The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-03


they were carrying him to the boarding
house. John Kirton Ia not expected to
live, and only one, William Boweter, was
able to walk away
Locked in Each others Arms.
David Radfield and WIN Jones' churns,
were found by the latter's brother, Evan
Jones, who was in Torrey's Rough Killers,
Evan says that when he came upon them
they were locked in each others arms.
He dropped down by them, called them
by name and says both opened their eyes
and looked at him and then died
Forester's Close Call.
Former Mine Inspector Forester had
very close call He was found near the
mouth Of the tunnel, having just gone in
and was quickly rescued. AS soon as he
recovered, he went right back in the mine
to aid the relief party and was again
brought out in an unconscious conaition.
He WIS carried to his room and upon re-
covering once more returned to aid in d.
rectng the work.
Superb tendent Parmeley headed one
rescuing party. He was the first one In
the mine and the last to leave it. His
brother. Foreman William Parmeley, per-
ished in No. 4.
Miners Talk of Explosions.
One OF the miners cent over from Castle
gate to aid In the rescue work talked I'm
terestngly when he came out OF tho tun-
mel.
This explosion is the most disastrous
so far as loss OF life is concerned that
has ever occurred in America" said he.
There will be 200 dead when we are
through work. In the great explosion
Mt Amy. Wye, a few years ago, sixty
seven were killed. We had some hard ex-
periences today going through the mine.
Several times members of our party were
overcome by the damp. but we got them
out in time. We found the bodies of the
men In every conceivable shape. but gen.
orally they were lying on their stomachs.
with their arms about their faces The
men died almost instantly when struck
by the damp, and did not suffer. They
Just became unconscious and were asphyx-
lated. Their faces were all calm and peace
full. as though they had just fallen
asleep. The men in No / might possibly
have escaped had they started to run as
soon as the explosion In No. 4, which is
connected with II, occurred Evidently
they did not appreciate this fact until
too late. as they put on their coats and
arranged their tools before starting. They
started. however, Just in time to meet
near the entrance are badly crushed and
bruised as they got the full force of the
explosion. They are few In number. how
ever Mine No. l Is damaged compare
lively little, but No. is badly dam
aged
men, is among the dead, and David T.
Evans. favorfte amateur actor here. per-
ished In the mine. The three Gatherum
brothers. OF Provo. have been taken out
dead.
The Work Resumed.
Superintendent w. @. Sharp resumed
work with a will at s o'clock, when a
rescuing party OF sixteen directed by
State Mine Inspector Conner Thomas and
including Messrs. Sharp Frank Cameron.
superintendent at Castlegate, and James
Harrison. entered the tunnel of No. 1. II
was not long before the bodies commenced
To come out
All efforts are now being concentrated
to bring out large number of bodies
known to be in No 4. where eighty-five
men persisted. Here the force of the ex-
plosion broke down the timbers, and the
bodies can only be got at through No l.
Up TO noon 149 bodies had been brought
out,
Sad Picture at the Tunnel.
sad picture was presented at the mouth
OF No. tunnel. where. with drawn fea-
lures and haggard face sat young John
Miller, a helper, waiting for the bodies
OF his three brothers. Harry, Rance and
Isaac. TO be brought out
II. j. Roe, a young man who was work.
ing In the bottom OF No, shaft, bears on
his person the evidences OF his frightful
atoms from flying slack. while his head
II cut and his body bruised, but he Is
alive and thankful. When the damp
struck him he was literally knocked out
OF immediate danger and some Instinct
guided the blinded and almost senseless
man to tho pure air.
Wycherly's Thrilling Experience.
Sam wycherly, the well known volun-
teer, who served In Battery M. had an
even more thrilling experience. The force
OF the explosion from the No. raise car
ried him clear beyond the damp zone and
today he II pluckily serving with rescue
party
Theory OF the Explosion.
The theory OF Bishop Pnrmeiey il that
some OF the Firms recently imported took
giant powder down into the mine 20 as
sst them IN their work. They were ex-
cecdingly anxious 20 make a good show
tng and as much money as possible aud
Il IL thought that the explosive was used
In order that great bodies OF coal could
be. more easily dislodged. II r. thought
that when the giant powder was touched
OF Il ignited some OF the dust, OF which
every coal mine in the country has more
or less
Inquiry among the miners disclosed the
fact that they entertained various opin-
Ions regarding the terrible affair some be-
ing exceedingly bitter in their denGncia-
ticn Of the company and others took A
more conservative view ~ the matter and
said u was enc of those things over which
no man has control ana for whSch no man
OF men should be held responsible
Hart Outside Of the Mine.
A curious fact connected with the AZ
fair Is that Ave men. Thomas Sellers,
Alexander c. Wilson, Harry Taylor and
John Beddoes. who were WORKING outside
~ the mine. we're very severely hurt
John Wilson was blown with his horse
a distance nt two hundred ynrds across
the bottom Of the canyon, The back OF his
skull was crushed and something bad been
driven into his abdomen. lie is In
terrible plight
Thomas Sellers was ATTY yards away from
the mouth OF the tunnel, but he had his
rtghs foot crushed, shoulder knocked ami
" place ana his hack badly hurt
Harry Taylor had his jaw broken.