The Wichita daily eagle., 1901-06-13
DEATH LIST INCREASES
Dead Body Identified by Rag
Around Toe.
DANGER OF EARTHQUAKE
May Take Two Years TO Re-
cover Bodies.
DANGER OF EARTHQUAKE

west Newton, Pa, June 1z-Ihe oeatn
of Harvey Beveridge at the McKeesport
hospital last night brings to the total
number of fatalities Of Royal mine dis
aster to eighteen. The last rescueing
party entered the III 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 between Nos. 10 ana Il entries.
The body 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 apparently the body had met
the full force of the second explosion.
Another party win enter the mine short
ly. II was the intention TO have gone in
early this morning, but as General Sup
erintendent Schleuderberg was in Pitts
burg, It was decided to await his return.
There are still thirteen bodies in the
mine and several experienced miners
here from the Pandle district think they
will be rescued. Wba the exact condi-
tons are in the unexplored part of the
mine. is unknown. Tha. there is fire in
the opening Of many of the mines. but its
severity cannot be guessed at. The next
party TO enter the mine viii extend its
ventilation as far as possible and rid out
whatever gas can be reached. DR.. =. A
Wyne. coroner of West Moreland, arrived
last night to view the body OF John
PEBBLES at West Newton and the bodies
OF this place. He will not hold the In
quest until II Is known that the bodies in
fha nina carrrf he roroxrn--ed
There is some talk of ooding 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 viii have hard time
finding them.
The conference today showed that more
explosions are looked for and the danger
is even more than is known. AS soon as
the ocials 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. It was decided TO have
the crowd kept back aoout 300 feet from
the mouth of the shaft as the fire raging
below is expected TO light them as in
other workings at some time, and should
the crowd be around the mouth OF the
shaft when the explosion occurs, lives
may be lost. General Manager Schleu-
berger said that nothing more would be
done toward recovering the bodies Of the
men in the mine until the state mine in
spectors arrive. kilograms have been
sent to Johnstown, where the state mine
institute is being held and Chief Roder-
lex. of the Bureau Of Mines. and Inspec-
tors Blick, MoldsOi ard Callahan are ex-
pected mere, when 1t will be decidedly
definitely whether the mine viii be food
ed. The mine is rapidly filling with gas
and the muffied reports of explosions
can be heard every few minutes.
The ropes stretched keep the crowd
well back and warnings have been sent
out all around notifying the people that
heavy explosions IKE an earthquake may
occur at any time and the hoist blown
away and all movable property belong
ing to the company has been cleared
from the pit mouth.
Another explosion took place at the
Port Royal mine this afternoon at
o'clock IN No. 2 shaft It sent up a whirl-
wind. oil, dust and smoke and proved
that the gas is stin active in
the mine. 1t will probably be tomorrow
afternoon before the mine inspectors can
get together for the purpose Of deciding
as to the advisability OF making another
attempt to recover the dead in the mine
before flooding II. Coroner Wynne, OF
county, commenced an in
quiry into the cause OF the disaster at
this place this afternoon Only two wit
nesses were examined. The inquest VIII
probably occupy several days as the jury
which is composed Of well known busi-
ness men, seems determined 70 get at the
cause OF the disaster If it can be learned
from any living person.