The age-herald., 1899-02-22
FIVE MIN MET HORRIBLE
 DEATH FROM MINE EXPLOSION

overpowered before they set off the charge. Whatever caused the explosion, it was of such force that nearly all the brattice
 work in that section of the mine was torn
 down. and in consequence all circulation of
 air cut off immediately. The after damp
 and other gases which are always gener-
 ated in mines after explosions, overcame
 the men before they could reach fresh air. l Although the heading was about S5Oo feet from the entrance of the mire, and the end
 of the head where the explosion occurred about 1,sOo feet back from the slope, the explosion was of such farce that great
 damage was done to the ventilating appa-
 ratus even out in the slope.
 It is supposed that the white miners,
 hearing the explosion, started immediately
 for the entrance to the mine, but by the
 time they got into the slope proper the
 gases had become so thick that they were
 overpowered.
 '3l .r4. Rescue Party at Work
 It was not long before the men working
 in another part of the mine realized that
 something was wrong down below, and a rescue party was organized at once Not
 withstanding the deadly gas they were sure to meet, the brave miners started down the slope, and soon came across the
 body of W. w. Davenport, lying in the track where he had fallen. He had piece
 of canvass over his head, showing that he
 had tried hard to keep the foul air out of
 his lungs. He was still alive when the
 rescuing party reached him, but died soon
 after he was taken out of the mine into the
 fresh air. The body of R. L. Davenport was found only short distance further on,
 perfectly lifeless. Both of the men made
 an heroic struggle for life, but fell only a short distance from place of safety. At latest accounts last night the brave miners were still pushing forward into the mine toward the place where the negro miners were killed. for no one has the faintest hope that any one of the three survived the terrible explosion and the gases which followed.
 During the day several of the rescuing party were overcome by the gases, and had to be taken out of the mine before they re- covered.
 Mine Did Not Cave
 Very little or none of the mine caved in, the greatest damage, as stated, being done to the brattices; amounting in all to about $500. The rescuing party's progress Is slow. as a brattice has to be built up and the air allowed to purify itself before the party can advance to the next opening to build up the next brattice. The work is under the direction of Mine Boss DerrIcott. Assistant State Mine Inspectors Culver house and Duncan are also at the scene. It was very fortunate that there were no more men working in the vicinity of the accident, for if there had been the fatal- ity would undoubtedly been greater. As stated, there were number of them work ing In anothr part of the mine, but they were at safe distance.
 The Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company operates three mines at Blocton. No. 2, where the explosion happened, has a capacity of 600 or TOO tons a day, and em- ploys about 200 miners, most of them white. 1 The mine has always been known to | contain a great deal of gas, and the off, ciaIs watched 1t most carefully. But not withstanding their vigilance several accf- dents have occurred in the mine during its l history, with more or less serious results.