Evening journal., 1900-05-03
May be the Most DiSaS-
trOuS in the Nations
History
DEATH LIST GROWS HOURLY
Poisonous Fumes Retard the Ear
nest Work Of VaIOrOuS
ReScnerS
FATALITIES MAY REACH 300
Relatives and Friends Of Victims Make
a Distressing Scene at Mouth
Of the Fatal Shaft
FATALITIES MAY REACH 300

Scoheld, Utah, May 3.-Today's es-
innate of the number OF killed in the
terrible mine explosion here Tuesday
IS $50, but the total death list may not
reach 300. Relief work is still In
progress. being conducted by shifts OF
men. The shift now in the mine has SO
bodies ready to bring out and the num-
Der Of corpses yet to be reached Is
still uncertain.
Arriving trains are constantly bring
ing relatives Of the victims from out
side points, and the coal company has
designated a committee to carry the
dead TO Salt Lake. Ogden and other
cities. On account OF gas No. mine
has been abandoned as means of
rescue and bodies are arriving at the
mouth OF No. / mine by the carload.
Ferrish level has been cleared OF
dead and all are burned and unrecog-
nizable.
Up to the present 149 bodies have
been taken from the wrecked mines.
According to the very closet esti-
mate there were about 200 men all
told employed at the two mines, which
are practically one mine About so
Of these were working in what is
known as the No. / back level which
was so far from the explosion that 1t
had spent its force before the shock
could reach them, and they all got out.
They heard the report, but did not
grasp the situation at once, one Of the
men continuing to load a car after it
occurred
When the removal OF the bodies
from the mine began hundreds of men
volunteered their services for the pur-
pose. The reacuers came from other
mines and towns surrounding, and
worked incessantly to bring out the
burned and mangled remains OF the
dead miners. The bodies were taken
70 the company buildings as soon as
they were brought out OF the mine and
were there dressed and laid out pre-
paratory to the coroner's inquest and
for Identification.
Many of the rescuers came near
losing their lives from the fatal after
damp, but the work was continued in
the face of all danger, and most Of
the brave fellows remained at their
posts until they were almost ready to
drop from physical exhaustion and the
deadly effects Of the poisonous fumes.
John Kirton was the first man
brought to the surface. He was stlll
alive. but presented a terrible sight.
His scalp was burned TO a cinder and
his face was almost unacceptable.
In his horrible pain he cried out to his
companions, begging them to end his
misery by taking his life.
All efforts are now being concentrate
ed to bring out a large number OF
bodies known to be IN No. 4, where 85
men perished. Here the force of the
explosion broke down the timbers and
the bodies can only be got at through
No. l.
The theory OF Bishop Parmalee IL
that some of the Firms recently import
ed secretly took giant powder down
into the mine to assist them in their
work. They were exceedingly anxious
to make a good showing and make as
much money as possible and It is
thought this form of explosive was
used in order that great bodies OF coal
could more easily be dislodged II is
thought that when the giant powder
was touched off 1t ignited some Of the
dust, Of which every coal mine has
more OF less
One of the miners sent over from
Castle Gate to aid the rescue work
said when he came out of the tunnel:
This explosion is the most disas-