Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-03-08
A MINING DISASTER.
An Awful Explosion Occurs at the
Red Ash Mine.
MANY DEAD BODIES ARE TAKEN CUT.


| flre creek, W. Va, March. 1.-lhe
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. Though the
most heroic work of the rescung par
ty was going on necessarily all yes
terday it was impossible last night
to estimate the full extent Of the loss
Of life and property. More than 80
dead bodies have already been taken
out and the number of dead may
reach IS or more. 1t was thought
last night 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 large
number Of miners. The scene of the
disaster is between this place and
Thurmond on the south branch of the
Chesapeake & Ohio railway, and every
assistance possible was rendered by
the railway company and by the adj
joining mining towns. Relief parties
from great distances arrived as soon
as possible. State Mine Inspector
.Pinckney, with corps of experts
and many workmen, was on the
ground during the day, rendering all
assistance possible and devoting his
attention more toward relief than
to an official investigation of the
cause of the disaster.
The first successful strike OF the
rescners was about ten a. M, when ten
bodies were recovered. 1t was found
that seven of them were already dead
and the other three dying. As the
miners were located at different pla-
ces in the drift and the explosion
caused the falling slate to blockade
the rooms in different parts of the
mine, the work of rescuing the men
met with one great obstruction after
another.
The exciting scenes under the
entrance to the mines where all these
men were working extended through
out the entire region, and the miners
of other camps came in with their
families and with greatly exaggerated
reports concerning the calamity. At
the mouth Of the mine the scene was
beyond description, the wives and
children and neighbors of those who
were known to be entombed, were
there in full force and their anxiety
and distress was most intense. While |
they were all seeking to help those
who were rescued 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 entrance. Air was
forced into the mine by engines on
the surface which were kept working
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 pumping into the mines.
ha I NJ a.
Fire Creek, W. Va. March 1.-THE
first reports Of the explosion at Red
Ash mines were greatly exaggerated.
The latest reports since midnight
are that there were only 50 miners
entombed instead of 1926. Only ten
bodies have been taken out so far in
stead of 81, as previously reported,
but it Is believed that none of the 40
that are still in the mine will ever be
found alive. The explosion happened
as the men were going into the mine
in groups and in couples and in some
instances they were strung along in
this manner for over a mile, so that
the work Of rescue will require long
time. There were more men near the
entrance who escaped than were lost.
Ohsclsls 10 Make an I"vestip alton.
Charleston, W. Va, March 7.-Chief
Mine Inspector ]. W. Paul, Gov. At
kinson and his private secretary, Col.
Boggs, 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
and if the explosion was
caused by fire damp, as reported, he
was at loss to account for its pres
rnce. The mine was last inspected on
October "a, 1890. when it was found
to be perfectly safe.
Wagon Factory burned.