The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-05-28
Nine More Diggers Terribly Burned,
Most of Them Fatally, and 9th
Less Seriously Injured.
RESULT OF AN EXPLOSION
NINE DUST IGNITED BY FLAME
FROM A DYNAMITE BLAST.
Nearly All the Victims Were Married
and Left Families-UsuaI Heart
rending Scenes.

DAYTON. Tenn. May 27.-At the Rich
land mine of the Dayton Coal and Iron
Company, two miles from Dayton, at 4:S(
o'clock this afternoon, a terrific explosion
of coal dust resulted in the death OF TWEEN
ty-one men. all white. and most of them
married and with families. Following is
the casualty list:
Dead-Tom Right. DOC" Smith. VIII
Thomas Walker. George Holmes, j. w.
Gothard, Terry Smith, Abe Gothard, Sam
uel Burwick. James Pickle, Wash Trasley.
Oscar Rogers. Lewis G.. Rogers. Lowry
Hawkins, J. +. Walker Perry Pope, Lige
Poole, Andy Medley. William Rose.
Injured-William Burchene sr., William
Burchene. jr., Robert Walker. Rev. +. M.
Cook, Rev. William Hale. Bart Hale. Ar
thur Decker. Ed Craig, j. I. Burwick.
The explosion was caused by what is
known among miners blown blast.
1t is the custom OF the miners to place
blasts and fire them off at quitting time
each afternoon. leaving the coal thus
thrown down to be loaded and hauled from
the mine the next morning. The Richland
mine is destitute of water and great vol
umes of fine particles Of coal dust. invisible
the mine. This dust is subject to explo-
sion If exposed TO flames. This afternoon
at 4:SO o'clock dynamite cartridge was
placed in position in one OF the rooms for
a blast and the miners started for the
mouth of the mine. The blast did not ex-
plode as intended. but instead a long flame
shot out of the blast hole and ignited the
accumulation of dust. Instantly a terrific
explosion occurred and a seething mass OF
fame shot to the mouth of the mine and
extended three hundred feet into the open
air, scorching the leaves from the nearby
trees
There were thirty-four men I'm the mine at
the time. -Four of these escaped with
slight injury. Twenty-one were killed and
nine were terribly burned. most OF them
fatally. The force of the explosion caused
great masses of coal and slate 10 cave i'm
from the roof of the mine and many OF the
fated miners were completely buried Word
quickly reached Dayton and rescue forces
were at once organized and proceeded 10
the mine. One by the blackened and
horribly dishgured bodies were taken from
the debris and carried 20 the mouth OF the
mine where they were put on a locomotive
and taken 10 Dayton. Scores OF relatives
and friends gathered at the mouth of the
mine and the shrieks OF anguish as the
bodies were removed were heartrending.
The two undertaking establishments at
Dayton were turned into morgues. where
the mangled bodies were dressed and pre-
pared for delivery TO their families. All
the men employed in this mine were resi-
dents of Dayton.
The Richland mine is the property OF the
Dayton Coal and Iron Company composed
of Glasgow capitalists The company op-
crates an iron furnace at Dayton and OPP
crates coal mines In connection Herewith.
Dec. %. 1895. a similar explosion occurred
in the Nelson mine. situated a few hum
dred feet from where to-day's explosion
occurred. in which twenty-eight miners
were instantly killed.