The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1901-11-30
WENT TO THEIR DEATH.
Eight Mining Experts Meet Death In
Baby Mine Their Bodies
Recovered.

Bluefield, w. Va, Nov. 25.-The deat
bodies of the lost party of eight we'll
known mining men who entered West
mine of the Pocahontas Galleries Co.
on Friday morning last at II o'clock,
were recovered at 12:45 o'clock yes
terday. At seven o'clock yesterday
morning rescuing party numbering
10 persons entered the mine en-
trance, batticing the mine as they
went in order to improve the circula.
ton of air They had reached dis
lance of three thousand five hundred
feet from the entrance when they
encountered such quantities of white
damp that it was impossible to pro-
coed further.
Retracirs their steps they decided
to make another attempt from the
Tug river entrance, six miles across
the Flat Top mountain. They went
into this entrance about 10: 80 o'clock,
and after going distance of some
six hundred feet, found the dead
bodies of A. S. Hurst, chief inspector,
Bob Oldham, subcontractor, and Fra
zier G. Bell, mining engineer, all
huddled together. From their posi-
tons they must have met death sud
denly and without pain. All of them
were lying face down with no signs Of
a struggle. Hurst had made pillow
of his coat on which his head rested.
The bodies of the other five men
of the party, Superintendent of
Mines Walter O'Malley; Joseph Card
well, Superintendent of the Shamoliin
Coke and Coal Co.; Il. E. st, Clair,
second assistant inspector; State Mine
Inspector Price, and Maurice ST. Clair,
sub-inspector, were found several hum
bred feet back in the mine, three of
the bodies lying some little distance
apart. Bob st. Clair and Joseph Card
well were lying with arms clasped
around each other, cold in death. The
bodies of O'Malley, Maurice st. Clair
and Price were dscolored and bruised
about the face, showing signs of a
struggle, it being very plain to see
they made a desperate attempt at re.
tracing their steps to better air, but
already had advanced too far into
from which the deadly white damp
has accumulated in great quantities
1t is said by members of the res
cuing party that Hurst, Bell and Cd.
ham would hardly have lost their
lives but for the fact that they lost
their way, entering the Baby mine,
from which the deadly damp had ac.
eumulated in great quantities.
The bodies were brought down from
the mines in four wagons bedded with
straw and covered with snow which
had been coming down all day, reach
ing the Pocahontas wholesale grocery
house situated in the rear Of the un.
lon station, about n. M, where they
were prepared for burial. The bodies,
which were very much swollen and
had been attacked by mine rats, pre-.
sent grewsome spectacle.
The fire is still burning in Baby
mine, and the mine officials seem at
loss to understand how it will be
finally extinguished. The only way,
il is believed, is by flooding. This
will be an enormous undertaking, as
the mine is drift mine. Mine cx.
pcrts claim there is great danger OF
explosions by flooding the mine, rs
when water comes in contact with tho
fire, the generation of gas will be
so great as to possibly blow away the
whole side of the mountain.