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

of the Number in the Mine.
PITTSBURG, Pa, December PA
special to the Post from Brownsville,
says:
The horror of the Braznell mine
grows in intensity with every hour. The
number of the dead is now estimated at
forty, and may pass that figure. AT
the same time there is a strong pre-
sumption that the laws regulating min
ing were carelesly and probably Grim
inally disregarded.
To-day the first body of the victims
was brought out of the mine, and never
in the history of mine disasters were
human being so horribly mutilated. Il
was nearly II O'Clock before the first
five bodies were take out, twenty-eight
hours after the explosion. At $50
three were brought to the surface, and
at 81 80 three more came up in the cage
of the main shaft. The dead taken
from the mine so far are:
Henry Hagar, 80 years old; leaves
wife and six children.
Peter Orosory, Sc; leaves wife and
four children.
VIM. Thomas, SO; leaves wife and
four children.
Michael Rohtell, "a; single.
Samuel Meese, 80; leaves wife and
three children.
Albert Messe, 10; died after being res
cued yesterday.
Michael Mahic, %; leaves wife and
two children.
George Kovitz, 40; single.
Joseph Postsky, %; leaves wife.
Joseph Magyar, 10; single.
VIM Molok, SO; leaves wife and two
children.
Paul Proloc, "a; wife and one child.
Among the men missing and known
to be dead in the mines are the follow
ing Hungarians:
Michael Parahek, Andrew Parahek,
brothers.
Paul Laundis.
Thomas Kuelak.
Andrew ToursizsN.
At least twelve other bodies are In
sight, but cannot be reached on account
of the debris.
The estimates of the number of dead
are conflicting. A. B. Braznell, presi-
dent of the Stockdale Coal Company,
this afternoon said he believed that but
twenty to twenty-five men had been
killed. Men who were working around
the mine yesterday morning give differ
ent figures. They say thirty-five or
forty men were down the main shaft in
the cages, while about twenty climbed
down the steps in the elevator shaft.
From ifty-tive to sixty men were thus
In the mine, and of this number but
twelve have been recovered alive. All
DEAD.
John, or as he is popularity known,
Jonah" Meese, is one Of the thirteen
men who escaped from the mine alive.
He is fearfully burned and is lying at
his home with his head swathed il
bandages.
He told his story to-day:
81 was in the stable" Meese said,
"currying my mule when the explosion
occurred. My brother Sam was by my
side, and his boy Albert was standing
In front of him. Then came the crack
of the explosion Never in my life
have l heard such terrific report. I
thought my head had been blown off,
In about two seconds the mine was
filed with dazzling light, as the fine
coal dust in the air was consumed. My
brother Sam dropped to the ground as
if shot through the heart He must
have been killed instantly. HIS boy AL
bert swayed and fell over upon mis-
father. / began to back out of the
stable; that is why my face is so ter
ribly burned. was afraid to turn my
back upon the mules for fear they
would stampede and run me down.
did not know then that they had all
been killed by the explosion, for cur
lamps were blown out and we were in
total darkness
after l got out of the stable l heard
Albert crying for help. 1 went back
and found him and Henry Atwood. a
driver. I proceeded, half leading and
half carrying them to the foot of the
mine shaft They were both delir;ous.
and believe I was too. l Immediately
forced them to lie down, to get them out
of the path of the fatal after damp,
which lowered about four feet above
the ground. Then / felt myself going
to sleep, but I did not care, although I
realized that 1t was the sleep of death.
/ laid down upon something which I
could feel although T could not coo n