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

Books Do Not show How Many
Were in the Mine-Heroic Work.
SALT LAKE, May EVERY house In
the little town of scofieid is a house OF
mourning. The awful scene of yester-
day had passed away when the day
dawned this morning. and the awful
calm OF despair had taken its place.
The agonixed shricks of the widows and
the means of the fatherless were no
longer heard The stricken ones were
beyond all that and their grief could find
no utterance.
Hundreds OF Volunteers at work.
when the removal OF the bodies from
the mine began yesterday. hundreds OF
men volunteered their services for the
Apurpose. These rescuers came from
other mines and towns surrounding and
worked incessantiy to bring out the
burned and mangied remains OF ths dead
miners The bodies were taken to the
company buildings as soon as they were
brought out of the mine. and were
there dressed and laid out preparatory
to the coroner's inquest and for tdentt-
ncation.
Faced Many Dangers.
Many OF the rescuers came near los
ing their lives from the fatal afterdamp.
but the work was continued In the face
of all danger; and most OF the brave
fellows remained at their posts until
they were almost ready to drop from
| physical exhaustion and the deadly cf-
| fects of tho poisonous fumes.
First Man Taken Out Alive.
| John Kirton was the nrst man brought
| to the surface. He was stiil alive. but
presented a terrible sight Ills scalp
| was burned TO a cinder and his faco
was almost unrecognixabie. In his hor-
| ribie pain he cried out to his compan-
| ions. begging them 10 end hts misery by
| taking his life.
Superintendent sharp Exhausted.
1t was 2:30 o'clock this morning when
Superintendent Sharp sent his valiant
workers to their beds. and was himself
the last TO leave. As he came down tho
hill, attired In a rough miners suit. his
face biackened with coal dust and his
eyes almost starting from their sockets.
his every move told of the terrible or
/ deal he had gone through while working
with the rescuing party underground.
Nearly all the bodies he found were
those Of men personally known to him,
and his voice trembled as he described
what he had seen. Yet no kept his
nerves and had always a quiet word
OF comfort for tho afflicted. and wise
counsel for tho forces Of workers
one Hundred and Thirty-sevem Dead
when active work ceased at the mine
ig7 dead had been recovered. Fifty ~
these were laid In row In the little
meeting house of the Latter Day Saints,
while others were stretched out ~ ths
improvincd morgue. just as they were
found in the mine. awaiting the touch
Of rough but loving hands 10 compose
their limbs. wash the dust from their
faces aud close their staring eyes.
over 500 Were st work.
According TO tho closest estimate there
were about 30 men. all ieid. employed
al the two mines. which are practically
ono mine About nfty Of these were
working in what II known as the No.
back level and raise, 80 far from the cx-
pIosion that it had spent It's force be-
fore the shock could reach them. and
they all got out They heard the report,
but did not grasp the situation At once,
one OF the men continuing to load a car
after It occurred.
tFW Oh taf
The terrible sweep that death has
made may be illustrated ~ a gew OF the
incidents that baye 40 far developed.
John Muir, one Of the oldest rexidcnts.
and weii-knewn miner. perished almost
side by side with his two Hons aad his
sou-fn-iaw. g. BgornAon.
Only the two wfaass are left "a the
broken rtmHants of this family circle.
OF another family, eight perished. fssy
wete Robert Hunter. three sons ana four
nephewS OK cogfse each death was
pathelic one, but the very climax of sad
neSS was reached in Sms.
John James was accompanied inside by
his boy They were trying % escape %
the mouth % the tunnel when the deadly
damp overlook them and moment later
they we're dead, When found by the res-
cners their arms were tightly clasped scout
each other In an embrace that death could
not loosen.
Killed While Locking for Relatives.
win Clark. an employe of the company.
Z working outside with hundreds Of otDers
I rushed 70 the mouth Of the tunnel His
( father and brother were both inside and.
/ Wild with grief. he Joined the frst party
| Of rescuers- When tho word to enter was
/ given. he dashed recklessly ahead 10 cym-
mence the search for his dear ones. when
/ the lurking damp enveloped him as IN a
I winding sheet and he was dead before aid
/ could reach him.
! Three men were found by the rescuers