The San Francisco call., 1899-12-25
AT LEAST FORTY
LIVES WERE LOST
Bodies of Explosion Victims Being
Slowly Recovered From the
BraZnell Co1liery.

From statements obtained to-day II
seems clear that the presence OF gas
quantities in the mine was perfectly we'll
known and that naked lights were used
FOR several days before the explosion. Ac-
cording 10 creditable authority not a safe
y lamp was used in the mine by the
working crews since last Tuesday morn
ing. four days before the explosion. Fire
Boss James Ratcliffe. whose duty II was
10 look after the safety OF the mine and
upon whose care and intelligence the lives
of the dlggers depended in a large degree,
told his story. Ratclifie has not yet re-
covered from his narrow escape from
death. The fire boss said:
i believe that the explosion was caused
by sudden fall which occurred Just be-
fore the explosion. I do not believe that
there was enough gas In the mine 10 be
dangerous. AS matter OF fact. the coal
itself gives of little gas. but the gas
comes chiefly from the roof OF the pit
AFTER the explosion l went into the mile
with Jones, The pit boss, went from The
entrance OF the main shaft toward the air
smart, one hundred and nifty yards away
everything was filled with after-damp
anu smoke. Jones gave out In a few min
utes ana dragged him 10 the bottom Of
the main SHAFT, where there was a little
air"
Ratcine said the explosion must have
occurred within TWO or three hundred feet
well supplied with air.
1t was awful said the FIRE boss. The
men were trapped there ike rats and
there IS no hope that a singue man is
a!lNe. Inc TWO shafts were disabled ana
there was no other exit l have never
seen a more terrific mine explosion. Stone
slopplngs TWO teet thick and cemented to-
getner were utterly destroyed. Not even
particles OF rock remained. The stone was
blown into dust"
William Pastorios. a driver in the mine.
"a ion al
has lived In Brownsville for many years
and Is regarded as a man of intelligence
says that Pit Boss Jones on last Tuesday
morning issued general order that all
safety lamps might be dispensed with
and in their stead the miners were per-
mitted TO use naked lights. Pastorios also
states that the lamps were unlocked CON
trary TO regulation.
The miners always prefer TO use naked
lights said Pastorios whenever possi-
BILE, as they give better light and are
ing here couple Of months and used a
safety lamp until last Tuesday morning
At that time mine safeties were in use
oy drivers ana others who were con
stantly moving about the mine, and.
therefore, exposed 70 greater risk than
digger in room. Contrary 10 the min
ing regulations the safety lamps in use
We're in many cases unlocked. The safe
ties were provided by the company as
usual. and they should be locked. SO that
n * impossible for a miner 10 open them
and / frequently opened and closed IL.
on Tuesday the pit boss issued an order
that the men could use open lamps. and
they. Of course, discarded the safetieS.
which made a poorer light. About 100
yards from the bottom OF the main shaft
there was fail. which has been boarded
up and in which ne gas stood against the
roof. think IL was this gas which eX-
ploded."
Superintendent Boyer. who is the supe-
rior of Pit Boss Jones. when told of Pas
torios' statement. said:
Il know nothing Of the order 70 dis
pense with safety lamps" He would make
no further statement
Among the men missing and known 10
be dead in the mine are the following
Hungarians: Michael Parahek. Andrew
Parahek, brothers. Paul Laundis, Thomas
Kueland and Andrew Toursish.
Mine Inspector James Rlick. who has
been in the mine almost constantly since
last night, came out tonight and gave
graphic account OF It's condition. Inspec-
At the bottom of the two shafts the
mine Is a complete wreck. Only enough
debris has been removed 10 allow OF the
bodies being brought out There are
more bodies in the mine, but how many
cannot be determined. There are un-
doubtedly a number OF corpses under the
wreckage. The lower parts OF the mine
are flooded and the water is rising, as
the pumps are disabled. The pumps Will
not run FOR a day or two, as the siX-inch
pipes draining the mine have been twisted
and broken like reeds. penetrated to the
lace OF the mine To-Day anu saw the
bodies there. but the after-damD was
thick and I had 10 return quickly. Moth
ing further will be done 10 remove the
debris until the water has been pumped
out None of the men can possibly be
alive II will require several days 10 clear
the mine. The bottom OF II is wrecked.
but the roof and sides are intact There
IS no fire in the mine"
Rough but reverent hands carried the
bodies OF the victims when they reached
the top OF the shaft 70 the temporary
morgue on the hillside. a hundred feet
away. OF one OF the men. Peter Crosby.
but a portion ot the trunk and the back
of the skull remained. and that was vir-
tually but a cinder He was Identified by
a shred OF his shirt that had been blown
into his flesh. OF the twelve dead there
was but one that was not a hideous
spectacle. Among the men at the Braz-
nell mine to-day were many who had been
at many other explosions, but never had
they seen such mangled. burned and dis
torted bodies. Or. y. II. Taylor. Coroner
OF Fayette County. arrived early in the
morning from EniOntown. He impaneled
a jury. who viewed the bodies as they
We're brought 10 the surface The inquest
Will be held at Uniontown as soon as all
OF the bodies are recovered.