Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-11-17
THE MINE EXPLOSION.


The Work of Rescue-The Cause oil the
Explosion.
PIrTsBURG, KAN, November ia large
force of men continued the search in the
exploded mine last night and to-day for the
remains of the victims. Up to II O'Clock
thirty-nine bodies had been recovered and
thlrty-four of them positively identified.
1t is estimated that fully 10000 people
visited the scene of the disaster to-day.
Among the number were many looking tor
frien Is or relatives who had not yet been
heard from or found among the dead. At
an early hour DR.. G. A. Fisher, who IS sur
geon for the coal company and also coroner
of the county, impaneled jury which
viewed the remains of the dead miners that
were placed in the h6y barn and wash
house. When this duty had been performed
the jury adjourned until 10 O'Clock to-mor-
row, when the work of an INQUEST viii be
commenced. Owing to the burned and
maDgled condition of the dead the work of
identification was necessarily slow and diff
cult. Friends and relatives were allowed to
enter the improvised morgue in squads of
five, and as fast as body was positively
identified it was Tabled with the dead mans
name.
It was horrible sight to seq the unfor-
tunate victims. burned and bIackened and
in some instances badly crushed by q fall
ing beam or block of coal, lying wrapped
in their white canvass shrouds. On the out
side were thirty nine empty collins ready to
receive the dead. Three or four of the
dead will be taken care of by friends and
some of the others by societies of which
they were members. The majority, how
ever, will be buried tomorrow at 10 O clock.
Union services will be held.
A diversity of opinion still exists as to
the origin of the explosion, and the matter
will not be satisfactorily settled until
thorough investigation is made. Robert
Craig, superintendent of the mine, in an
interview, said:
"The explosion was entirely due to an
overcharge in the blast. 1t caused flame
to puff with sufficient force to disp.ace the
quantities of coal dust that had accumulated
which became ignited and increased the
power of the first disturbance. We have
four distinct currents of air in our mine,
two more than is generally used. This
allowed Us to ventilate each quarter sepa-
rately, which rendered them safe. It could
not have been gas, for the men we're work
ing all day with naked lamps in all parts
of the mire, which is sufficient to ignite
or passage way. Then, as is the custom
every morning, the fire bosses visited the
various apartments Friday morning, and
could find no traces of gas. In fact, we
have never found gas in this mine and
consider our ventilation perfect. Since the
ventilation has been cut off no gas has es-
capped and if the explosion was due to gas
no mine ought to have filled up at once"
Mr.. Craig's statement is substantieted by
John Holiday, superintendent of the Flem-
ing mine, who had been through the mine
since the explosion and declares there is no
gas. The men are not satisfied and this af-
ternoon a large number made bold to deny
the statement made by Superintendent Criag
positively stating that gas does exist at the
present time and has ever since the mine
has been opened. They say that on several
different occasions men have been slightly
burned by small explosions. due to the pre-
eence of gas. They INDUCED in considera-
bic grumbling when the search for the re-
mains of others ceased for awhile, and lit
tie groups could be seen at different times
discussing the matter with lowering brows
and muffied tones. One of them said that
the managers of the mine did not want any
more bodies discovered to-day for fear it
might excite themen. Observation-Disclosures
by actual count only one man, German, is
missing. The miners maintain that there
are several bodies yet in the mine, some
RSoScAuk tuc uumUel Us nlRu Is uIC00us
is veil known that 164 went down at noon
last Friday, and as thirty-nine have been
found dead and fifteen wounded, there were
ITO left to report. No system of registration
has been adopted to ascertain the number
Who escaped and the miners are 10th to be-
6eye that ITO have reported.
There is q large fall in the main passage
way near the main shaft, nearly 200 feet
long, and as several dinner pals were found
near the debris, it is believed that some of
the men were caught there. The miners
also think that there are some parts of the
nine that have Lot been thoroughly
searched. owing to the hot air that has not
been dispelled. The force of the explosion
destroyed some of the air passages and
these we're being repaired to-day. When com.
pleted there will be no obstacle in the way
of q close search, land the managers will then
do everything possible to find the remains
Of any Others who may have been caught
there. 1t will be at least one week before
work can be resumed in the mine and az
the output runs over thirty cars per day,
With demand for all that can be secured,
the loss entailed will be considerable.
It Ii also feared that some difficulty will
b experienced in inducing the men to re-
turn to wnrk, few of them having already
expressed themselves as disposed to leave
the employ of the company at this point.
William Lanyon, mayor of the Pittsburp,
oays that every provision would be made for
ehe Families left destitute by the accident,
and the company will CO operat& nth any
movement for their relief.