The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1891-01-29
Over One Hundred and Fifty Lives
Sacrificed.
ALL THE COKE REGION BOWED
WITH GRIEF.
Sixty-three of the Victims Laid to Rest
In a Common Grave Sorrowful
Spectacle at the Scene of the Horror
Little Known as to the Cause of
the Explosion.
Special to the REcoRD-UNIoN.


bowed form and reverent head while
from the Mammoth shaft were shrouded,
coffined and laid to rest for their long
sleep. The remains and mourners were
carried to st. Johns the Baptists Gene
terry at Scottdale in a special train. Along
the road hundreds of ditizens turned out,
and wherever it halted great crowds
gathered.
Over three thousand persons were pres
ent as the bodies were placed side by side
in common grave. The coaches behind
the baggage-car with the corpses were
crowded with sobbing women and sad
faced men.
The scenes at the cemetery were very
affecting. Not until the bodies were be-
ing placed in the grave did the women
and children seem to realize the full ex-
tent OF their bereavement, and then q
pitiful chorus of cries and means was
heard.
THE LIST INCREASES.
III. G. Fricl, owner of the mine, says
there were in all 160 men working in the
mine at the time Of the accident, nine of
whom escaped with their lives, some of
them badly injured. The rest, or Isl
men, were either killed outright or srlffo-
Gated by the terrible fire-damp.
There had been found up to 2 this after
noon ITO bodies, and OF this number fifty
three were identified.
SCENES AT THE MINE.
Nobody slept at Mammoth last night.
In every home in the little mining ham
let there was mourning. Little one-story
houses scantiiy furnished were illum-
mated with tallow candles. Mother, wife.
sister or sweetheart sobbed in silence.
After the explosion yesterday the
OF miners at work in the shaft
spread rapidly among the mines
and miners homes. Couriers carried the
dreadful news hither and thither Fami-
lies were dashed from the comforts of
home into the depth of grief and despair.
The scenes at these miners cottages can
readily be imagined.
Within an incredibly short time the en-
trance to the shaft swarmed with an eager,
anxious crowd-men, women and chill.
dren-some of whom could only with
great difficulty be kept at safe distance.
AS the bodies of the victims, mangled
by the terrible force of the explosion or
burned almost out of human semblance,
were brought up from the yawning
depths the crowd of watchers pushed for
ward to the pits mouth for a glance of
recognition.
The hearts of wives and mothers stood
still in fear, lest the loved ones were
among the dead. Tears coursed down
bronzed and bearded cheeks and were
dashed away by brawny hands that had
swung the pick for many years.
The rescuing party proceeded with
their grim task and the crowd of watchers
silently looked on.
Fifty collins arrived from Pittsburg
this morning, and another half-hundred
will reach here tonight. An additional
order for twenty-five more was sent this
morning.
The cause of the explosion has not
been determined. The Coroner is on the
ground, and a through investigation will
be made.
The rescuing party are working with
energy, and the wreck in the shaft is fast
being cleared up.
AN OFFICIAL TALKS.
An official of the Frick Company said
this morning: SIT may never be known
how or why the explosion occurred. An
accumulation of fire-damp was probably
ist in any quantity before. In fact, it
may be said that the Mammoth mine has
been free from damp. There is a theory
that pocket of natural gas was reached,
and that the operation of the ventilating
fans now prevents any accumulation of
III. IL Is not necessary that every one in
mine should be killed when an explo-
sion occurs. The explosive may stay in
one particular section and not permeate
the entire mine, unless the volume is so
great as to force it to every part of the pit.
In this case the gas was confined to one
portion, and the miners who were in
other localities escaped"
AN UNEXPECTED ACCIDENT.
Never in the history of American coal
mining has there been such an unex-
pected accident, with such complete ami
hilation of all within its reach.
The Mammoth mine has been notable
always as being particularly free from
gas. Hundreds of safety gauge lamps
were provided for the miners by the
company, but they were never used, as
they were regarded as unnecessary.
In their stead the men wore familiar
little open flame lamps on their hats.
The mine boss had put the night shift to
work and found nothing to arouse his
Suspicion.