The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-03-21
VICTIMS OF FIRE DAMP.
Terrible Disaster in a Coal Mine in
West Virginia.
FIRE FOLLOWED THE EXPLOSION

,ver One Hundred Miners Entombed by
an Explosion at the Red Ash Mine
Hard Work Of Rescue-Scores oi
Bodies Recovered-GovernorA Atkinson
Orders nm Investigation.
CHARLESTON, W. Va. Especially. - The
greatest mining horror in the New River
eglon occurred at Red Ash about eight
,'clock Tuesday morning by an explosion
n the drift mine OF the Red Ash Coal Com
2any. There were 125 men in the mine and
the explosion occurred near the entrance,
which was closed by falling slate. The ex'
plosion made only little noise, and the &C.
ident was first discovered by laborer at
The entrance.
The scene OF tie accident is tnree miles
Lbove Thurmond, on the Chesapeake and
Ohio road. The principal owner OF the
nine Is J. Fred Efinger, OF Staunton, va.
Che manager IL Ferdinand Howell.
The news. Of the-ttsaster swept through
The town and within q few minutes nun
ireds OF men, women and children, rela-
lives OF the unfortunate miners, were upon
The scene. As the conviction that the
sss, they became frantic In their endeavors
10 reach their dead and dying In the
wrecked shaft, and the work OF attempted
rescue was organized with extreme dill
aculty.
The mine ls on the mountain eide above
5ater, and the coal Is similar to that found
IN the Pocahontas district. On this account
is said here that the accident cannot
lave been caused by fredarnp or by gas.
,ut from dust. as was the case IN one OF tne
tragedies some years ago IN fooaooheaS
mine.
The district Is wild one on Rush Run.
which Is south branch OF New River, nav.
lng its mouth at Thurmond. It is abone
hxty6fe miles from this city.
The force Of such an explosion caused an
immense falling OF the slate and otnet
iebrfs, SO that the entrance was niied up
lor q great distance, and the ditncultles IN
diceIne through 1t caused delay In the
york Of rescue.
Az many men al could work at one time
rere digging away with all their might,
md were relieved In short relays bT otnef
men. 40 as to expedite the work OF resculng
IS much as possible.
3 The first successful strike OF the rescuers
\ vas about ten O'Clock In the morning, Wnen
|, len bodies were recovered. Seven OF tnem
we're already dead, and the other three
we're dying. AS tue miners were locateo es
I Itffsrsnt places In the drift. and the eIplo-
uon caused the falling slate to- blockade
The rooms In different parts Of the mine.
The work otrescue met with one great oo-
truction or:Rnother.
After the men got under headway In the
Sork OF rascue they reached the hrst party
n less than; an hour, but they met greater
difficulties after that time. It was then
mat kilograms were sent to MONTGOMERY
Dharieston and other places for physicians.
aurses and co6lns.
LiIEork was stopped In the surrounding
mines OF the district, and the people With
| n a radius OF many miles assembled on tna
Itfrounds of the Bed Ash company
The population OF the mining village Ii
Live hundred. All are miners. and tns
bsaianity will reach almost every little
touse In the mining town. :,
The managers and bosses OF all tne
mines In this district came to the scene a.
Is,oon as possible and Joined IN the Work o.
Imount OF work done by this concentrated
I ifmy OF men, but they were greatly Inn
\ oeded because or the extent OF the enor'
nous. blockade at the entrance to the drift.
/; rhe large heavy side tires OF the entrance
were blown ont to some distance, together
With q lot Of heayystimbers. Even mules
were blown out some distance.
Chlef Mine Inspector j. W. Paul, GOV
nner Atkinson and, others left here Tues
\ tay night for the scene Of the disaster ia
1 make an Investigation. Mr.. Paul stated
I Thar the mine had been In splendid con-
EdItton, and IL the explosion was caused bJ
are damp, as reported, he was at loss to
sccount 1or les presence.
The mihs was last inspected on October
a.. 1890Twhen It was found to be perfectly
Iafe. The Red Ash mine was operated oy
The Red Ash Coal Company, composed OF
J. Fred Efinger, OF Staunton, Va, AND
other Staunton parties.