Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-11-28
ANOTHER TERRIBLE
Mine DISASTER
POcahantas the Scene Of Another
Appalling Calamity.
THIS Time THERE ARE EIGHT VICTIMS
Superintendent Walter O'Malley, and
Seven Other Prominent Men
Suffocated by Foul
Air.
BODIES RECOVERED ON SUNDAY

On Saturday morning the shocking came to azeweH
that another ghu calamity had occurred at the PoCahohS
mines in which eight valuable lives were lost
The party was composed Walter OMaley superintendent
Of the Pocahonas Coieries Company; Cardwe general
manager of the Shamon Coal and Coke Company at MayDeu
VIM Preece mine inspector Of the southern district OF west
Virginia. Hurst chief coal inspector tor CaStne Cuan ana
Bullt Robt E. L. ST. Clair W. Morris ST. Clair VIM Odham
assistant for Casner Curran Bu and Frazier
G. Bell, mining engineer
From what we are told they the mine to investigate
its condition and test the air. About hour after they entered
thew reached telephone No. D. (or caed and from
that point attempted communicate with the outside 1t seems
that persons at telephone could not understand what
thev said After failing themselves understood the party
moved on and the the outside telephone could near ne
walking away from the telephone in the mine
Later in the day the party did not return, and nothing
more was heard from hem friends the outside became
seriously alarmed party six was organized with
desperate hope might be reached and saved h
rescung party penetrated the mines distance about eight nun
red feet when of them overcome with ou air ana e
narv beat hastv retreat 1t with difficulty that the men
affected v the able reach the entrance OF the
mine All day Saturday until late at night party of forty
brave men, under leadership of H. Rees chief OF the Poca
honta Department. and Chief Mine Engineer VIM Deato
continued to the determined efforts to reach the lost
men, but every time they made attempt to enter the mine they
were forced back by gases At time Saturday night
they succeeded reaching point feet from the main en-
trance to the where the noxou fumes made them SO weak
that they struggled back the main entrance with great ocu
It was then realized that impossible to reach the en-
ombed men by the main entrance and it was determined
to make an reach them through the Tug River entrance
Following this sugeson early Sunday party went across the
mountain the Tug River entrance whCh SIX miles distant 0
the main entrance
Immediately on arriving the party entered the
mine and proceeding about quarter OF mile found the
bodv of Alex Hurst chief coal inspector for Castner Curan
Bul There clasped tightly his hand piece of paper
and pencil and hongh he was trying his last conscious
moments to dying message his wife and children
After going distance further the body Coal Inspector
Oldham was found and distance further they found the
BODY of Bell the young mining engineer The bodies
of these three the left OF the entry ndica-
ting that they bewdered that they lost their
The next body discovered was of W. Preece Of Coal
dale State Mine Inspector Virginia He lying with
his face downward
After going little farther the man sit
ting bolt upright dscoveredthat Superintendent
lev On his lap spread of the West mne ndlca
ting that scanning perhaps with view OF finding
his way out
The next bodies discovered those of Manager J.
Carde of the Shamon Coal and Coke Company and Coal In
specto W. Morris ST. Clair They lying breast to breast
and locked in each others arms.
The next and last body found that of Coal Inspector Rob
ert E. L. Clair BY his side empty match box and the
charred ends Of the matches it had contained
s thought the had become confused by the fou
gases that thev turned to left in blind passage they had
turned to the right they would perhaps have reached within soc
feet pure air and gained the Tug River entrance The bodies
were brought the mountain in wagons to Pocahonta
reaching that place o'clock Sunday afternoon
Mr. Walter OMalley succeeded William Lang about two
~ 400 &C superintendent of the Southwest Virginia Improve
ment Company and was capable and popular man. Ills
home was at GAINESVILLE Ohio where his remains taker
d buried Yesterday He left wife but children.
6 Hurst chief mine inspector for Casner, Curran