The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-26
THE DISASTER At
BRASENELL MINE
At Least Twenty-Seven Men
Are Dead.
IKE THF CRACK or D00M
LIKE THE CRACK OF DOOM
THRILLING STORY OF ONE FROM
THE DEAD.
THE ATMOSPHERE ALL ONE VIVID BLAZE
Twelve Dead Bodies Recovered. Many Believed
TO be Under the Debris. Ast3ry of
Criminal CareIessness With
Naked Lights,

pittsburg, Dee. PA special to The
Post from Brownsville says:
The horror Of the Brasenell mine
grows in intensity with every hour. The
number of dead is now estimated at
forty, and may pass that figure. At the
same time, there is a strong presumption
that the laws regarding mining were
carelessy and probably criminally disre-
garded.
TodaNthc first bodies OF the victims
were brought out of the NINE and new
er in the history of mine disasters were
human beings so horribly mangled. II
was nearly II o'clock before the first
of the bodies was taken out. forty-eight
hours after the explosion. AT $50 three
were brought to the surface and ar
$3.50 three more came up in the cage
of the main shaft.
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. Il. Brasenel presi-
dent Of the Stockdale Coal Company,
this afternoon said he believed that bur
twenty or twenty-five men had been
killed Men who We're working around
the mine yesterday morning give differ
emit figures. They say thirty-fiye to forty
men were down the main shaft in the
cages, while about twenty climbed down
the steps in the elevator shaft. From
iifty-tive to sixty men We're in the mine.
and out of this number but twelve have
been recovered alive All the rest, what
ever the number are 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 in band
ages. He told his story today:
Ill was in the stable Meese said
''crrrying my mule when the explosion
occurred. My brother Sam was by my
side, and IBIS boy Albert was standing
in front ~ him. Then came the crack
of the explosion. Never in my life have
l heard such terrific report. / thought
my head had been blown off. In about
two seconds the mine was filled with
dazzling Light. rs the fine coal dust in
the air was consumed. Ny brother San,
dropped TO the ground as if shot through
the heart. He must have been killed
Instantly. His boy Albert swayed and
fell over upon 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 all been killed by the explosion for
our lamps We're 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. n
driver. j proceeded. half leading and
half carrying them, to the foot of the
main shaft. They We're both delirious
and | believe / was, too. Both of them
persisted in standing up. and began to
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 j felt myself going to
sleep. but il did not care. although ]
realized that it was sleep of death
] laid down upon something which
could feel, although ] could not see. was
Il corpse. and fell asleep as calmly as
ever / did in my life. When | awoke
somebody was forcing me TO swallow
brandy and coffee, and | was trying to
explain that it would be needless for me
40 drive a wagon. as there had been am
accident in the mine.
THE force of the explosion was ter
rifle; my face and scalp is literally filled
with coal dust blown into it just as il
it had been Shot out of a gun held within
81 few inches"
Another evidence of the force of the
explosion was discovered today. On the
hillside, 30 feet back from the main
shaft, was discovered an arm and q
foot. They Were portions Of victim
killed 10S feet below the surface and
blown out of the shaft like a bullet from
a rifle.
From statements obtained today il
seems clear that the presence of gas in
quantities in the mine was perfectly wei
known and that naked lights were used
for several days before the explosion
According TO credible authority not .
single safety lamp was used in the min
by the working crews since TueSda'
morning, four days before the explosion
Mine Inspector James Black, who has
been lin the mine almost constantly since
last night. came ont tonight and gave .
graphic account of its condition In
spector Black said:
"At the bottom of the two shafts the
mine is complete wreck. Only enough
debris has been removed to allow Of thu
bodies being brought ont. There are
more bodies in the mine, but how many
cannot be determined. There are I'M
doubtedly a number of corpses under tbs
wreckage. The lower parts of the mime
are flooded. and the water is rising as
the pumps are disabled. The pumps vii
mot rum for a day or two, as the six
inch pipes draining the mine have been
twisted and Broken like reeds. | pene
4rated to the face of the mime today and
saw two bodies there. but the after-danT
was thick and | had to return quickly
Nothing further will be done to remove
the debris until the water has been
pumped ont. None of the men can pos
sibly be alive. 1t will require seyera
days to clear the mine. The bottom of il