, however, OBJ
served proper decorum, and no undue ex-
eitenent was manifested, spirit of great
solemnity seeming to pervade the entire
assemblage. The bodies, as they were re-
covered, were placed in boxes on the in
side Of the mine, and several of them were
brought out together on car. A number
of miners well-acquainted with the victims
were placed at the entrance for the purpose
of identifying the bodies if possible, but of
sixteen recovered so far only six have been
identified. These are Jim Grim, Isham
Maxwell, George Maxwell, William Slush
Ell, young Jewell, and German who was
recognized by his wife. Many OF the bod
les are horribly mang ied-some with heads
| blown off, others with arms and legs tom
from the sockets, and with other frightful
mutilations. An arm and leg were found
in the main entrance, but the body to
which they belonged could not be found.
A thrill of horror passed through the crowd
of spectators in front of the mines as the
resculng party brought out the oharred re-
mains of a miner with his dinner 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
| htbisi, oiiu tuo pOSiGiOH I'll tutse bOuieS III
dicated that death was instantaneous to all
in the mine. At $3.50 o'clock an announce
ment was made that no more bodies would
be removed before 8 o'clock Saturday
morning.
Tho 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 mires at 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 as
soon as the announcement was made that
no more bodies would be taken out until
Saturday me crowd quietly withdrew. All
of the identfications to-day were by means
of clothing or articles in the pockets. The
bodies were not in any case recognizable
of themselves.