The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-06-13
MORE EXPLOSIONS IN
PORT ROYAL MINES
Work of Recovering Bodies Of
Men Made Dangerous.
MAYTURN THE WATER IN
EFFORTS BEING MADE TO LEARN
CAUSE OF DISASTER.

West Newton, Pa, June 12.-The
death of Harry Beveridge at the Ne
Keesport hospital last night brings the
total number of fatalities of the Port
Royal mire disaster up to eighteen.
The last rescuiug party entered the i'll
fated mine shortly before midnight and
explored it for a distance of about 5000
feet. The dead body of David James
was found this morning and was iden-
titled by a rag tied around the little
toe Of the left foot. The flesh was
burned from the face in several places
and apparently the body had met
nearly the full force Of the second ex-
plOsiOn.
There have been five bodies recov-
cred since the first explosion. There
are still thirteen bodies in the mine
and several experienced miners from
the Panhandle district think that they
viii be recovered.
What the exact conditions are in the
uneGplOred part of the mine is not
known That there is, fire is the Opin-
ion of many, but its severity cannot
be even guessed at. The next party
to enter the mine will extend its ven
tilatiOn as far as possible and get out
whatever gas can be reached
There is some talk of flooding the
mine. today and if it be done the bodies
OF the men that are there viii not be
taken out for eighteen months at the
least. The conference of mine officials
today showed that more explosions are
looked fer.
AS soon as the officials left the Of
fee 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 It 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 some time, and
should the crowd be around the mouth
of the shaft when these explosions oc-
cur lives may be lost.
May Flood the Mine.
General Manager Schlenberg said
that nothing more would be done to-
ward recovering the bodies of the men
until the state mine inspector arrives.
kilograms have been sent to Johns
town. where the state mine institute
is being held, and Chief ROderick, of
the bureau Of mines, with Inspectors
Blick, MOldsen and Callahan are ex-
pected here tonight, when it will be
decided definitely whether the mine
Will be flooded The mine is rapidly
filling with gas and the mufled re
ports of explosions can be heard every
few minutes The rope stretched
across the mouth of the mine keeps the
crowd we'll back and notices have been
sent out that q heavy explosion like
an earthquake may occur at any time
and the hoist be blown away, and all
movable property belonging to the
company has been cleared from the
pit mouth.
Another explosion took place in the
Port Royal rdA1es at 4 o'clock this af-
ternoOn in No. shaft. 1t sent up a
whirlwind Of oil, dust and smoke and
proved conclusively that the gas is
still active in the mines. It will prob
ably be tomorrow afternoon before the
TOO
the purpose of deciding as to the ad-
visibility Of making another attempt
to recover the dead in the mine before
flooding it.
Coroner Holding Inquest.
Coroney Wynne of Westmoreland
county commenced an inquiry into the
cause Of the disaster at this place this
afternoon. Only two Witnesses Were
examined. The inquest viii probably
occupy several days, as the jury. which
IS composed of well known business
men, seems determined to get at the
cause or the disaster If it can be
learned from any living person.
The Rev. Father Carroll of Smith
ton says that some OF the men in the
burning mine are vet alive. and asked
tonight that he be permitted to lead
a relief party.
Il have four experienced miners
from the coke regions he said, 'who
viii go into the shaft with me. 7 viii
go ten yards ahead and will bring out
the men, dead or alive
Someone spoke of removing the
plugs in the river bed and letting the
water into the mine.
That would be wrong, said Father
Carroll, ''at least until the mine has
been closed seven days"
Father Carroll has offered a reward
of $1,000 to any party that will recover
the bodies in the mine or rescue the
entOmbed men alive. The mine au-
thOrfties have advised Father Carroll
against going into the mine