The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1892-01-15


Mine-Four Hundred Lives ImperiIed,
OF Whom Only One Hundred and Fifty
Escaped InJury-The Others Killed or
Injured-The Usual Heartrending Scenes
Around the Pit.
SOUTH McALLIsTER, /. T., Jan. g.
The horrors of the Diamond disaster at
Braidwood, ILL.,, about eight years ago.
was re-enacted here last night, and to-
day, except that in this instance, fire
instead of food was the instrument of
destruction. As the miners were pre-.
| pairing to leave shaft No. II at Krebbs,
miles from here, operated by the
Usage Coal and Mining Co., shortly
after 5 o'clock last evening, a
terrific explosion occurred spread.
| ing death among the 400 or more
miners at work. 1t is impossible
at present to obtain any accurate in.
formation as to the number of the
lives lost or persons injured. but it is
known that at least 100 men are en-
tombed in the mine, and it is only pos
sible to ascertain their number by a
| canvass from house to house, which is
being made by a committee appointed
for the purpose. 1t is generally con.
ceded that the dead will number close
to 100, and the injured about as many,
a great number of whom have no pros
pect of recovery.
Physicians of the neigh boring towns
and cities have rendered their services
and are worked to their utmost in car
ing for the injured. Miners from neigh
boring coal fields have focked in by
every train during the day and night,
rendering their assistance and heroic.
ally volunteering to enter the gloomy
shaft in which so many of their COM
rades have perished and in which per-
haps death even awaited them on ac-
count of the loosened boulders, which
the shock of the explosion left upon a
himsy balance, and which breath of
air might precipitate upon them.
The McAllister mines dot the prairie
at intervals for quarter of mile,
and each is surrounded by the usual
cluster of novels which serve the pur-
pose of homes to the miners. These
homes present G. pathetic picture to
day. There is not one of them which
does not mourn the loss of either mem
ber or friend. Those who have re
covered their dead, though their agony
is pictured in their faces, seem to ex-
perience a silent content in comparison
with the many who are still thronging
around the mouth of the dismal hole
awaiting tidings of the loved ones who
are still entombed.
Very little has been accomplished to-
day in the way of relieving those who
may still be alive and hemmed in by
falling walls. 1t is probable that
week will elapse before the men can be |
reached. Many of them no doubt, are |
still alive, but they are shut off from |
egress and must remain so until they |
can be reached by outside help.
The exact cause of the catastrophe is |
unknown, but it is supposed that, con-
trary to the custom and rule of the |
mines, some miner fred blast without |
authority, the blast igniting either the |
gas or coal dust and causing the ex-
plosion, which was terrific. One of the
hoisting cages had just come to the |
surface with six men aboard. AS the
last man stepped from the platform.
the cage, propelled by the explosion,
blew up through the roof fifty or sixty
feet above, while the flames went sky
ward hundred or more feet, followed
by report which was heard for miles.
Nearly half the men employed in the
mine escaped by climb bing the air
shaft One man whose leg was broken
by the explosion climbed the entire $50
feet to the top of the shaft. Others
climbed whose flesh was so badly
burned that it would strip from their
hands as they clasped the ladders. One
father started his son to the top on the
last cage, landing him safely. while he
perished by remaining behind.
1t is difficult to identify the bodies as
they are brought to the surface All l.
are blackened almost beyond recogni-
ion, while many are mangled and
,harred to the extent that fragments of
heir clothing or contents of their
pockets alone serve to prove their
IDENTIFY.
There were about 400 men at work,
md as near as can be ascertained about
so of them escaped injury. while the
others are either imprisoned or have {
'een brought up dead or injured. Each /
rip OF the cage brings to light new
-ictim, which the volunteers carefully I
larry to the mine blacksmith shop, {
which has been utilized as a temporary |
norgue, and through which the anx-
ous crowds of miners wives and chill Z
ren surge in search 'of the absent t
MEMBERS of their families.
No arrangements have been made as
D funerals. The different secret or
have posted notices calling Q
pecial meetings for tonight when ar
angements will be made for appro- a
riate services for all the dead.
ne Proposal to Return the Captured 6
American War Ship President.
LONDON, Jan. "a high official of =
ne admiralty, in an interview yester- :,
ay, was asked by reporter of the /,
nited. Press how the proposal to re- h
lrn the United States man-of-war =
resident, captured bv the British in =,