The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1901-08-16
Horrible Accident Happened In
Century coal Mine near Burn
ersviIle, Barbour County,
Monday Forenoon.
Died After Five Hours Torture
Remaining Conscious unto The
last breath-6rother and Priest
reachedhim before he died.
He was noble fellow.

Wllllam tIdHClbi VI llsOHuuIsf lS
ceived injuries in the Century coal
mine, near Burnersville, Barbour
county, "a miles from Clarksburg,
Monday from which he died the after
noon Of that day.
Mr.. Francis had been employed in
the mine several months and at the
time Of the fatal accident he was mine
boss. At l1:25 o'clock Monday fore
noon he took sticks of dynamite down
the shaft into the mine to distribute
for blasting purposes. He gave a stick
to Polander called Charles Miller and
proceeded farther into the mine. Mil
Ter arranged for the discharge In the
room and fred the fuse. In doing this
his lamp was blown out and he scram-
bled back as best he could in the dark
ness away foom the blast. He had no
match with which to re.lIght his lamp
and in his hurry to get away forgot to
give the usual admOnition. Francis
returned to the point to find all In
darkness and entered through cross
cut to the block Of coal Miller was to
blast, believing the explosion had oc-
CURED and that every thing was all
right and safe. AS fate had it the
cross cut he went through was not the
one the Polander had taken in his re-
treat and he did not, therefore, run
across him. Francis had no sooner en-
tered the room and walked up close to
the block of coal until the dynamite
exploded. The conclusion was fearful
and the blast shattered all the left leg
above the knee to pieces. The body
and face were much imbedded with
Jumps of coal and his lungs were filed
with mine dust. The shock was fearful
but did not render him unconscious,
strange TO say. he lay there quite a
while and cried for help In vain. Then
he dragged himself toward the open.
ing. The alarm was finally given and
he was taken from the mine at IL
O'Clock. The accident occurred at
about 11:4O o'clock.
The unfortunate man was carried
carefully and tenderly to the power
house and physicians were summoned
from Philippt and Peel Tree. DR.. j.
W. Ramsay, Of this place, also started
60 him at the instance Of his brother,
NJ. ]. Francis. The family at Will
senburg was Immediately notified and
M. j. Francis, Miss Della and Thomas
Jr., with Others started to the scene
at once. NJ j. Francis picked Ri Rev.
Daniel O'Connor up here. They drove
through the country and reached his
bedside half hour before he died.
Though suffering intense pain he
Gid not lose consciousness at any time
until death ended his suffering. AS
the brave man that he was he faced
death heroically and from the bottom
OF an ever generous heart asked that
no one be blamed for the accident but
himself. He calmly told his associates
and those about him how tie accident
occurred and directed the sort Of
treatment to be given him until the
physicians came. He remained per-
fectly rational to the last breath and
took the last sacramentS administered
by Rev. O'Connor. The physicians
upon their arrival soon aScertained
that they could do nothing except al
leyiate his suffering while life lasted.
His spirit took its fight about five
O'Clock that afternoon.
Stealey and Osborn undertakes with
a large delegation Of friends arrived
here at noon Tuesday with the body.
1t was taken home in the afternoon.
"wednesday morning one of the largest
funeral corteges in the history OF the
county accompanied the remains from
his late home to the Church Of I'm
maculate Conception here, where
Father O'Connor in the presence Of an
immense audience of relatives, friends
and acquaintances conducted funeral
services, the Knights of st, John, st.
nGaOrge's Commandry, of which he was
Emember, having charge OF the obse-
quies. Interment was made in Holy
Cross cemetery.
The deceased was a son Of Mr.. and
Mr. Thomas Francis, He was born
In 1858 near Wolf Summit. In early
life he engaged in coal mining. Later
sae became B. s. o station agent at
Wllsonburg under ]. w. Brown and
held the position capably and faith
fully a number OF years. He was also
member Of the firm Of Francis Bros.
merchants at Wilsonburg, He was OF
a genial disposition, liberal minded,
generous hearted, industrious, honest,
honorable, brave, and a true man IN