Arizona silver belt., 1900-05-10

IT. United States. took place in the m .eS of the Pleasant Valley Coal .. lpany near Scotield, Utah, on the m ming of May 1. According to the Lest estimate there were about 300 u..n all told employed at the two ,a.nes. which are practically one. ,.rut 70 of these were working in ,.lt is known as No. back level and ~3.,.. so far from the explosion that {, had spent it's force before the shock ..-.d reach them and they had all got uu..
 The scenes at the mine were heart -.iing Hundreds of women and rlIldren cOngregated about the open .nguf the mine from which the dead .Idies of the miners were being .,rIught out. and as husband or father MS recognized, many of the women ,lgekcd and fell fainting.
 The work If recovering the bodies aa, promptly begun and hundreds of men volunteered their services for the purpose. These reScuerS came from pther mines and towns surrounding, md worked necessarily to bring out The burnt and mangled remains of the dead miners. The bodies were taken rr the company buildings as soon as they were brought out of the mine, md were there dressed and laid out preparatory to the coroner's inquest, md for Identification. Many of the rescuerS came near losing their lives rom the fatal afterdamp but the work was continued in the face of all danger: and most of the brave fellows -emalned at their post until they were almost ready to drop from physical exhaustion. and the deadly effects of the poisonous fumes.
 Just how the catastrophe occurred IS not known. and probably will never he definitely known, as various req sons are attributed. The theory of Bishop Parmely is that some of the Films, recently imported, secretly took giant powder down into the mine to assist them in their work. They were exceedingly anxious to make a good showing, and as much money as possible. and it is thought that this form of explosive was used in order that great bodies of coal could be more easily dislodged. It is thought that when the giant powder was touched off it ignited some of the dust # which every mine has more or less. Inquiry among the miners disclosed the fact that they entertained various opinions regarding the terrible affair, some being exceedingly bitterin their I denunciaton of the company: others took a more conservative view of the matter. and said it was one of those things over which no man had control and for which no man or men should be held responsible.
 Many old miners, familiar with 4 these mines. state that they always have been regarded as the safest IT 4 the state These men also say the ] cOmpanys policy always has been to spare no expense to keep the mines \ in thoroughly safe condition.
 The inquest was begun on the morn & ing of May at the residence of tho late John Hunter, who was killed 1T the mine. The jury did not go intt the controversy as to what caused tho disaster, but simply found that Hun ter met his death in the mine througl "a explosion. State Mine Inspector # Thomas testified that it was hi
 opinion that the explosion was caused
 by tight, heavy shot" He sai'
 the mine was free from gas. He hal
 examined the place where 1t wa
 claimed the powder was stored am
 said 1t was plainly evident that tn
 explosion started where the powde
 was stored as the bodies taken frol
 that point were badly burned.
 The rcscuing party found the bodle
 Of tue men in every conceivable shape
 but generally they were lying on thel
 stOmachS with their arm about thel
 faces. The men died almost instantl
 when struck by the damp, and did nt
 suffer. They just became unconsiou
 and were asphyxiated. Their face
 "eFc al. calm and peaceful, as thoug
 t4e had just fallen asleep.
 'uuouS fact connected with th
 ada. IS that five men, Thomas Selle
 A.v&.uder c. Wilson, John Wilsol
 Hal, Taylor and John Reddoes, WI
 "e.e "orking outside the mine, wei
 'erl ,yerely hurt.
 "oup Wilson was blown with Il
 Ao'se a distance of over two hundre
 yaEu" across the bottom of the canol
 Ihr Lack of his skull was crushed ar
 SoHej.Ing had been driven into h
 aou'D. n. He is in terrible pligh 5A IA'L"ao Sellers was nifty yards aws "om le mouth of the tunnel, but l
 uad h., right foot crushed; snould'
 H""cHod out of place and his Dat
 o'u'5 4urt Harry Tay TOT was sever
 Iy 5niscd.