Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-05-03
associated Press Dispatch by Special wires.


Salt Lake, Utah, May 2. Two hundred
or more lives were lost in mine No. Of
the Pleasant Valley Coal Co., at Soo-
field, Utah, where an explosion occurred
yesterday. One hundred and thirty
seven bodies have already been recov-
cred. The work of rescue Is still pro-
crossing, although there is no hope that
any Of the men who are unaccounted
the disaster is just outside this place,
railroad. The explosion, which occurred
attributed by some to the blowing up
of number of kegs Of blastina powder.
A special train was sent from Salt
Lake, bearing Superintendent Sharp Of
the coal company, Superintendent Welby
of the railroad company and some
doctors. As fast ne bodies ure reached,
they are taken to the boarding houses
and other company buildings, where
they are dressed and prepared for the
coroner's inquest. These buildings are
numerous, and in each case there are
from 10 to So bodies, which are laid in
long rows. To those who have been
identified arc attached tags, with name
and address. These await the coming
of relatives or friends. Two hundred
collins have been ordered through local
undertakers to be sent at once to the
scene of the disaster. A special train
bearing the seriously wounded has
started fiom Scofield for Salt Lake.
The first news received in Salt Lake
put the list of killed at.25, and 1t was
not until evening that thefull extent OF
the calamity was understood. Many
people OF this city have friends and
relatives at the mines, and the news
paper offices and the coal conIpauy's
offices were visited by number of anxious
people, who fear ed some OF their friends
or relatives might be numbered among
the victims. As the list kept constantly
growing, the anxiety of the inqnirers
increased, and mary Of them did not 60
to bed. The calamity was of such size.
and so unprecedented in the history of
the State and even Of the West, that the
mind did not seem to be able to grasp
it. IL appesrs to have been one Of those
accidents that are common to the very
best regulated mines and against the
best endeavors of the most competent
superintendent The State mine in
spector is still without the data to lay
blame on any one OF course. an In.
quest will hare to determine just where
the blame rests, and perhaps 1t can
never be fully determined. .
The afterdnmp delayed the work of
the rescuing party. All men on the
raise known as Pixies Peak were lying
In clusters. John James, COUNTY COM
missioner, was found with his son
George, eptwined in loving embrace ID
each others arms All these men APP
parently had realized that death was
coming. for all were found as though in
attitudes OF defence. Some had their
cloaks ABOUT them, and others had'tried
to protect themselves by burying their
faces 10 the ground floor of the mine.
hoping thus tn escape the deadly gas
that was fast enveloping them. They
must have lived for some time 10 prayer
full expectation Of rescue reaching them.
Bernard DougaIl, a young engineer from
Springville, Utah, who had entered the
mine few minutes before. with his
assistants, was found with bis instru-
ments set, while he and his men lay
dead around it.
As fast as the bodies we're removed,
they were carried to- the company's
barn, across the canyon, where they
were prepared for Identification. The
scene was CHASTITY, yet most pathetic.
Between the blackened and stalwart
men lay about dozen lads, who had
been employed as oouplers and trappers.
Some lay alongside Of their fathers and
elder brothers. 1t was scene that
made strong men turn away in teare.
After the foul air cleared away from
the mine, the work of rescue began,
and 1t was soon found that a great
many Of the miners had been
suifocated. Cars were taken ID,
and the dead were brought to the
mouth of the mine. Here, the scene
beggars all description, for the men,
women and children, relatives of the
dead miners had begun to gather; and
ms the bodies were brought out and
recognized by their families, their
lamentations were heartrending. The
dead were all carried into the boarding
houses directly opposite the mine, and
at midnight 1877 men, nearly all heads
OF families, were laid out in the cold
embrace of death.
Bishop Thomas Parmley, superin.
tendent Of the operations here, gives ii
as his opinion that the explosion was
brought about by giant powder, which
was taken into the mine by some of
the MIXERS, and that it exploded in some
unaccountable way, igniting the dust,
and causing an explosion.
The mine has been worked for over 90
years, and has the reputation, accord
ing to State Mine Inspector Thomas, Of
being one of the best ventilated and
protected in the West. He says he in
spected it less than five weeks ago, and
believed il entirely safe at that time.
1t has never had Rad air, and has always
been free from gas; and rs the coal is
all loaded with shovels, there has not
been large accumulation OF dust.
Nine-tenths of the men killed are
Americans and Welshmen. he former
come mostly from Utah. with small
number from Tennessee and Colorado.
Several undertakers were sent to SEQ
field early this morning, and the collins
will go down as soon as they can be
shipped.
The special train, bearing four OF the
injured men, arrived at the Rio Grande
Western depot this morning. Harry
Taylor, ons OF the injured men, said he
remembers the moment of the awful
explosion, and he told OF IL, a few
words at a time, Between paroxysms OF
pain. 81 was repairing some tracks
out on the dump" said the injured
man. when l started toward the mouth
of the tunnel, to get some tools. l got
about so feet away from the tunnel
mouth, when suddenly there was an
awful report, and at the sane time q
black cloud, filed with rocks, bore
down on me- felt several small rocks
strike me, when | felt Jolt on my
side, and then-thsn came away"
said the ininrad man. with n phaaflv