The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-07

word of comfort refused to eat or go TO
their homes.
Fire Creek, W. Va, March Sat a late
hour tonight the most reliable estimate
obtainaole puts the number OF victims al
125. The capacity Of the mine is rs, but
there have been only 100 on the pay roll
so far this month, and it is said that
nearly all of these were in the mine at
Uhe time of the explosion. The manager
superintendent, bosses, bookkeepers and
others are very busy with the force OF
rescuers, but at the same time they are
all very reticent as TO the extent of the
casualties and any other Information re-
garding the disaster. So rar as could be
learned there are thirty-seven dead bodies
in the village tonight that have been
taken out Of the mine during the day,
and there are also parts OF human bodies
at different places. Several Of these
bodies are so mangled as to be beyond
recognition.
The scenes around the homes where
the dead bodies are lying tonight have
drawn some of the immense crowd away
from the workmen at the entranc 10 the
mine. Those working on the rescue re-
lays say that the scene becomes more
terrible as they get farther into the mine.
The men become almost faint OF heart
when they strike a place filed with dead
bodies and in case the bodies are recog-
nizable they are confronted with the re-
mains of an old friend. Most of the
bodies that cannot be identified or recog-
nized have been placed in the large black
smith shop of the Red Ash Coal COM
pany, and that place presents the ap-
pearance of horrible norgue. Although
tn BODIES are mangled beyond recogni-
ton, they are surrounded by those who
are in distress and hunting their lost
friends.
The general belief is that the explosion
occurred from contact with dust chen
the miners entered this morning with
their lights and that it was not due TO
fire damp, as has been currently reported
all dav.
Nearly all Of the men employed IN the
mine were white, only about oneZhfth
being colored, and most of the men were
married and had families in the little cot
tages near the tipple Of the great mine
A special train arrived tonight from
Montgomery at 7 o'clock, filled with re-
porters, physicians, nurses and others.
and one car contained thirty baskets Az
ter the arrival OF the train an order was
sent back TO Montgomery for fifty more
baskets. Another train arrived from
Charleston with physicians, caskets and
relief supplies. Still another train came
in from Hinton, but there is no need of
physicians and nurses, as evidently all of
the victims are dead. The work of rescue
is being continued through the night and
will be kept up until Uhe mine IS clear
Fire Creek. W. Va, March THE first
reports Of the explosion yesterday at Red
Ash mines were greatly exaggerated
The latest reports since midnight are that
there were only fifty miners entombed,
instead of rs. Only 10 bodies have been
taken out so far, instead of 81, as previ-
ously reported, but ii IS believed that
none Of the forty that are still in the
mine viii ever be found alive The ex-
plosion happened as the men Were going
into the mine, in groups and in couples
in some instances, and they were strung
along in this manner for over a mile, so
that the work of rescue will require a
long time. There were more men near
the entrance who escaped than were lost
Charleston, ". Va, March 6.-The Red
Ash mine is in wild region on Rush
Run. which is a south branch o. New
River. having its mouth al Thurmon. 1t
is about sixty-fve miles from this city.
The miners occupied the dwellings in the
vicinity Of the mines While the miners
are in a very rugged country yet the
town OF Thurmond is one OF the best
advanced Of the new mining towns in
West Virginia Through the generosity
Of Mr. Nickel and other rich land OWL
ers. this town has many improvements
that are not usually found in the mining
districts. II has some pretentious bust
ness buildings including a fine opera
house and public library as well as
churches and a fine school house.