The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-11-04
Mules Killed by Concussiou and Cars
Blown Forty Feet Away.
CAUSE OF EXPLOSION UNKNOWN
Authorities Say an Excessive Charge
of Powder Was U-ed, While the
Miners Insist That it Was
Caused by Fire Damp.
Coroner's Inquest
Held To-Day.
tBy Associated Pzess.)

PHIILIPI, w. VA. November 5.-une Of
the greatest calamities in the history o,
Barbour county. occurred this morning
at i O'Clock at the mines Of the Southern
Coal and Transportation Compaay. II
Rerrysburg. six miles from th.s is
Il result there are dead:
Ollie Marks. pit boss.
Andrew Blackwell.
Albert Brown.
Lawrence Deaucau.
Pack Adams. and seven others whose
names are not obtdinable.
The injured aEe:
VIII Marks and james Jackson. both OF
whom will die.
FORCE. TERRIFIC.
The explosion was so great that mules
were killed at the mouth of the mine, and
the cars were blown forty feet from the
track. One man was blown in two at the
loins and his body thrown against a pile
OF lumber at the mouth Of the mine.
Tho explosion was pro3abo the result
of an accidental discharge Of dynamite
caused perhaps by the cgugussion OF q
blast. The property loss is slight. No
blame can be attached to the officials of
the company.
\ coroner's inquest will be held to-n1or-
=uw ut which time additional facts rs
to fhs cause of the explosion may be OBJ
tanned. Operations will be resumed ut
the mines as usual Monday.
Tie report OF The explosion was so great
that two men were found sixty feet Of
tbs mouth of the mine. An hoIE after
the explosion hundreds had visited the
mine The e;til for relief brought every
physician ~ Phillip, to The scene. TIE
sight was a most horrible one Strewl,
y-,fNsN
opening we're the arms legs, hantis. and
other portions Of The bodies et the dead
miners Fathers and mothers; were frtE'-
tically hunting for 'ajiS, and as East as q
| body was recovered they tv2ud glance at
| { aud recognizing it would give hSstericai
| screams. Tho hotel has heen turned into
| hespitIl and those still alive when
| brought ont were taken thsre.
DISAGREE AS TO CAUSE.
There is a great deal of comment about
| the cause og the explosion. The authori-
| ties refused 10 discuss the matter further
| than 20 say 1t was caused by an exces-
| sive charge of powder being used ftle
miners ins st that it was caused by fire.
| damp The mine WIS recently inspected
| ami pronounced to be in good condition.
| As lsle work % renFvils the dead goes
| ON things look Verse. Four men have
| been breu3ht out during the Iast hoGr,
| AMI the :ssarr1ers report that a dozen are
| vet in tfl, nine. AI1st Of those brought
| ont are n.utilated beyond descriptions 'fhr
| mines oc BerrySoGrg have Only be=n
| o-erated Il snort time. They have had l.
| great deal of trouble. Frst the mines
| were flooded and then the men strurk.
! Last week the stables were set on iiTe
| and tweu. y-six horses burned. Vow comes
J the exp.osiou-
! Co.onsl &. + Berry. the millionaire Tn!ne
| owner. arrived here this morning. but re-
fused to discuss the affair. Most OF the
| miners nave been lere but u few weeks.
and rs they were almost unknown to each
| other. X IS hard TO recerSr.za man wireT!
| ha is four-I Most o. them CAME from
| Noash C,rroiiill and the District of Coiuul-
UGLY RUMc&S.
Us.y runners have been atloat all day
| long about the cause of stle disaster Tna
| most charitable cons rrc-.nu to pace on the
| matte: is that it was due to Tue ineS9er-
ier9ce OF tf1e mine boss Ole Marks, wins
! now lies at deaths door.
Prosecuting Atto-ney c. NJ Murphy ,t;1d
Justice w. G.. Keys left tonight for Rsr-
ryshur., to ho!d an inquest.
\ messenger just returned from the
| mines states that the bodies of Twelve nEeii
have been brought out. eslt of whom wc-S
| recognized Four men are in the hospital
noL expected to I've TIL morning Twenty
men are unaccocntel far T.se TSn "=fs
| mostly negroes afzI saws.