Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-03-08


ing hard at Red Ash mine to-day, in
removing debris, and securing the
bodies Of the victims Of the explosion
of yesterday.
hunting their missing friends are still
as appalling as yesterday. The work
at the mine continues night and day,
and it is still impossible to give the
exact number of the victims or to
identify all of the bodies that have
been recovered.
The most conservative estimates OF
some of those connected with the mine
places the number of killed at fifty
two, and there are others who insist
that the number of victims will be
found to reach sixty.
Six more bodies were recovered
.arly this morning. A report was
made at the mine during the after
noon that the total number removed
was twenty-one, of whom fifteen are
dead, one fatally injured and five
others seriously hurt.
A report from the rescuers at the
mine after O'clock tonight was that
thirty-four men had been tatken from
the mine, Twenty-Five being dead and
five seriously 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
80 miners entombed General Manager
Howell says there are still in the
mine 36. The estimate of the latter
would indicate that there were 70 kill
ed and five injured, and it is conced-
ed that all of those still in the mine
are dead
None of the mines in this district
are yet working and thousands of
people visited the scene of the Red
Ash disaster to-day. Some of the
dead bodies have been shipped to the
former 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 At
kinson, the State and district mine
inspectors and others who are inyes-
tigating the case. In addition to the
theories of dust, fire damp, ETC., it was
claimed to-day that
Natural Gas Had Escaped
into the mine and that it iguited
when the miners entered yesterday
morning with their lighted lamps.
The work Of rescuing parties is re-
t4rded by hot air and it is thought the
mine is on fire. Air is being pumped
into the mine by compression.
1t will probably be several days be-
fore all the bodies can be recovered
as they are scattered along for al
most a mile under the ground and it
will require much time to clear the
debris from this long subterranean
course.
Among persons who entered the mine
and escaped alive is Electrician Evans,
who was near the entrance. In relat-
ing his experience, Mr.. Evans said
II heard low rumbling sound. SINH
instant that fire damp had exploded,
and before the force of the conclusion
reached me threw myself down on my
face A sheet of flame, rock and de-
bris shot over my head.
81 managed to creep to the mouth
and into the fresh air. My God, it was
awful! l saw that I was the only one
left. Every one of the other fellows
was lost, l knew"
A Pathetic Feature
of the disaster is the humiliation of
the family of B. B. Long, fire boss
His wife died some time ago, leaving
to his sole care two little boys Hav-
ing no one to stay within their DESC
late home, the boys begged to go with
day with him. He consented, and
when the search is finished their black
ened little bodiesNwill be found beside
that of their father.
The unexplained cause of the acct
dent has terrified miners in adjoining
localities. Very many are raid to go
to work to-day and it will require the
most searching inspection by compe-
tent men to remove their fears and in
duce them to return to their places.
The following bodies were removed
from the mine to-day:
Simon Fits.
Neville Ramsey.
Ed. HaHrich (white), aged n.
= volley lAsery.