Iron County register., 1899-12-28
THE DISASTER AT BRAZNELL.
work of Recovering Bodies Proc
crossing SIouly--A Sad Christmas
Tide for the stricken People.

BraZnell mines is progressing NeAS
slowly. The country roads from
Brownsville to the mine are almost I'M
passable, and there is no telegraph OF
telephone connections with Braznen'
so all news from the mine has to De
brought overland.
Four More Bodies Recovered.
Four more bodies have been recov--
cred, but not identified. Some OF the
families of the doomed men are in sur
fering condition, and provisions are
being sent out by the Brownviile mer-
chants as well as from Uniontown. Inc
men who have been working since sat
urdav to recover the bodies are almost
exhausted, yet they refuse TO give up,
and keep at the grim work doggcoly'
though more dead than alive.
The Hand of Providence.
The fact that last Saturday WaSr
nav day at the mine and thatthere We're
no empty wagons to load, accounts for
many not going into the mins that
morning. Had the accident occurred
any other day there would have been
more than a hundred men in the mine
and the result would have been even
more appalling than it is.
Heartrending Scenes at the Morgue.
The scenes about the morgue yester-
day and last night were such as 10
wiring tears from many stout heart.
AS the burned and bleeding bodies
were carried from the shafts, wives
and children would fight frantlcaily
to get to the corpses, and when held
back by strong arms, would weep
pitifully and plead to be allowed to
enter the morgue and find their lost
ones. 1t is san occurrence that can
never be forgotten by anyone who wit
messed it. Some of the bodies have
been removed to their homes, and will
be buried to-day.
Sad story of Little Albert Meese.
A pathetic story is told of little Al
bert Meese, who died after being res
cued. He lived only few steps from
the shaft. He went to the window
Saturday morning and looked out, say
ing to his father:
Papa, 1 guess there is no use of me
going to work this morning, as there
is no loadening."
The father said he had better go
and help him feed the mules. They
both started out together and never
returned to their home alive.
A Sorry Christmas Day.
Sad, sad, is this Christmas day to
many a family about Braznell. lu
fact, the excitement caused by the ter
rible accident has driven all thought
of the holiday festivities from the
homes of all who live in the neighbor-
hood, even those who had no friends
killed. The search for the bodies still
goes on.
Number of Missing Unknown.
The mine officials admit that two or
more bodies are still in the mine, but
of the Slavonic society
have made a house-to-house canvass,
and report that eight of their number
alone are in the wreck, and how many
others they do not know.
Naked Lights and Unlocked Lamps.
That naked lights and unlocked safe
ty lamps were used in dangerous
mine was officially confirmed yestcr-
day, by Pit Boss Thomas Jones, who
made statement which forms the
most sensational chapter on the man.
agement of the mine which has yet de-
veloped. Mr.. Jones was asked if it was
true that on last Tuesday morning ne
issued general order that the miners
could dispense with safety lamps:
A Sensational Interview.
Eyes sir" was the reply.
"Why did you issue the order?''
81 considered that the mine was safe
hroalx +brnrrb had hoap 1,x,.d
up"
Safety lamps were used before
Yes"
rs it true that some safety lsmla
in use in the mine We're not locted:"
YES, it is true that some were not
locked, because / thought the men
were competent to carry them up-
locked
tions?'' ~
"Oh, there may be a regulati hut
men sometimes carry unlockedl lps
where it is known that they h.
perienced miners"
Mine Supt. Poyer, when informed
of the statement of Pit Boss Jones.
said:
Il know nothing of the order issued
On Tuesday, but consider Jones a capa-
bic man who knows his business, and
suppose he used his judgment"
A. S. Brasnell, manager of the mine.
said:
Il know nothing of such an order.
have no part in the direct manage
ment of the mine, as our pit officials
are the responsible parties. The CON-.
pany has no statement to MAKE"