Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-15
VIRGINIA'S MINE HORROR
FLAMES BURST FORTH TO GRE
MATE THE CORPSES.

Tbs Mine Sealed, as the Only Means of
Extinguishing the Fire-NO Hope That
There is One Survivor Left-Ghastly
Scenes In and About the Mine.
WASHINGTON, March IA, u M.-The
latest advices from the mine disaster at
PocahOntas, Tazewell county, Va, con-
nrm the first reports of its magnitude.
Out Of 155 men who went to work on the
night shit, not a single one has come out
alive, and there is no hope that anything
but dead bodies will be recovered.
ENToMBED IN A FLAMING PIT.
POCAHONTAs, VA, March II, 3 PM
The mines are still on fire, and the only
means of eXtinguishing it is to close and
seal them up. This is now being done,
and the mines will remain sealed for
probably two weeks. None of the bodies
have been recovered.
MEETING OF THE DIRECTORS.
PHILADELPHIA, March ia special
meeting Of the Board of Directors of the
Southwest Virginia Improvement Com
pany, owners Of the mine at POcahontas,
Va, where the explosion took place YES.
terday, was held at the office of the com
pany here to-day. Resolutions were
adopted authorizing the Superintendent
OF the mines to take all necessary means
10 alleviate the sutferings of the wounded.
and to furnish food and clothing to the
families of the dead and injured miners.
lhe Board also considered the advisable
lty OF introducing electric lights in the
mines, TO guard against a repetition of
the disaster.
THE MINES OWNERSHIP.
An officer of the company said today
tnat the newspaper reports of the ex-
ploslon contained. many misstatements
mere was no connection in the first place
between the company and the Norfolk
and Western Railroad Company, except
that the latter acted as a carrier for the
former. The improvement Company
owns the town of POcahontas and the
mine, and the railroad company con-
structed branch line to the latter place
I0r the purpose of transporting the coal.
Inc company never suspected the presence
OF hre damp in the mine. There was no
Odor, and the men were in the habit of
going through the mines with naked
lamps. No cause can be assigned for the
explosion. In future, however, covered
lamps will be used
THE SUPERINTENDENT DISPATCH.
The following dispatch from the SUPER
lntendent OF the mine was received to-day:
I'VE VIII make a desperate attempt to
get in tonight. We have temporary fan
up. The indications are that the mine is
on fire. We VIII know in few hours, and
If found to be the case / will seal all the
openings at once and fill the NINE with
steam. have five boilers placed ready and
steam pipe will be on hand by
IL O'Clock tonight. No lives were saved
and no ore can live in the atmosphere in
side. The railroad company is giving me
every assistance. / have also physicians.
| have wired the superintendent of the
Midlothian for advice and help. He is on
the way on a special train with seventeen
men. My men are nearly played out,
chiefly from the effects of after damp.
later dispatch from the superinten-
dent, received this afternoon. states that
two expert mining engineers arrived this
morning and agreed that the bodies could
not be recovered unless the mine be sealed
and the fires sm0thered.
NAMES OF THE DEAD.
CENTRAL, VA, via BANGS, VA, March
l4.-The news of the frightful explosion
in the POcahOntas coal mine spread rap
idly throughout the surrounding section,
and to-day crowds have been fiOcking to
the scene of the disaster. Many were at
tracted by curiosity, and others having
personal interest in those who were in the
mine. Following Is as complete a list of
the victims as can be obtained at present