The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-25
BRAZNELL
COAL Mine
HORROR
Grows in Intensity as the Bodies Of
the Miners Are Brought to
the Surface.
ONLY THIRTEEN MEN ESCAPED
out of Some Fifty or sixty-Iist is
Likely to Grow to Forty

/ - SA|CA D~N' - 9fNNAttl "
the Post from Brownsville says:
The horror of the Braznell mine
grows in intensity with every hour.
The number of the dead is now estl-
mated at forty. and may pass that Hg-
ure. At the same time there is strong
presumption that the laws regulating
mining were careIessly and probably
criminally dlsregarded.
To-day the first body of the victims
was brought out OF the mine. and
never in the history of mine disasters
were human beings so horribly multi
ated 1t was nearly II o'clock before
the first five bodies were taken out,
twenty-eIght hours after the explosion.
At $50 three were brought to the sur
face. and at $3.50 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,
SO, leaves wife and four children: Will
liam Thomas, 80, leaves wife and four
children; Michael Rohtell "a, single;
Samuel Meese, 80. leaves wife and three
children; Albert Meese, 10, died after
being rescued yesterday; Michael Ma
hIc, Is, leaves wife and two children;
George Kovltz, 40. single; Joseph
Postsky, %, leaves wife; Joseph Mag
var. 10, single: William Molok. SO.
leaves wife and two children; Paul
Proloc, "a, wife and one child.
Among the men missing and known
= be dead in the mine are the follow.
Ing Hungarians:
Michael Parahek, Andrew Parahek'
brothers; Paul Laundis, Thomas Kue-
lax. Andrew ToursizsM.
Al least twelve other bodies are in
sight, but cannot be reached on ac-
count 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
gave different figures They say thirty
hve TO forty mon were down the main
shaft in tht cages, while about twenty
climbed down the steps In the elevator
shaft From nfty-five to sixty men
were in the mine, and of this number
but twelve have been recovered alive.
All the rest, whatever the number, are
dead.
John, or as he is popularity known.
Jonah" Meesc. 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 in
bandages. He told his story to-day;
81 was in the stable" Meese said
"currylng rly 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
heard such terrific report. l thought
my head had been blown off. In about
two seconds the mine was filed win
dazzling light, as the line coal dust III
tho air was consumed. My brother
Sam dropped to the ground as II shot
through the heart. He must have been
killed instantly. His boy Albert sway
ed and fell over his father. | began 10
back out OF the stable, That Is why
my face is so terribly 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 al. been killed by the eN-
plosIon, for our lamps were blown out
and we were in total darkness
After got out OF the stable heard
Albert crying for help. went BACK
and found him and Henry Atwood a
driver. proceeded. half leading ana
hali carrying them to the foot OF the
mine shaft. They were both deilrious'
and | believe was too, Both OF them
persisted IN standing up and began 10
walk around. / 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 l felt myself going to
sleep. but did not care. although l
realized that It was the sleep OF death.
laid down upon something which l
could feel, although / could not Sec
Was a corpse, and fell asleep as calmly
as ever I did in my life. When awoNe
somebody vas forcing me to swallow
brandy and coffee, and I was trying to
explain that Il would be needless FOR
mo to drive a wagon. as there had been
an accident In the mine.
The force Of the explosion was ter
g.Gc Ny face and scalp iB literally MI
cd with coal dust blown in 1t, Just rs
u It had bpon shot out Of gun held
within a few inches. Another evidence
Of the force OF the explosion was dis
covered to-day on the hill side hfty
foo, bnck from the main shaft WIS dis
covered an arm and foot. They were
portion, OF victim killed iOs feet be-
low the surface and blown out OF the
fh1ft like bullet from n rife
From statements obtained to-day, II
seems clear that the presence OF gah
IN quantities in the mine was perfectly
wen known, and that naked lights were
used for several days before the eN'
piusIon
According to credible authority, not
q Single Sutety lamp was used In the