Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1900-03-09
An Appalling Disaster in a
Mine at Red Ash, w. Va.
AT LEAST 60 MEN KILLED
Believed that As Men are En-
tombed in the Mine.
BRAVE EFFORTS AT RESCUE,
A Small Army OF Men Is Trying to Dig
the Victims Ont Of the Huge Mass OF
Debris Caused by the Explosion, but
Progress Is Quite Slow.


Fire Creek, w. Va, March THE
most disastrous mine explosion ever
known in the New river district oc-
CURED at the Red Ash mine shortly
after the miners went to work early
yesterday morning. Although heroic
work of the rescuing party has been
going on incessantly, it is impossible
to estimate the full extent of the loss
of life and property. More than so
dead bodies have already been taken
out and the number of the dead may
reach rs or more. 1t is thought that
at least As miners are yet entombed
in the wrecked mine.
The Red Ash mine is a large drift
and the explosion occurred near the
entrance, which was thus closed by
the falling slate, entombing a large
number of miners.
The scene of the disaster is between
this place and Thurmond, on the
Chesapeake Sc Ohio railroad and every
assistance possible was rendered by
the railroad company and by the ad-
joining mining towns.
j. Fred Effinger, of Staunton, Va,
the principal, owner of the mines,
spared no effort in the work of rescue
and relief and his manager, Ferdinand
Howell, had all the men available at
work in trying to clear away the de-
bris and rescue the entombed men.
The managers and bosses of all the
mines in this district came to the
scene as soon as possible and joined in
the work of rescue. 1t is impossible
| 1.acaril,.a Of
by this army of men, but they were
greatly impeded because of the enor-
nous blockade at the entrance to the
| drift.
The large heavy side tires of the en-
trance were blown out to some dis
tance, together with a Dot of heavy
timbers. Even mules were blown out
some distance. The force of such an
explosion caused an immediate falling
of the slate and other debris, so that
the entrance was filed up for a great
distance and the difficulties in digging
through it caused delay in the work
of rescue. as many men as could
work at one time were digging away
with all their might and were relieved
in short relays by other men, so as TO
expedite the work of rescue as much
as possible.
The first successful strike of the
rescuers was about 10 a. M, when ten
bodies were recovered. Seven of them
were dead and the other three were
dying. AS the miners were located at
different places in the drift and the
explosion caused the following slate
to blockade the rooms in different
parts of the mine, the work of rescue
| ,at with oh <,ft
another
At the mouth of the mine the scene
was beyond description The wives,
children and neighbors of those who
were known to be entombed were
there in force and their distress was
most intense. While they were all
seeking to help those who were res
cued and to get the mine reopened,
yet these bereaved people were for the
most part in the way of the rescuers
and had to be held back from the en-
trance.
The mine is one of the largest in
West Virginia aind was heavily tim
bered in the different drifts. 1t was
for this reason feared that those who
had not been killed by falling debris
at the time of the explosion would be
pinioned by these connected timbers
and suffer death from suffocation. Air
was forced into the mine by engines
ON the surface which were kept work
ing after the explosion, but it was
found that air could be pumped into
the drift for only a short distance, as
the coal, stone and earth shut off all
possibility of reaching the interior.
The pumps and all other machinery
In the mine were demolished, so that
everything had TO be done through
temporary arrangements on the sur
face.
Charleston, w. Va, March 7.-Chief
Mine Inspector j. w. Paul, Gov. At
lsinson and others left here last night
for the scene of the disaster to make
an investigation. Mr.. Paul stated that
the mine had been in excellent condi-
ton and if the explosion was caused
by firedamp, as reported, he was at a
loss to account for its presence. The
mine was last inspected on October "a,
1899, when it was found to be perfect
ly safe.
''Father OF the House'' Dies.
| s1aI, 90