The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-12
The Distressing Scenes of Despair.
Women Frantic Over tho Loss of
Their Husbands.
Gradual Recovery OF tho Bodies of
the Minors.
Tho Corpses Found in Horrible Con-
ditions of Mutilation.
Different Theories OF tho Causo OF the
Exploslon-Miners and Opera
tives Differ Responses to
the Call OF Charity.

the Call OF Charity.
Sr. LOUIS, Mo, Nov. ll.-nispatches
from Pittsburg Kas., give the following as
some Of the incidents Of the mine horror
at that place:
For hours after the explosion enuired
out tho lives OF the 100 men, the scene at
the pit was distressing. Poorly clad women
with babies clasped TO their breasts, came
through the darkness 10y the light cast
from the bonhres like haggard, uncanny
beings from another world. Some
shrieked above the storm, and muttcrcd us
they fell helpless on the shoulders Of the
stronger neighbors. Still, Others were
mad in their despair. and tore their hair
and garments, and would have dashed
into the tomb headlong but for hcstrcngth
cxerted by the noise from other shafts.
One poor woman, whose husband was
killed in the pit, lay her three youngest
children beside blazing fire and then fell
in Mysteries among them. She lay unno-
ticed in this position until morning, when
she was carried 10 her home, a raying
maniac. At one time the crowd OF women
and children at the shaft was so great that
II was feared violence would bo necessary
in order 10 clear the way for the rescuors.
The poor creatures fought each other in
their despair, and In some instances In.
ilictod severe punishment.
As the night wore ON the work OF re-
covering the bodies continued until the
floor Of the engino-house was strown with
mangled men. Then bodies were placed
in rows upon the grOund where the rain
and snow beat upon them. Most Of the
victims were shockingly mutilatcd. Some
were so disngured as ~ be unrccognizablc.
All were covered with blood and dust and
many were almost stripped OF their clothes.
There was nothing leit OF the fpt man
brought up from the dreadful hole but q
bleeding pulpy trunk. The head aud
arms aud legs had beon blown on. Many
Of the searchers fHinted at their work.
Others stimulated BY the shricks Of the
women continued ai their bloody task all
through the night. sumo OF the victims
were not disfgurcd. As ilst ~ the bodies
were brought TO the surface there WIS a
rush made 10 identity them, n dozen
women In many case being engaged al
once In scanning the feeding face Of some
unfortunate man. There are still about
fifty bodies in the lover levels. Some Of
the victims were found buried beneath inn
mense weights Of SLATE, while othcrc were
discovered In groups n oil kinds Of pO-
sitions Two men who have not yet been
identified were 10 tightly locked in each
others arms that II WIS with difficult they
were torn apart. Their eyes had been
blowcd out by the explosion and their
faces no horribly crushed that the bones
were ground into the flesh.
Tonight II can he positively said that
there have been nine ty-one bodies taken
out Of the mino, and there are probably
nine more In the mine. OF the bodies nj.
ready taken out thirty-thrcc have been
taken out dead. A doErn physicians have
been constantly at the scene ready 10
render any assistance In their power, but
the vast majority ol tho victims were bo-
yond their aid.
Coroner Fisher impaneled a Jury this
forenoon aud allowed them 20 view the
remains. The inquest will begin nj y
o'clock tomorrow morning II will BE- a
long ono, as every effort will be made by
both the company aud the men 30 asccr-
tain the cause Of the awful calamity. The
funeral will probably take place At 10
O'Clock tomorrow. With the exception oi
two or three, who will be buried by rcla.
tives or secret societies, the victims will be
laid 10 rest with one service. The com.
pany will have charge Of the general
funeral, and will see % Il that the men
are given n Christian burial. Tho bodies
I..r .l.Us..1 asH..il A..
and placed in neat collins ready Tor the
solemn services tomorrow.
Mr. W. w. Allen, superintendent Of all
the Santa Fe mines, arrived at noon aud
at once began an investigation into the
cause Of the explosion. supt Robert
Craig said this afternoon that lao was more
than ever convinced that it was due 10 the
ignition Of coal dust following an over.
charge. An oyerchargcd shot produces u
fame which pulls back. gathers up dust
and ignitcs II. The better the ventilation
the more terrific the explosion In
the case OF dust because oi the
plentiful supply Of oxygen. Mr.. Craig
stated that every morning before work
two men were sent through the mine 10
examine u for gas. On Friday, the day
OF the calamity, tlay reported no gas, IN
usual. lie was Of the opinion that the oK-
plosion, II caused by gas, would certainly
have occurred before O'Clock pun, as
l0i men were working there all day with
naked lamps But II did not take place
until j.l0 o'clock pm. when they began
firing their shots. This cOnyinccs Mr..
Craig that II was a dust explosion.
The mine can be put Ia condition Tor
work In three or four days and the money
damage Is slight.
Mine Inspector Findlay's views coin.
eide with those Of supt Craig but many
Of the old miners express opinions directly
opposite. One miner said that there was
natural gas In all the coal oi this region
and he had sccn II ignilod at
a moment at time, but In very small Jets.
Other miners report slight explosions
within the past two weeks.
Tho relief subscription fund already
amounts 10 81, 900, and Is constantly grow
ing.
Tho ladies' have been ministcring 10 the
wants oi the wounded aud the care Of the
widows and children. Farmers wives
have come In for miles with food, cloth.
ing, bandagcs, etc, aud pll citizens have
been uniiring In thOif cilorts 10 alleviate
suffering.
A Dlsnoasst Imploye.