Evening star., 1901-06-12
Fire Still Raging in the Pits at Port
Royal.
MORE EXPLOSIONS ARE FEARED
Little Prospect That the Remain
ing Bodies Can Be Recovered.
A N OF E r NJ A N D EA D

WEST NEWTON, Pa, June 12.-There is
some talk of flooding the mine today, and
if they do the bodies of the men that are
in there will not be taken out for eighteen
months or two years at the least as they
will have hard time finding them.
The conference today showed that more
explosions are looked for and the danger
Is even greater than is known. AS soon as
the officials left the office of the company,
men were hurried to the shafts of the mine
and ropes were stretched around the shafts
and guards stationed to keep the people
back. 1t was decided to have the crowd kept
back about 300 feet from the mouth of the
pit; as the fire raging below is expected to
light the gas in other workings at the
same time, and should the crowd be around
the mouth of the shaft when these explo-
sions occur lives may be lost. General
Manager Schleuberger said that nothing
more would be done toward recovering the
bodies of the men in the mine until the
state mine inspectors arrive.
Telegrams have been sent to Johnstown,
where the state mine institute is being
held, and Chief Roderick of the bureau of
mines. with Inspectors Blick, Moldson and
Callahan, is expected here tonight when
it will be decided definitely whether the
mine will be flooded The mine is rapidly
filling with gas and the muffled reports of
The ropes stretched keep the crowds well
back and warnings have been sent out all
around notifying the people that a heavy
explosion like an earthduake NAV occur
any time and the hoist be blown aWay and
all movable property belonging to the COM
pany mas been removed from the pit mouth
Eighteenth Victim of the Disaster
The death OF Harvey Beveridge at the
Mckeesport Hospital last night brings the
total number of fatalities of the Port
Royal mine disaster up to eighteen The
last resculng party entered the Inflated
mine shortly before midnight and explored
1t for a distance of about 5000 feet The
dead body of David James was found this
morning between Nos. 10 and II entries.
The body was taken into the black
smith shop, where it was identified by a
rag tied around the little toe Of the left
foot. The flesh was burned from the face
In several places and the body looked as
II II mad met nearly the full force of the
second explosion.
Another party will enter the mine short
ly. 1t was the intention to have gone in
early this morning, but General Super
1ntendent g. w. Schleuderberg was in
Plttsburg 1t was decided to await his re-
turn.
Five Bodies Recovered.
There have been five bodies recovered
since the first explosion. There are stil
thirteen bodies in the mine, and several
experienced miners here from the Pan
handle district think that they will be
recovered. What the exact conditions are
In the unexplored part Of the mine is not
known. That there Is fire Is the opinion
or many Of the miners. but it's severity
cannot be even guessed at. The next
party to enter the mine will extend its
ventilation as far as possible and rid out
whatever gas can be reached
Dr. Z. A. Wynne, coroner Of Westmore-
land county, arrived last night to view the
pody or John Pebbles at West Newton,
ana the bodies at this place. He will not
mold the inquest until it is known that the
bodies In the mine cannot be recovered