The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-07
OVER FIFTY LIVES
ARE CRUSHED OUT.


rescuers when they thought these men
were In the mine. The meetings between
the men who had not yet entered the
mines and their families were very touch
ing. All those who could not find their
friends in the crowd assumed that they
were in the inclosed mine.
Many I'm the village Related.
The population of the mining village is
only 1900. All are miners and very many
of them are related and they all know
each other. There was great distress all
day among those who could not find their
friends or hear from them. AS Thurmond
Is only three miles from the scene of the
disaster there were some few in the
mine who lived at that place, but for the
most part the victims resided here and
the calamity will reach almost every lit
tie house in the mining town. None OF
the people here have been at their homes
during the day, but all have remained
around the Red Ash mine. Some have
not eaten during the day. Food was lib-
orally supplied to the relays of workmen
in the rescuing party, but many of the
women who could get no word of COM
fort refused to eat or go to their homes.
Victims Number Fifty.
At a late hour tonight the most reliable
estimate obtainable put the number of
victims at fifty. The capacity of the
mine Is 10, out tnefe nave Deen only lJ0
on the pay rolls so far this month
The manager, superintendent, bosses.
bookkeepers and others are very busy
with the force OF rescuers. but at the
same time they are all very retfcent as to
the extent OF the casualties and any other
information regarding the disaster. SO
far as could be learned there are ten
dead bodies in the village tonight that
have been taken out OF the mine during
the day and there are also parts OF hu-
man bodies at different places. Several
Of these bodies are so mangled as to be
beyond recognition.
Scenes BecominG Worse.
The scenes around the homes where he
dead bodies are lying tonight have drawn
some OF the immense crowd away rom
the workmen at the entrance TO the mine.
Those working on the rescue relays say
that the scene becomes more terrible as
they get further into the mine. The men
become almost faint Of heart when they
strike place flied with dead bodies, and
in case the bodies are recognizable thsy
are confronted with the remains OF an old
friend. Most Of the bodies that cannot
be Identified or recognized have been
placed In the large blacksmith shop OF the
Red Ash Coal Company. and that place
presents the appearance Of horrible nlJ--
que. Although the bodies are mangled
beyond recognition. they are surrounded
by those who are in distress ana hunting
their lost friends
Cause of the Explosion.
The general belief is that the explosion
occurred from contact with dust when the
miners entered this morning with their
lights. and that II was not due 10 ere
damp. az has been currently reported all
day. Nearly all the men employed the
mine were white. only about one sta be-
ing colore9 and most OF the men were
married and rad families In the little
cottages near the tipple OK the great mine.
No Need for Nurses or Doctors
A special train arrived tonight from
Montgomery al clock allied with report
ers, physicians. nurses and others, and cns
car contained thirty caskcts After TIRE
arrival % the train an order was sent back
20 MontEomery FOR fifty more caskets An
other train arrived from Charleston with
physicians, caskels and relief supplies
s.la another train came IN from Hinton.
bat there T. no need Of physicians ard
nurses, as evidently ali Ct the victims ara
dead The work 81 rescue il being eun-
unued during the night and win he kept
up uatM the mine IS clear.
CHARLESTON. W. Va. March s.--A
speclal 70 the Gazette from Fire Greek
says.
@Only afty miners were entomeea. Ten
have been taken out, OF whom seven are
dead f0Fty are Slsti IN tDS f'AnN. WIN
no hope Of their being found alive Men
we're just ming IN 90 begin their days
work. and their bodies are scattered all
along the main entry from the nlclfh 20
perhaps a mile In the hlI. OF those who
we're bot a short distance inside the mine.
almost an escaped alive. but az we've
thrown down and rolled along towards the
mouth o.; the entry CT picked aR and blosu
clear ont q the mine. Six were togssheT
at the motor house. seyeuiy feet tnsle. the
mine and one Of the sgnser WAS killed.
the others escaping with Injuries The
arst attempt TO enter he SHAFT after the
explosion developed the fact that the aft
er4amp" was so strong as to render the
rescue extremely slow and hazardous,
Up 20 midnight the WORK had progressed
about TWO thousand feet from the mouth