Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-25
SHAFTS WERE DISABLED.
mining Laws Were Careiessiy and
Probably Crimtnally Disregarded
Many widows aud Orphans.

lessly and probably crlminally disre-
garded.
Today the first bodies Of the victims
were brought out Of the mine, and
never In the history Of mine disasters
were human beings so horribly mutt
lated. II was nearly II o'clock before
the first bodies were taken out, twenty
eight hours after the explosion. At
$50 three more We're brought to the
surface, and again at $50 three came
up In the cage Of the main shaft. The
dead taken from the mine so far are:
The dead are.
Henry Hagar, 80 years old, leaves a
wife and six children.
Peter Orosory SO. wife and four chill
dren
William Thomas. 80, wife and four
children.
Michael Rohtell, "a, single.
Samuel Mees 80, wife and three chill
dren.
Albert Mees. 10, died after being res
cued yesterday.
Michael Mahio, 2S. leaves wife and
two children.
George Kovitz, 40 years Of age, sin
gle.
Joseph Potsky, 22 leaves wife.
Joseph Magyar, 10, single
william Molok. 80, leaves wife and
one child.
Paul Proloc "a. leaves wife and one
child.
At least twelve bodies are in sight
but cannot be reached on account Of
the debris.
Missing: Among the men missing and
known to be dead in the mine, are the
following Hungarians, Michael Para
HEX. and Andrew Parahek, brothers:
Paul Laundis, Thomas Kuhlek and An
drew TOusisziki.
The estimates OF the number Of the
dead are conflicting, A. b. Braznell,
president OF the Stockdale Coal Com
pany, 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 different figures. They say thirty
FIVE to forty men went down the mine
shaft In the cages, while about twenty
climbed down the steps In the elevator
shaft. From fifty-hve 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 ms he is popularity known,
Jonah" Mees. 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 this story
u was In the stable" Mees said,
"currylng my mule when the explosion
occurred. My brother sam was by my
aide and his boy Albert was standing In
front OF him. Then came the crack OF
the explosion. Never In my life have |
heard such a terrific report. | thought
my head had been blown off. In about
Two seconds the mine was filled with
a dazzling light as the fine coal dust in
tie air was consumed. My brother Sam
cropped 90 the ground as IL shot
through the heart. He must have been
Killed instantly. His boy. Albert,
ewayed 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 ex-
ploslon, 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,
driver. proceeded half leading and
hah carrying them. TO the foot of the
nine shaft. They were both delirious.
and believe was. 100. Both OF them
Persisted In standing up and began to
walk around, Immediately forced
them to lie down, 10 get them out Of
!he path OF the fatal after damp which
Powered about four feet above the
ground. Then felt myself going 90
tleep, but did not care, although re-
ehsed that II was the sleep OF death. ]
'ay down upon something which
could feel, although j could not see,
was a corpse. and fell asleep as calmly
as ever / did In my life. When / awoke
some. one was forcing me TO swallow
brandy and coffee. and was trying TO
explain that II would be needless for
me 10 drive wagon, as there had
oeen an accident In the mine.
The force OF the explosion was ter
tlhc. my face and scalp is literally
nlled with coal dust blown into It. just
" II had been shot out OF a gun held
within few inches"
Another evidence OF the force OF the
explosion was discovered today. on
ne hillside, fifty feet back from the
main shaft was discovered an arm ana
q loot. They were portions Of a vlcv
YIN Killed los feet below the surface,
ahd blown out OF the shaft like bull
Vel from fife.
from statements obtained today Il
sens clear that the presence Of gas In
quantities In the mine was perfectly
wei known and that naked lights were
used Tor several days before the explo-
soh' According 90 credible authority,
.ot single safety lamp was used In
Me mine by the working crew since
ast tuesday morning, four days before
ms explosion.
rlre Boss James Radcliffe, whose
nu'y II was to look after the safety Of
Me mine. and upon whose care and In
elngence the lives OF the dlggers de-
pehded in a large degree. told his story.
nateiine has not yet recovered from
boss said.
l believe that the explosion was
,aused by sudden fall which occurred
tasl before the explosion. ! do not be-
nSve That there was enough gas in the
n'he 10 be dangerous. As q matter
lact' the coal itself gives on little
sas, out the gas comes chiefly from the
,ooi ot the pit. After the explosion
neht into the mine with Jones, the pit
Soss ! went from the entrance OF the
II - .lx oh
ss'ds away. Everything was filled with
h'er damp and smoke. Jones gave out
lew minutes and dragged him
he bottom OF the main shaft. where
mere was little air"
mtclifte said the explosion must have
Neurred within eco or 800 feet Of the
. shaft. He says the mine was well
supplied with air.
,.t was awful" said the fire boss.
me men were trapped there like rats
'1 there Is no hone that n single man