Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1901-06-11
Explosions Of Gas Cause Death and
Destruction in a Pennsylvania
Coal Mine.
BRAVE RESCUERS ARE LOST
The Mouth of the Shaft Surrounded by a
Weeping, Frenzied Multitude All
Night-The Names of the Men
Who Are Missing

only adds horror to the ulSdStIous ilii'e
explosion which occurred late last ev-
ening in No. mine of the Plttspurg
Coal company at Port Royal Three
men were rescued, and II others are
imprisoned in the burning mine. Late
last night the mine was reported at the
offices of the comnany here to be on
fire. and Division Superintendent VIM
McCune and w. f. Allison started for
the scene They entered with Fire BOSS
Keck, who carried an open lamp. Three
explosions followed at intervals OF
few minutes, the large fan being mad
equate to counteract the rush OF hre
damp. Many miners escaped, but the
latest reports state that McCune and
Allison with Is miners are beyond the
reach of rescue. They are over mile
from the bottom of the pit. Since the
efforts of the third rescuing party,
which, like the previous attempts, was
disastrous, no effort has been made to
reach the men and no further attempt
will be made until Mine Inspector Cal
lahan arrives from Connellsville.
Weeping wives and children of the mis-
sing men are gathered about the mine
shaft, awaiting almost hopelessly for
news from their loved ones and fran
tically appealing for rescue.
A LOWER ESTIMATE.
Pittsburg, Pa, June ia telegram
was received at the headquarters of
the Pittsburg Coal company, owners
nf va tat inc hat A
to 16 men are entombed in the burn
ing mine. Among the number are VIM.
McCune, superintendent, and r. s. AL
lison, foreman. Another relief force
was sent into the mine at o'clock this
morning.
THE MISSING.
Port Royal, Pa, June 11.-By an ex-
plosion of gas in shaft No. of the
Pittsburg Coal & Coke company's mine,
about o'clock last night, 12 men are
known to be missing, and are supposed
to be dead. They are Frank Davenport,
Antonio Sickle, John E. PEBBLES, Jere-
miah Daley, VIM. McCune, superin-
tendent of the six mines of the Pitts
burg Coal company between West
Newton and Eureka: VIM. Allison sup
erintendent of several mines below
West Newton; Dennis Wardley pit
boss; Michael Roy, pit boss; J. Keck,
pit boss; Peter McCanto, Bernard Ball,
an unknown man. The injured are: A.
Smith, both eyes destroyed and fatally
burned; Fritz Krueter, both eyes des-
troyed, fatally burned; J. Beveridge,
machinist, both arms broken, fatally
burned Smoke rose from the mouth
of the shaft in volumes during The
night. The entire population of ,he
town remained all night at the mine
awaiting news from those thought to
be either buried under tons of slate 0:
slowly awaiting either death from tie
flames or relief from the outaida, v.tE
a small chance favoring the former. Il,
an attempt to rescue the men known to
be in the mine other lives were placed |
in jeopardy and may be lost. From
what could be ascertained last night |
about 6 o'clock there was a low, rum
bling sound, followed by roar like a
cyclone, then three sharp and short re-
ports.
While awaiting the arrival of ap-
pliances necessary to enter the burning
mine, a temporary rescue party enter
ed the shaft and started toward the |
spot where it was thought some en-
tombed men may be found. About z
o'clock, VIM. McCune, the general sup
erintendent of this district; Dennis |
nj Hoc 80
Roy, foreman, and several other bosses
with about 20 men, went down shaft |
No. which is just opposite on the Bal
timore and Ohio side of the river.
About three hours after the rescue /
party had been in the mine, two more |
explosions We're heard. The explosion
occurred at the time when the shifts |
were changing from day to night turn |
and it is impossible to tell how many |
were in the mine at the time, but GER
tainly no less than 30 are entombed.
A FOURTH EXPLOSION.
West Newton, Pa, June 11.-Anotfer |
explosion occurred at the Port Royal
mine Of the Pittsburg Coal & Coke COM
pany shortly before noon and several
rescuers were dangerously injured |
Fire Inspector Callahan and Fire Boss
McFee were most dangerously hurt and
may die. All hope of getting any of
the II entombed men out alive has been
abandoned.
Gaining Strength.
Washington, June 11.-Mrs. McKin-
ley's physicians held brief consultation4
this forenoon after which the following