The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-01-29

ger OF the men who do the work. Every
man who went With those rescuing par
ties was q hero in every sense OF the
word, and too much credit cannot be
given them.
Inspector jenkins went into the mine
OF 8 O'Clock in the afternoon and at :
o'clock this morning, when l went
down, found him waiting for rre-entorce-
mentg. He was tired and weary, aa
were all OF the rescuers, yet they stuck
brayely 10 their work. / met jenkins
about 1000 feet from the opening of the
shaft, aud In the few minutes conver-
sation had with him, he said:
"There Is no telling how this explo-
sion occurred. / can see no reason for
It except 1t is one OF the acts OF ProVi.
dence, / inspected this mine in Novem-
Der, and was ia 1t later and always found
the ventilation very good. You can see
for yourself that the ventilation where
We are now Is excellent. This was one
OF the mines supposed 10 be singu.
larly free from gas, and was supposed to
be one OF the safest mines in the region.
OF course, We have not had time to tn
vestigate fully. All Of the mine has not
as yet been explored. When 1t is we
may get at the real cause.
'fThe fire boss, VIM. Smith, whose du-
ty it was to inspect the mine before the
men went in, evidently did his duty
yesterday morning, as he reported the
mine free from gas. He is an old miner.
He has been in the business probably
fifty years, and it Is hardly likely be
would stay in the mine himself II he had
discovered any gas. What We want to
do now, however, is to get these bodies
out"
Mine Inspector Duncan, Of the ad-
joining district, was also down in the
mine while was there. he is one OF
the men who did considerable work at
the Hill Farm mine. Said he:
"There are more lives lost in this, but
here are not the sans obstacles to over
come. We have easy access to this mine
and the ventilation Is very good. This
mine was supposed to be free from gas,
but the explosion may have been caused
by one OF the 'trappers' leaving the door
open. However, / think it was one OF
those unforeseen things that are liable to |
happen at any time" Il
Inspector Duncan had just finished
this sentence, when there was a call for
some one to 90 about 200 feet beyond
with sstety lamp and explore some Q!
the lower rooms. Duncan volunteered,
and he was cautioned TO be careful on
account Of the deadly black damp. The
Did mans only remark was that 1t was
his duty and he would 80 ahead. We
waited for fully ten minutes, when we
heard cries coming from the dark dis
,ance and Inspector Duncan came run.
ling out almost sutfocated. Strong arms
md willing hands picked him up and
le was carried to the shait. Some one
Itarted the report that the black damp
lad broken loose again, and there was a
general rush to the mouth Of the pit
However, Duncan was taken care OF and
anded safely on top OF the ground.
The men were all little afraid to go
JACK ia the mine again, but Inspector
Jenkins volunteered to go down first
N about fifteen minutes he returned,
md the men went down below to con-
inue their work.
The miners from the Standard works
lid wonderful service. They all came
,yer to the Mammoth works after their
lays work was done, and worked con-
inuousiy until all the bodies were re:
aoved. talked with at least fifteen OF
hem, and they one and all said they
.ould not tell what caused the explosion,
IS this mine was considered the safest
me to work in OF all the mines in the
district. They said that it had been
gorked for over four years and they had
FEVER heard OF there being any gas in
he mine. Two much credit cannot be
,iven these nen.