Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-12-25


to drive wagon, as there had been an
accident in the mine.
''The force of the explosion was ter
rife; my face and scalp is literally fill
ed with coal dust blown in it, just as if
it had been shot out of a gun held
within few inches. Another evidence
of the force of the explosion was dis
covered to-day. On the hillside 80 feet
back from the main shaft was discover
ed an arm and foot. They were por-
tions of victim killed 10S feet below
the surface, and blown out of the shaft
like bullet from a rife
From statements obtained to-day. it
seems clear that the presence of gas in
quantities in the mine was perfectly
we'll known, and that naked lights
were used for several days before the
explosion.
According to credible authority, not a
single safety lamp was used in the
mine by the working crews last Tues
day morning, four days before the ex-
plosion. Fire Boss James Radcliffe,
whose duty it was to look after the
safety of the mine and upon whose care
and intelligence the lives of the dig
gers depended in a large degree, told
his story. Radcliffe has not yet re-
covered from his narrow escape from
death. The fire boss said:
81 believe that the explosion was
caused by sudden fall which occurred
just before the explosion. I do not be-
lieve there was enough gas in the mine
to be dangerous. AS a matter OF fact
the coal itself gives off little gas, but
the gas comes chiefly from the roof of
the pit. After the explosion l went to
the mine with Jones, the pit boss. l
went from the entrance Of the main
shaft towards the air shaft, $50 yards
away. Everything was filed with after
damp and smoke. Jones gave out in
few minutes and dragged him to the
bottom of the main shaft, where there
was a little air."
Radcliffe said the explosion must
have occurred within two or three hun
dred feet from the main shaft. He
says the mine was we'll supplied with
air.
"It was awful" said the fire boss.
'The men were trapped there like rats
and there is no hope that single man
is alive The two shafts were both dis
abled and there was no other exit. I
have never seen a more terrific mine ex>
plosion. Stone stoppings two feet thick
and cemented together were utterly de-
stroyed. Not even particles of rock re-
NAMED. The stone was blown into
dust"
William PastQrious, driver in the
mine, tells a sensational story. Pas
torious, who has lived in Brownsville
fer many years and is regarded as a
man of intelligence, says that Pit Boss
Jones on last Tuesday morning issued
a general order that all safety lamps
might be dispensed with, and in their
stead the miners were permitted to use
naked lights. Pastorious also states
that the lamps were unlocked. contrary
to regulation.
"The miners always prefer to use
naked lights" said Pastorious, when
ever possible, as they give better light
and are more easily handled 1 have
been working here couple of months,
and used a safety lamp until last Tues
day morning. At that time safeties
were in use by drivers and others who
were cons family moving about the mine,
and therefore exposed to greater risk
the mining regulations the safety lamps
in use were in many cases unlocked.
The safeties were provided by the COM
pany as usual, and they should be lock-
ed so that it is impossible for miner
to open them while at work. Ny lamp
was unlocked and 1 frequently opened
and closed it. On Tuesday the pit boss
isued an order that the men could use
open lamps, and they, of course, dis
carded the safeties, which made poor
er light About 100 yards from the
bottom of the main shaft there was
fall which had been boarded up and in
which the gas stood against the roof.
l think it was this gas which exploded.
Supt. Boyer, who is the superior of
Pit Boss Jones, when told of the above
statement said:
81 know nothing of the order to dis
pense with safety lamps" He would
make no further statement.
Mine Inspector James Blick, who has
been in the mine almost constantly
since last night, came. out tonight and
gave a graphic account of its condition.
Inspector Blick said:
cat the bottom of the two shafts the
mine is a complete wreck. Only enough
debris has been removed to allow of
the bodies being brought out. There
are more bodies in the mine, but how
many cannot be determined. There are
undoubtedly a number of corpses under