The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-03-07

not find their friends or hear from
As Tburmond 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
win reach almost every little 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 dav. Food was literally supplied
10 the relays of workmen in the rescu-
ing party, but many of the women who
could get no word of comfort, refused
10 eat or go to their homes.
Number of Victims 1875.
At a late hour tonight the most re-
liable estimate obtainable put the num-
her of victims at 125. The capacity of
the mine is Us, but there have been
only $50 on the pay roll so far this
month. and it is said that nearly all of
these were at the mine at the 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 regarding the disas-
ter.
20 far as could be learned there are
thirty-seven bodies in the village to-
night 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 en-
trance TO the mine. Those working on
the rescue relays say that the scene
becomes more terrible as they get fur
ther into the mine. The men become
almost faint Of heart when they strike
a place filled with dead bodies. and in
case the bodies are recognizable they
are confronted with the remains of an
old friend.
Distress Is Terrible.
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 a hpr-
rible mOrgue. Although the bodies are
mangled beyond recognition they are
SURROUNDED those " no are III 0lSAEHSS
and hunting for their lost friends.
The general belief is that the eXplO-
sion occurred from contact with dust
when the miners entered this morning
with their lights. and that it was not
due to fire damp, as has been currently
reported all day. Nearly all the men
employed in the mine were white, only
about one-fifth being colored, and most
of the men were married and had farni-
lies in the little cottages near the tippie
Of the great mine.
A special train arrived tonight from
Montgomery at o'clock filed with re
poTters, physicians. nurses and others.
and one car contained thirty baskets.
After the arrival of the train an order
was sent back to Montgomery for fifty
more baskets.
Another train arrived from Charles
ton with physicians. caslsets 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
during the night and will be kept up
until the mine is clear.