The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-24
BRAVE MEN MET
DEATH IN MINE
(Ccntinued from First Psge.)

over the field were notified, and it was de-
cftled to hold q consultation a special
train brought them to Pc2ahontas. 1t
was decided to take the fresh air with
them," or in other words. to braddice
every opening and keep the fans forcing
air along the passage made safe in THIS
manner. Mine Engineer Deaton and II.
J. Reese, with a force of forty men, We're
engaged in this work all day, and sue
ceeded in going in Il considerable dis
lance. AS far as this work is finished,
the air is good. but beyond it. where only
a few ventured Il short distance, it is
very bad. 1t is the intention TO continue
this work until the bodies are found.
This morning a, searching r.lrty went
in. but could so only a. short distance.
All of the coal opera tors have sent as
many men as they can to aid the COM
pany in rescuing the men and retaining
the mine. II is said that the fire is prac-
tically out, and for that reason the fans
were started early Friday morning.
MANY THEORIES.
There are a good many theories an
ncunced as to how the men met death,
but the most plausible is that the fans
forced the foul air the same way the
party was going, and that they could
not outrun the current, ard all persisted
Had they been advancing and got into
the deadly air, some of the party would
have escaped Before going into the
mine they had decided TO walk single
file, about forty feet apart. Is they did
this and a current OF foul air was en-
countercd. only one, possibly two, would
have been overcome and would. in all
probability have been rescued by the
others. This had happened several times
during the past week, when one or more
were overcome
EXPERIENCE MEN.
Messrs O Malley. Cardwell and Preece
We're experts OH mine gases. From youth
they had been brought up in the bust
hess All had been fire bosses in u dam
Earous mine in PocaEontas. Mr.. Alaliey
had also had much experience Ill the
Ohio and West Virginia fields. All We're
men of good judgment. The others of
the party were also men of much expert
ence and fine judgment. and it IS Il rea-
sonabie conclusion that - moving cur
rent of gas being forced before the fans
caused the fearful accident
Mr. OMalley had been superintendent
of the Pocahontas Colliery Company
since the retirement Of VIM. Lang some
two years ago. He leaves a wife, but
no children.
A S Hurst, chief mine inspector for
Cashier Curreu and Bullitt. has been in
the field for many years and has been
mine boss. coal inspector and chief in
sy3ectcr. He leaves a vie and five Chill
dren who live at Salem, Va He made
his headquarters in Bluetield. W. Va
Robt. r. l.. st. Clair lived on Mercer
Street, in Bluefield. Ite had been a
miner. but was employed as coal in
spcctor lie leaves a wife and seven chill
dren
His brother. w. Morris ST: Clair, was
also a coal inspector. He was married
last NAV and leaves besides his wife,
several children by a former marriage.
He lives at Pocahontas. These young
! men were natives of Tazewel county
and belonged to the we'll known family
OF the name.
w J. Preece had been employed at
| every kind of work done about and in a
nine. He had been coal inspector, fire
| boss. coke yard boss and was serving
| his second term as State mine Inspector.
| He lived at CoaldaIe, and leaves a wife
| and one son.
Frazier Bell was son of r. III. Bell
| of Stanton. Va, and q nephew of 81
| M. Bell. of Branwell. He was employed
| as civil engineer by the Flat Top Land
Association He was unmarried
VIM Ordhana lives at Pocahontas and
| was unmarried. He lost two brothers IT
| the mine explosion in 1854. lie was al
| the time OF his death coal INSPECTOR, bu'
| had been a miner and had held other po'
| sitions there.
! of the Sllamokin Coal and Coke Com
/ posted miners in the field He come:
/ from Pennsylvania. IIe leaves wife
i and several children. who are at presen
on n visit to Shamokin Pa