New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-08
WEST VIRGINIA NINE DISASTER.
NUMBER OF VICTIMS NOT POSITIVELY
KNOwN-MAY REACH SEVENTY

NUMBER OF VICTIMS NOT POSITIVELY
KNowN-MAY REACH SEVENTY.
Fire Creek. w. Va. March THE rescung
parties continued working at the Red Ash Mine
to-day, removing debris and securing the bodies
OF the victims of the explosion of yesterday
The scenes Of distress among those seeking their
missing friends are still as appalling as yester-
day. The work at the mine continues night and
day. and it is still impossible to give the exact
number Of the victims TO identify all Of the
bodies that have been recovered. The most
servative estimates of some Of those connected
with the mine place the number of killed and
hfty-two. and there others who insist that
the number Of victims will be found to reach
sixty or seventy.
report from the resouers at the mine, after
o'clock tonight was that thirty-four had been
taken out twenty-nine being dead and Ave seri-
ousy injured. Those rescued alive were Carl
Downey, John L. Day. Joseph Elliott. John Kane
and Harry Dawson. While the surviving miners
and others estimate that there are at least
thirty-nine miners still entombed. General Man
ager Howell believes there are only thirty-six.
It is conceded that all of those still in the mine
are dead.
None of the mines in this district vet
working. and thousands of persons visited the
of the Red Ash disaster to-day. Some of
homes of the victims Many funerals were held
here to-day. and many will be held tomorrow.
No definite cause for the explosion has yet been
learned by Governor Atkinson. the State and
district mine inspectors and others who in
vestigating the
In addition to the theories of dust f1redamp,
etc, II asserted to-day that natural gas
had escaped into the mine and that it ignited
when the miners entered yesterday morning
with their lighted lamps The work of rescu-
ing parties is retarded by hot air, and IL is
thought the mine is fire. Air is being
pumped into the mine by compression 1t Will
probably be several days before all the bodies
can be recovered. as they are scattered along
for almost mile under the ground. and it will
require much time to clear the debris from this
long. subterranean course
There were eleven bodies Of the victims of
the disaster removed from the mine to-day.
1t is now known that there were three more
men in the mine than were known of yesterday,
all colored.
Through the whole of last night and all to-day
the relief force working in relay crews
coal facing in the Red Ash mine. and thus re-
veal the full extent OF the disaster The result
is that at IL o'clock tonight they were within
1000 or 200 feet Of their goal
One of those who entered the mine ana es-
capped alive is electrician named Evans. who
was near the entrance. In relating his expert
ence Mr. Evans said: Il heard a low, rumbling
sound similar to earthquake / realized in
an instant that hredamp had exploded. ana
before the force OF the concussion reached me
| threw myself down on my face. sheet OF
flame rock and debris shot over my head /
managed TO creep TO the mouth and into the
fresh air. My God II was awful
pathetic feature of the disaster the
obstruction OF the family Of B. b. Long. nre
boss His wife died some time ago, leaving 10
his care two little boys. Having no one 10 stay
with ir their desolate home, the boys begged 10
go with their father into the mine 70 spend the
day with him. He consented and when the
search fs hnished their bodies Will be found be
side that OF their father.
The unexplained cause OF the accident has
terrified miners In adjoining localities. Many
men are afraid to go 70 work to-day. and II win
require the most searching Inspection by COM
petent men TO remove their fears and induce
them to return 10 their places. No one has
paused 10 calculate the money damage by the
disaster but IL will be heavy.