The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-03-08
AT RED ASH MINE.
The Extent Of the Fatalities Is Still Ia
Doubt.
SIXTY ARE SAID TO BE DEAD.
Five Men Have Been Taken from the
Place Alive,
BUT FOR OTHERS THERE is NO HOPE.
No Definite Cause for the Explosion Has
Been Ascertained.
THE ELECTRICIAN HAD A NARROW ESCAPE
Father and Two Sons Died Together
in the Observation-Disclosures
Are Terrified.
IT FOR OTHERS THERE is NO HOPE.
No Definite Cause for the Explosion Has
Been Ascertained.
THE ELECTRICIAN HAD A NARROW ESCAPE
Father and Two Sons Died Together
in the Observation-Disclosures
Are Terrified.

Fire Creek. w. Va. March THE res
cuing parties continued working hard at
Red Ash mine today in removing debris
and securing the bodies Of victims OF the
explosion OF yesterday. The scenes OF
distress among those hunting their miss
ing friends are still as appalling as yes
terday. The work at the mine continues.
and It is still impossible to give the exact
number of victims or to identify all the
bodies that have been recovered. The
most conservative estimates OF some OF
those connected with the mine places the
number OF killed at hfty-two. and there
are others who insist that the number OF
victims will be found to reach sixty. Six
more bodies we're recovered early THIS
morning. all being dead
A report from tho rescuers at the mine
after s o'clock tonight was that thirty
four bodies had been rescued, twenty nine
being dead and ave seriously injured.
Those rescued alive are Carl Downoy.
John l.. Day. Joseph Elliott. John Kane
and Harry Dawson. While the surviving
miners and others estimate that there are
at least thrty-nine miners still entomoed.
Mr. Howell says there are still in the
mine only thlrty-six The estimate Of the
latter would indicate that there were
seventy killed and Ave injured. as 1t Is
conceded that all still In the mine are
dead
No definite cause for the explosion has
yet been learned by Governor Atkinson
or the State representatives who are in
theories already advanced. 1t was sus-
gested today that the cause might have
been escaping natural gas, which was
lighted from the lamps OF the miners
Electrician Evans. who was near the
mouth OF the mine at the time OF the
explosion and who escaped, in relating
his experience. said: 81 heard low
rumhling sound, similar to an earthquake.
and realized in an instant that fire damp
had exploded. and before the force of the
conclusion reached me | threw myself
down on my face. sheet Of flame, rock
and debris shot over my head. managed
to creep 70 the mouth and into the tresh
air. My God. II was awful. ] saw that
was the ony one left. Every one OF the
other fellows were lost l know"
A pathetic feature of tho disaster was
the humiliation Of the family of B. q.
Lodge. fire boss. His wife died some time
ago, leaving to his sole care two little
boys. Having no one to stay with them
In their desolate home. the boys begged
TO 70 with their father into the mine to
spend the day with him. He consented,
and when the search is finished their
blackened little bodies will be found be-
side that of their father.
The UNEXPECTED cause OF the accident
has terrified miners in adjoining localities.
Very many were afraid TO go 10 work to-
day, and it will require the most search
Ing inspection to remove their fears and
Induce them to return to their places.