The news & observer., 1900-11-04
THE PLACE BERRYSBURG
Accidental Discharge of Dynamite
Caused by Shock of Blast.
MEN WERE BLOWN LITERALLY TO PIECES
Most Of the Men Working in the Mine from
North Carolina and the District of CO.um-
bia. Ugly Rumors About Cause
Of the Disaster.
(By the Associated Press)

Illlppl, W. Nd's NON' D. OhO VI '
greatest calamities in the history OF
Barbour county occurred this morning at
1 o'clock at the mines of the Southern
Coal and Transportation Company, at
Berrysburg, six miles from this place.
AS a result these are dead:
Ollie Marks, pitt boss.
Andrew blackwell.
Albert Brown.
Lawrence Duncan.
Pack Adams
And seven others whose names are not
obtainable.
The injured are:
viii Marks, James Jackson both of
whom will die.
The explosion was so great that mules
were killed at the mouth of the mine and
cars were blown forty feet from the
tracks One man was blown in two at
the loins and his body thrown against
pile of lumber at the mouth Of the mine.
The night shift went on duty at
o'clock Everything went on smoothly
until about midnight when the explosion
occurred. The dead were mutilated be-
yond recognition, and the scene was cal
culated to make the strongest heart faint.
The explosion was probably the result
of an accidental discharge OF dynamite,
caused perhaps, by the concussion of a
blast The property loss is light. No
blame can be attached to the officials of
the company.
A coroner's inquest will be held tomor-
row, at which time additional facts as to
the cause of the explosion may be OBJ
will hn at
the mines as usual Monday.
The report of the explosion was so great
that two men were found sixty feet from
the mouth of the mine. An hour after the
explosion hundreds had visited the mine.
The call for relief brought every physi-
clan in Philippi to the scene. The sight
was most horrible one. Strewn 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 frantically
hunting for sons, and as fast as body
was found they would glance and, recog-
nizing it, would give hysterical screams.
The hotel has been turned into hospital
and those still alive when brought out
were taken there.
There is a great deal of comment about
the cause of the explosion. The author
tiles refused to discuss the matter, fur
ther than to say that it was caused by
an excessive charge of powder being
used The miners insist that it was caused
by fire damp. The mine was recently
inspected and pronounced to be in good
| condition.
AS the work of removing the dead goes
| on things look worse. Four men have
been brought out during the last hour,
| and the searchers are confident dozen
are in the mine yet. Nest of those
| brought out are mutilated beyond de-
| scription The mines of Berrysburg have
| Only been operated a short time. They
] have had a great deal of trouble. First
| the mines were flooded and the the men
struck. Last week the stables were set
| on fire and twenty-six horses burned
| Now comes the explosion.
Col. B. r. Berry, the millionaire nine
/ owner, arrived here this morning, but re-
| fused to discuss the affair. Most of the
| men came from North Carolina and the
| District of Columbia Ugly rumors have
been afloat all day lCng about the cause
of the disaster, The most charitable con-
struction to place on the matter is that
it was due TO the inexperience OF the
mine boss, Ollie Marks, who lies at
deaths door. Prosecuting Attorney 9. M.
Murphy and Justice W. G. Keys left to-
night for Berrysburg to hold an inquest.
| A messenger just returned from the
mines states that the bodies of twelve
men have been brought out, eight of
whom were recognized. Four men are IN
the hospital not expected to live TIL
morning. Twenty men are unaccounted
for The men we're mostly negroes and
Slavs.