The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-25
killed 10S feet below the surface and
blown out of the shaft like a bullet

blown out of the shaft like a bullet
from rifle.
From statements obtained to-day it
seems clear that the presence Of gas in
quantities in the mine was perfectly
well known and that naked lights were
used for several days before the ex-
plosion. According to credible author
ity not single safety lamp was used
in the mine by the working crew since
last Tuesday morning, four days before
the explosion.
Fire Boss James Radcliffe, whose duty
it was to look after the safety of the
mine, and upon whose care and inte!li-
gence the lives of the diggers depended
in a large degree, told his story. Rat
cliffe has not yet recovered from his
narrow escape from death. The fire
boss said:
II believe that the explosion was
caused by sudden fall which occurred
just before the explosion. l do not be-
lieve that 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
into the mine with Jones, the pit boss.
I went from the entrance of the main
shaft toward the air shaft, $50 yards
away Everything was filled with after.
damp and smoke. Jones gave out in a
few minutes and dragged him to the
bottom of the main shaft, where there
was a little air."
Ratcliffe said the explosion must have
occurred within two or three hundred
feet of the main shaft. He says the
mine was well supplied with air.
1T was AWFUL said the fire boss.
"rThe men We're trapped there like rats
and there is no hope that single man
is alive. The two shafts We're both dis
abled and there was no other exit. 7
have never seen a more terrific mine
explosion Stone stopping two feet
thick We're broken like glass"
Mine Inspector James Black, who
since last night, came out tonight and
gave a graphic account of it's condi-
ton. Inspector Black said:
"At the bottom of the two shafts
the mine is a complete wreck. Only
enough debris has been removed to Al
low 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 the Wreckage. The low
er parts of the mine are flooded and
the water is rising, as the pumps are
disabled. The pumps Will not run for
day or two, as the six-inch pipes
draining the mine have been twisted
and broken like reeds. / penetrated TO
the face of the mine to-day and saw
the bodies there, but the afterdamp
was thick and I had to return. Moth
ing further will be done to remove the
debris until the water has been
pumped out. None of the men can pos
sibly be alive. 1t will require several
days to clear the mine The bottom of
it is wrecked. but the roof and sides
are intact There is no fire in the
mine"
Rough but reverent hands carried The
bodies of the victims, when they
reached the top of the shaft, to the
temporary morgue on the hillside, Ice
feet away. OF one of the men. Peter
Crosby, but portion of the trunk and
the back of the skull remained and
that was virtually but a. cinder. Re
was identified by shred of his shirt
that had been blown into his flesh. OF
the IL dead there was but one that
was not a hideous spectacle. Among
the men at the Braznell mine to-day
were many who had been at other ex-
plosions. but never had they seen such
mangled burned and distorted bodies.
Dr. N H. Taylor, coroner of Fayette
county. arrived early in the morning
from Uniontown. He impaneled jury,
who viewed the bodies as they were
brought to the surface. The inquest
will be held at Uniontown as soon as
all of the bodies are recovered.