The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-03-20
DEATH IN THE MINE.
One Hundred and Fifty Men Meet q
Horrible Death in Virginia
Coal Mine.
An Explosion Of Flre-Damp or Gas the
Cause OF the Terrible Ca
lAmlty.
Terrific Foros Of the Explosion-Hsart-
rending Scenes Of Sorrow About
the Mine.

Located In Tazewell County, ut the terminus OF
the new river division OF tho Norfolk and West
ern Railroad, Ia tho village OF Pocohontas,
the mines of the Southwest Virginia Improve
ment Company, a joint stock corporation oom-
posed OF Northern capitalists. These mines
immense quantities OF coal are shipped to
Northern markets. The mines gave
employment 70 some five or SIX hundred
men, mostly foreigners. On the night
of the 18th Of March relief OF $50 men went TO
the mines to take their turn at work. About
midnight the people of tho locality for miles
around were startled by terrific explosion and
O great trembling OF the earth. The terrible
sound was sufficient to inform every one that q
frfghtful calamity had befallen the midnight In.
borers- In an instant tho streets were nlled
with q crowd of screaming women, children.
and men, alrrushing for the mouth OF the prin-
cipal mine In the southern suburbs. Here
dense volume OF smoke was found pouring from
the shaft, and scattered around within q radius
of quarter of mile were broken tfmbers,
shattered cars, pulleys. and machinery. On all
sides were to be seen fragments OF human bod
les, some Of which were lodged In tree-tops,
and others on roofs Of houses apd sheds.
For moro than an hour wild shrieking and the
louder manifestations OF grief from desperate
men filed the air. No one seemed to have any
idea TO what should be done and all rushed
hither and thither, seeking frantically for some
evidence of the fate Of relatives below Attnter-
walls q more than ordinary shrek OF anguish
would tell that some searcher had found q token
which realized his or her worst fears. The scene
buildings, and trees several hundred yards away
were completely torn to pieces, showing conclu-
sively that the force OF the explosion must have
1t was not until two hours had passed in
fruitless lamentations that any effort was made
by the panic-stficken crowd to ascertain the
condition OF affairs. Then CHASTITY faced man,
whose night-clothing was not altogether con-
cealed by an immense blanket which he had
thrown around his shoulders, sprang on a
stump and cried out: For Gods sake, men.
let's stop this. We all have friends and rela-
tons down below, and maybe we can help
them Let's see asoutit, and let the women folks
Every one Of tho officials Of the camp was
below ground, and there appeared to be no
one competent TO lead except the man re-
ferred TO, who at once called for volunteers.
There was q hurried movement TO the mouth
of the mine, and lod by the man In the blanket,
and amid the shriekng OF frantic women, some
of whom pleaded with the men 10 remain out OF
danger. the little band disappeared IN the gloom
and smoke around the mouth Of the mine. They
soon reappeared. however, and 1t was announoed
that all attempts TO get into the mine were
fruitless dense volume OF flame soon COM
menoed to shoot upward. and Illuminated the
scene for half mile, rendering the CHASTITY
by torchlight, ten times more impressive. The
crowd had gathered. helpless, in little groups,
either discussing the situation or lamenttng
the death Of some loved one 1t was agreed
that the explosion had taken place at Flat Top
mine and had been caused by fire-damp.
The situation remained unchanged until day
glaringly apparent The men whO still retained
their composure began 70 gather the fragments
of humanity scatte ed about. These were evil
tdently the limbs OF those miners who had been
working near the bottom OF the shaft at the
time of the accident, and had been blown up
yard. Not one OF these unfortunates, number
Ing about fifty, survived IA their shattered limbs
lying around broadcast testified.
party of miners from COaltied mines under
Col. George Dodds arrived during the afternoon
and took charae of the camp. The residents
were compelled to retire from the vicinity OF
the mine, and the newcomers then gathered
all the fragments of humanity and placed them
In adjoining houses The collection was a ghast-
ly one, and the 800 population remaining above
ground seemed TO have lost all reason. Not one
in the crowd but had lost relation, ard all
seemed TO have little hope OF ever seeing any or
them alive. Young girls, half-naked. dashed
around aimlessly, many or them covered with
blood stains received in their CHASTITY search
staring stoidly around their pale features testi-
flying to the terrible mental strain.
About every half hour body of men would
proceed to the mouth OF the mine and make q
determined effort to force an entrance Again
and again tho great pail Of smoke and the burst
ing flames from below would force them back,
and some of them would be borne half faintinx
into the fresh air
AT O'Clock it was thought an entrance could
be had, as tho smoke showed signs,of decreas-
ing. party OF men attempted to get In, and
had gone below ground, when q volume of flame
shot up, and they were hurriedly assisted to the
surface. One of their number, an Italian
evidently dropped from the cage. ALI
Of the party were badly burned, and
this showed how fruitless were any hopes OF
rescue The shaft at p IN. was a roaring run-
mel of flame. ALI the outbuildings In the vicinity
lgnited, and the fan house. which had been
looked TO as the salvation OF any Of the men who
might be alive below, caught also. shrek N
despair went up again at this catastrophe,
which was regarded fatal to all hopes OF
rescue. The men fought manfully 70 save the
building from destruction, but without avail,
and IL n mass OF CnderS. 1T became
evident ut this hour that the whole mine was
ablaze. and IL IL doubtful whether II can be ex-
tinguished for weeks, IL at all. This settled tho