Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-14
MINERS BLOWN TO ATOMS.
AN EXPLOSION KILLS $50 IN VIR-
GINA.

a SPSCldA AOiH OCduOulaS says tlat an
explosion occurred in the coal mines
there at 1890 O'Clock this morning, and
that from 12O to $50 miners were killed.
SIX CORPsEs RECOVERED.
RICHMOND, March 13, P. M.-The
latest intelligence from Pocahontas is
that an exploring party entered the mine
a short distance and brought out six
bodies in a frightfully- condi.
tiOn. There were from 125 to $50 men in
the mine when the explosion occurred at
O'Clock this morning, and there is no
hope that any will be rescued alive.
SURGEONS EN- ROUTE.
LYNCHBURG, March 13, M.-No fur
ther particulars have vet been received of
the explosion in the coal mines at Poca-
hontas, Va. Great confusion prevails
there and accurate information cannot be
had before this evening. A special train.
with surgeons on board, left here for the
scene of the explosion at 1915 O'Clock
this morning.
CONFIRMING THE LOSS OF LIFE.
PETERSBURG, VA, March 13, P. NJ
Intelligence has just been received here
OF a terrible explosion in the coal mines
of the Southwest Virginia Improvement
Company, at Pocahontas, in this State.
which occurred this morning at l O'Clock.
Particulars concerning the accident are
very meagre. Nothing has been learned
as to how it occurred, but over 100 men
are known to be killed. These mines are
worked by joint stock company COM
posed mostly of Northern capitalists.
Further intelligence from Pocahontas rep
sents the work of destruction at the coal
mines as horrible and complete,
NOT ONE ESCAPED.
There were one hundred and fifty men
in the mine at the time Of the explosion.
not one of whom is believed to have es,
capped. Those who were not killed ont
right by the terrible force of the explosion
most likely perished from after damp.
me cause of the explosion is not vet
definitely ascertained, as the entrances to
the mine are all full of bad air, but the
presumption is that one of the miners
struck fissure filled with gas.
BODIES TORN LIMB FROM LIMB.
Several parties ventured into the mines
this morning, but could not long endure
the foul air. A number of bodies were
discovered horribly mangled, some of them
with the heads torn from the trunks and
others with the limbs all gone, presenting
an appalling spectacle.
WIDESPREAD DESTRUCTION.
The work of destruction was not con-
fined to the interior of the mine, but
houses 200 and 800 feet removed from the
mines were overturned, and in several in
stances entirely demolished. The large
VentilatOr of the Southwestern Improve
ment Company was blown to atoms, and
the mines cannot be entered until another
is constructed for the purpose of freeing
the atmosphere OF the suffOcating fumes,
This work is now progressing speedily.
PREPARING MANY COFFINs.
A large force is engaged on the outside
OF the mines constructing cOffins and Der
fecting such arrangements for the inter-
ment of the dead, most of whom are for
eigners.
THE SCENE OF THE HORROR.
RICHMOND, VA, March 13, p. NJ
The mine in which the disaster occurred is
known as the Flat Top Mine, and is stu
ated in the northeast portion of TaZewell
county, at the base of the Flat TOP Noun
tains, which divide that section of Vir-
ginia from West Virginia. The company
working the mine is nOminally known as
the Southwest ' IL ginia Improvement
Company, but the mine is really
under control of the Norfolk
and Western Railroad Company, who
have branch road known as the New
River Division, running from New River
=.
Ilsey, of Pennsylvania, is President of the
Improvement Company, and William A.
Lathrop is superintendent of the mine.
which is comparatively new, having been
in active operation but little over a
year. From 500 to 500 hands were en-
ployed, and large quantity OF coal was
being taken out.
ALL IN CONFUSION.
LHNCHBURG, VA, March 13, II P. M
1t is impossible to get detailed account
of the explosion at the POcahontas mines.
as everything there is in the utmost con-
fusion. A telegraph operator has been on
duty for two nights, and is unable
to handle the business of the office.
Pressing kilograms for particulars receive
no response. Another operator was sent
there tonight, and there will be no
trouble, it is thought, in securing a full
account OF the disaster early tomorrow,
A telegram received at 8 O'Clock tonight
says that the whole of the east mine was
shattered by the explosion, and every
thing in front of the main entrance is de-
molished. Both of the mine engines are
safe, but most of the mine cars were com.
pletely wrecked.
FLAMES BURSTING FORTH.
Fire is now seen at the mouth end of the
mine and no one can enter. The fan
house and fan are total wreck. As soon
as repaired efforts will be made to 90 into
the mine. Everything possible is being
done TO reach the victims. A party of ex-
perlenced miners, under charge of Col.
George Dodds, from the coal field mines
OF Chesterfield county, passed through
Lynchburg this evening and will arrive
at HOcah0ntas at II O'Clock tonight. The
men employed in the mines were mostly
Hungarians without families. A number
OF negroes from this city and the sur
rounding section were also employed
there, and the excitement here is con-
sequently very great.
THE FUTURE OF THE MINES.
What effect the disaster will have on
the operations of the mines can only be
c0nJectured until the full extent of the
damage transpres. The mines have not
been long opened, but the company had
gotten we'll under way and was supplying
a large section of country with coal, and
the prospect was most encouraging, a
large cOallng station for the supply of
ocean steamers being in course of con-
structiOn at Norfolk. While the accident
Will have the effect Of retarding the work
at the mines, it is not believed that it will
cause a permanent discOntinuance, as a
great deal of money has been expended
there by the Northern capitalists cOmpos-
ing the southwest Improvement Company.
LIKE THE RUMBLE OF AN EARTHQUAKE.
LYNCHBURG, VA, March IA, ANA
telegram from POcahOntas gives
fuller particulars of the disaster there.
1t states that the night relief went into
the mines at the usual hour last nivbtona
hundred and fifty strong. little after
the town was startled from its
sleep by report that sounded like the
of an earthquake, followed by a
olon nf thunder
from the mines. three-fOurths of a
mile away, with the information
to the Superintendent that there
had been a terrible explosion there. The
and others repaired to the
mines at once, and the scene presented TO
their view was indescribable. Words
could not convey the faintest idea of the
destruction that was wrought in a few
seconds. The entrance to the main drift !
was entirely torn out. The little train
track was torn, twisted and shapeless. |
timbers and tires mixing in confusion ali |
around. The cars were taken up bodily |
and torn apart, and their iron wheels !
broken and sbivered. They were thrown
800 and 400 feet away.
STARTLING SCENES.
The ridge opposite this drift was black |
ened to the summit six hundred feet away. !
A searching party found a pair of shoes |
that had been blown to the summit of the |
ridge, and mule was found at the same |
place crushed out of shape. The second |
entrance to the mine presented a similar |
appearance to the first. At this point |
lived a Hungarian family named |
Glassee, whose house was shiyered |
almost to atoms, but miraculouslv /
the inmates escaped without serious in |
jury. At the entrance of the fan tunnel |
stood the company's large yentilator, |