The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-05-04
Inquest Held Inio The Death Of One Victim
and Verdict Rendered.
STATE MINE INSPECTOR TESTIFIED.
Ia His Opinion The Explosion Was Caused BY 4
Tight iisay Shot, Stared Where Powder
Was d-hot Enough Cofflrs.

Salt Lake, Utah, May A special
TO the Deseret News from Schofield
says
At noon yesterday 225 bodies had been
removed from the mine. or the new
bodies. l3 came from tunnel No. /.
Nearly all are in frightful condition.
Six more bodies were taken from No.
mine, two of them mangled beyond
recognition. State Coal Mine Inspector
Thomas says he believes there are II
more bodies in the mine.
The recovery OF James Gatherum's
body makes the last of three brothers
taken from the ill-fated mines.
Preparations for the funerals are
actively going on. One hundred and
fifty bodies are now ready for the
coifius. Many of the bodies will be
buried in military fashion in two long
trenches now being dug on Cemetery
Hill. Some of the bodies will be taken
TO their former homes and eight will
be sent to Coalville, Utah.
THE INQUEST.
The inquest was begun yesterday
at the residence of the late John
Hunter. who was killed in the mine.
The jury did not go into the contro-
vtrsy as TO what caused the disaster.
but simply found that Hunter met his
death in the mine through an ex-
plosion. State Mine Inspector Thomas
testified that il was his opinion that the
explosion was caused by tight
heavy shot" He said the mine was
free from gas. He had examined the
place where il was claimed powder had
been stored and said IL was plainly
evident that the explosion started
bod es taken from that point were bad
ly burned.
The fact that the rush OF air from the
mouth OF the main entry of the mine
was sufficient to blow man and his
team across the gulch almost 200 yards
indicates what force was exerted within
the workings Of the mine and In the inn
mediate Vicinity of the explosion.
NONE TO TELL STORY.
If any one man is to blame for the
accident il Will never be known, for
no man who can tell the story has
come out OF the mine olive. Many old
coal miners familiar with these mines
state that they have always been re-
garded as the safest mines in the state.
AT the coal company's store everything
is being given out free of charge that
the families of the dead are in imme-
diate need OF.
The relief fund amounts to $500.
TOTAL NUMBER OF DEAD $50.
The latest dispatches from Scofield
say that the extreme estimates OF dead
are now conceded TO have been too
large. The probabilities are that $50
will be about the total number OF dead.
There are not enough collins in the
camp TO bury the dead. the bodies are
rapidly decomposing and il has been
suggested that cremation may have
TO be resorted to.
PRESIDENTS CONDOLENCES.
Washington. May 4-The president
yesterday sent the following telegraph
TO the governor of Utah.
Executive Mansion Washington, May
3. 1900.
"Gov. Wells. Salt Lake City. Utah:
II desire to express my intense sor-
row upon learning of the terrible ca
lamity which has occurred at Scoheld,
and my deep sympathy with the wives.
children and friends of the unfortunate
victims of the explosion. (Signed)
WILLIAM M'EINLEY."
FRANCES SYMPATHY.
Washington May 4--Ambassador
Cambon called at the White House yes
terday and presented to President Nc
<inley from President Loubet OF
France letter of coincidence on the
recent mining disaster II Utah.