Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-07-19

Indescribably sad were the scenes at
the mouth of the old Riverside coal
mine early yesterday morning while
the search for the missing men was be-
ing prosecuted, and particularly when
their bodies were carried out upon
stretchers. The mine opening is reach
ed after walking through cut in the
hillside. Men and women sat upon the
entertainments on either side OF the cut
throughout the night, quietly watching
the search for the two bodies. At no
time were there less than a hundred
persons present, and most were not
only willing, but eager to assist in the
work if their services were needed.
To friends of the two victims the
progress of the search seemed painfully
slow, and more particularly was this
true of the immediate relatives of
Campbell and Seamon. all of whom
passed a sleepless night Several times
female members of the one or the 9TH
er family reached the crowd, and at
tempted to proceed to the mouth of the
bank Their grief was manifested in
continued Sobbing, and refusal to ac-
cept consolation. 1t was with difficulty
that they were PERSUADED to return to
their homes. Much credit is due Mayor
Sweeney and Chiefs Clemans and Cline,
who remained throughout the entire
night, and actively assisted in the
search for the two bodies.
The volunteers who bravely faced the
dangers of similar fate are deserving
of the highest praise 1t is not an idle
assertion that their self-imposed task
was hazardous. If they had entered
alone, there can be no doubt that the
casualty list would have been augment
ed AS it was, several members of the
searching party were overcome by the
deadly gas, and but for the presence of
others, who promptly conveyed them
into the fresh air, they might have met
the fate of Seamon.
The line of hose, connecting the mine
with the Belmont blast furnace, was
the longest ever laid in this city. There
were 70 sections, each 80 feet long,
making $3.50 feet of hose, of when
over l 400 feet was inside the mine. AS
the air was forced through the hose,
the rescuing party was gradually en-
abled to penetrate the mine for great
er distance. The leader of the party
was some twenty feet ahead of the 9TH
ers, with whom he was connected by
a rope, and danger signals were agreed
upon.
This same arrangement had been
made in the party of searchers of which
Seamon was a member. He had gone
into the bank several times before the
trip which ended in his death. and
upon coming out on one occasion, was
sick. He was warned not to go into
the bank the last time. Jim Bailey and
VIII Griffin accompanied him. Seamon
carried the electric lamp. The lights
carried by the others went out. and
they remarked that they could proceed
no farther, and turned about, but Sea-
mon went past them, and never re-
turned alive.
The position in which the two bodies
were found seemed to indicte that Sea-
mon saw the PROSTATE form of young
Campbell, rushed forward, stopped to
pick up his body, and was then over
come by the fould air. He was lying
across the body of Campbell, one hand
clutching the light, which was still
burning family.
The work of rescuing the bodies was
attended with considerable danger.
This fact was impressed upon the vol
unteers who entered the mine. Sew
eral of them suffered from the foul air,
and several times the lights were ex-
tinguished. Once or twice the entire
partly of searchers abandoned the
work while they went out of the mine
to recuperate in the fresh air. The
air which was pumped into the mine
from the blast furnace was cool and
refreshing, however.