New-York tribune., 1900-11-04
MINE EXPLOSION.
ELEVEN DEAD BODIES TAKEN FROM
WEST VIRGINIA COLLIERY-NUM-
Der OF LOST UNKNOWN

Fhilippi W. Va. Nov. 3.-At 80 o'clock this
morning q terrific explosion occurred at the
Southern Coal and Transportation Company's
mines at Berrysburg six miles from Philippi
Eleven dead bodies have been taken from the
mines. The explosion was plainly heard in
Phppi. The mine owners refuse to discuss it,
saying It was caused by too heavy a charge Of
powder being used. The miners say II was
caused by hredamp. 1t is impossible at this
time to tell accurately how many are lost This
cannot be done untn rolcall can be taken
Men are busy now removing the dead from the
mines. but this is extremely dangerous. and the
wtrk Is slow The pit boss on duty and his
brother Will Merks. taken out uncon-
scious. and 1t is thought cannot possibly re-
cover.
The force of the explosion was so great that
two men found sixty feet from the mouth
of the mine. An hour after the explosion
hundreds had visited the mine. The call for re-
lief brought every physician in Phiippi to the
scene. The sight was horrible one Strewed
along the main channel and about the opening
were the arms. legs hands and other portions
Of the bodies OF the dead miners Fathers and
mothers were franticaliy hunting for sons. and
as fast as a body was recovered they would
take a glance. and recognizing it would give
hysterical screams. The hotel has been turned
into a hospital and those still alive when
brought out were taken there. There is great
deal Of surr1ise about the of the explosion.
The mine was reeenty inspected and pronounced
TO he in good condition.
John W Green who in the mine at the
time Of the explosion and escaped injury gives
the following account Of il;
went into the mine 7:ao o'clock and went to
when smelled black damp l noticed my S,d lamp amp
would flicker. ! went to the mine boss and toid MN
went hack to work. and about midnight heard
terrific noise which knocked me down and put out
resI,zad ia9P what had happened was close TO the
entrance and crawled over the bodies OF Two men
II a sight will never forget l think 1t was
caused by black damp
Detroit Nov. 3.-B F. Berry. of this city,
president Of the Willis Creek Coal Company,
received a telegram at noon to-day from y. o.
Gray. manager of the mine at Philippi saying
that ten men We're killed and four seriously in
3ured three of whom would probably die. The
mine however. was damaged only slightly. The
accident happened al midnight. when most OF
the men were out of the mine. Dynamite taken
into the mine in large quantities by a
shooter he said was believed TO have exploded
from the concussion of other shots, and caused
the accident
The Berryburg mine is about six miles south
of Phppi. and about two hundred and ninety
men are employed ir its workings. majority
OF these negroes. who married and live
in a settlement the mine.
T ". Davis. the Willis Greek Companys in
Epector says that 1t is Of the best equipped
soft coal properties in West Virginia. He re-
fused to make any estimate of the probable
damage 10 the property resulting from to-day s
explosion. wing IL impossible until further
ever. that opera tons could proba bly, be resumed
in two three days.