Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-03-14
Terrible Explosion in a Virginia
Coal Mine.
One Hundred and Fifty Men Caught
in Fatal Trap.
Not One Survives to Tell the
Story.
LYScHBuRG, Va, March lS

LfSCHBCRG, va, MArcb 10.
There has been great explosion in the
coal mines at Pocahontas, Va. Great con-
fusion prevails here. A special train with
surgeons on board left this city for the scene
of the explosion.
Further intelligence from Pocahontas rep
resents that the work of destruction at the
coal mines was horrible and complete. There
were $50 men in the mines at the time of the
explosion, not one of whom is known to
have escaped. The cause of the explosion
is not yet definitely known. The presump
ton is that one of the miners struck a fissure
hlled with gas. Parties ventured into the
mines this morning. but could not endure the
foul atmosphere.
A number of bodies were discovered hor-
rible mangled, some of them with heads torn
from the trunks and others with the limbs
all gone. The work of destruction was Lot
entirely confined to the interior of the mines
but houses two or three hundred feet from
the mines were overturned and in several in
stances entirely demolished. A large venti-
lator was blown to atoms and the mines can
not be entered until another is constructed
for the purpose of freeing the atmosphere OF
the suffocating fumes This work is now
engaged on the outside of the mines con-
structing coffins and perfecting other arrange
ments for interment of the dead miners, most
of whom were foreigners.
RICHMOND, March l3.
The latest intelligence is that an exploring
party entered the mine q short distance and
brought out six bodies in frightfully mutt
lated condition, There were from l25 to l5O
men in the mine when the explosion occurred
at one o'clock this morning and there is no
hope that anv will be rescued alive.
The mine in which the disaster occurred
is known as Flat Top and is situated in the
northwester part of Taswell county at the
base of Flat Top Mountains which divide
the section of Virginia from West Virginia.
/ he company working the mines is known
as the Southwest Improvement Co., but
the mine is really under the control of the
Norfolk & Western Roilroad Co. The mine
is comparatively new, having been in active
operation but little over year From
five to six hundred hands were employed
PETERSBURG, March l3.
The latest intelligence concerning the ex-
plosion in Pocahontas mine is to the effect
that that $50 men were killed and the acci-
dent was caused by the men going too far
into the mine with lamps. Efforts are being
made to recover the bodies. but in conse-
quence of the after damp. very little prog
ress is made.
A dispatch received at Q o'clock tonight
saws the whole east mine is shattered by the
explosion and everything in the front main
entrance was demolished. Fire can now be
seen at the mouth OF the mine and no one
can enter.
A midnight telegram gives further partic-
ulars of the disaster. 1t says the night relief
went into the mine at the usual hour last
night. $50 strong. A little after midnight
the town was startled from sleep by noise
that sounded like an earthquake. followed by
clap of thunder. Soon messenger arrived
from the mines, three and one-half miles
away, with information that there had been
a terrible explosion,