The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-03-07

FIRE CREEK, W. Va. March g.
trhe most disastrous mine explosion
ever known in the New River district
occurred at the Red Ash mine shortly
sfter the miners went to work, early
IRIS morning. Although the most heroic
work Of the resculng party has been
koinr on incessautly all day. 1t is i'm
oovsfble tonight to estimate the full
hxtont Of the loss Of life and property.
More than nifty dead bodies have a.
ready been taken out and the number
x tbe dead may reach seventy-hye or
morn. Il Is thought tonight that at
least foTty-hve miners are yet en-
konbed in the wrecked mine.
me Red Ash mine is large drift and
Ahe explosion occurred near the en-
tranee. weich was thus closed by the
Ealiine slat-, entombing large NUM-
barAnf miners.
soens Of the Disaster.
THE scene of the disaster is between
lbiu place and Thurnond, on the South
branch OF the Chesapeake & Ohio rail-
vay and every assistance possible was
rendered by the railway company, and
BY the adjoining mining towns. Relief
PARTIES from great distances arrived as
soony rs possible. District Mine Inspec-
tor Pinclney. with corps Of experts
and many worknen, have been on the
ground during the day, rendering all
asvistance possible, and deyoting his
attention more toward relief than to
an omcial investigation as to the cause
Of the disaster.
No Efforts Spared.
! Fred Emnger. Of staunton, Va, the
principal owner Of the mines, spared no
effort in the work Of rescue and relief
and his manager, Ferdinand Howell.
had all the men available at work in
irving to clear away the debris and
reseue the entombed men. The mana
pera and bosses Of all the mines In this
district came to the scene as soon as
boVEibls and Joined In the work Of res
kua. It Is impossible to describe the
hmount of work done by this concen-
rated army OF men, but they were
neatly impedod because Of the extent
the enormous blockade at the en-
rance to the drift. The large heavy
ds tiers Of the entrance were blown
ut 10 some distance, together with
81 Of heavy timberS. Even mules were
hloyyn out some distance. The force Of
-, s,rnioaIon caused an Immediate fall.
ine Of tie slate and other debris. 80
mat the entrance was hlled up for a
treat distance, and the difficulties in
fdigr4ng through It caused delay in the
Eork Of reacue. AS many men as could
work at one time were digging away
with ali their might and were relieved
In short relays by other men, so as to
expedite the work Of resculng as many
rs possible.
The first successful strike Of the
workers was about 10 a. M, when ten
bodies were recovered. Seven Of them
were already dead. and the other three
Rere dying.
AS the miners were located at differ
ent places in the drift and the explosion
caused the falling slate to blockade the
rooms in different parts OF the mine,
the work Of rescue met with one great
obstruction after another.
Heartrending Scenes.
at the mouth Of the mine the scene
was beyond description. the wives and
children and the neighbors Of those
who were known to be sntombed were
there in full force, and their anxiety
and distress we're most intense. While
they were all seeking to help those who
we're rescued and to get the mine re-
opened, yet these beFeRved people were
for the most part in the way Of the res-
ruers and had to be held back from
lhe entrance.
The mine IS one Of the largest in
West Virginia, and was very heavily
lImbered In the different drifts. 1t was
Tor this reason feared that those who
had not been killed by failing debris at
the timo Of the explosion would be
DInIOned by these connected tlmbers
Ind suffer death from suffocatlon.
Air was forced into the mine by en-
zines on the surface. which were kept
working after the explosion. but It wns
found that afr could be pumped into the
drift for only short dlstunce. MS the
coal, stone and earth shut on all pos
BIbnlty Of reaching the interior. The
pumps and all other machinery In the
mine were demollahed. 30 that every
thing had to be done through tempo
fary arrangements on the surface.
Sent for oaSkot5.
After tho men got under headwny In
The work of rescue they reached The
hrAt party In less than n hour but
they met greater dinIcultlsa nftor that
Tine II was then that kilograms wure
aent TO MontEomOry, Charleston and /