West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-10-31
FATAL MINE EXPLOSION.
Five Miners Lose Their Lives In the
Tunnelton Mines.

TUNNELroN, w. VA, Oct 49,
The little town of Tunnelton was
the scence of terrific mine explos-
ION yesterday afternoon, in which
thirteen miners were very severely
burned, five of whom will not re-
cover.
Function is situated on the b. &
o. Railroad about twenty miles
east of Grafton, w. Va, at the
foot of the Allegheny Mountains.
1t is typical mining town. The
b. & .. runs through the heart of
the town. On each side are locat-
ed the stores and homes, while to
the right and left rise the first spurs
of the Allegheny Mountains.
These mountains are underlaid
with coal. There are numerous
mines in this section. In fact it is
the mining industry that gives char
acter and business to the place.
Without the mines there would be
no town.
Yesterday was peaceful and quiet.
An autumn sun ne'er shone on
fairer scene. Around about the high
ridges and rising mountain crests
of the Alleghenies, covered with
autumn verdure, now slightly tinged
with gold. The frame cottages and
houses were scenes of quiet endeav-
or of the miners family, waiting
for the husbands and fathers re-
turn. The few stores were almost
deserted of customers, save here
and there the lingering loafer, con
scientiously clinging to his store
box. A few others were sitting ON
the platform in the sun, now more
congenial than the shade, waiting
for the incoming train. Only here
and there could be heard the puff
of an engine hauling cars back and
forth, and ever and anon the rum
bling of farmers wagon.
Then without a moments warning
terrific explosion burst upon the
air. Everything was all confusion
in the little mountain town. From
house and store and office men and
women rushed forth in the direction
from whence the sound came. They
had not far to go. They were soon
at the mouth of the fated mine,
only to learn that a terrible acct
dent had happened. 1t twas learned
that the accident was caused by
overlooking a hole with powder,
causing dust from the electric mach
inc to ignite and explode it. How
many men were in the mine at the
time of the explosion has not been
yet learned. Rescue parties were
quickly organized who entered and
brought out the victims of the dis
aster. They were terribly burned.
The flesh hung in shreds from faces
hands and exposed parts of the
bodies. i was a heart-rending
sight to hear the cries Of wife and
children of the mutilated miners as
the latter were brought to the sur
face. The injured men were care
fully taken care of and carried to
their homes by tender and anxious
hands.
II is believed tha, FIVE Of the in
jured men will not recover, while
the other eight though seriously
hurt, may escape with their lives.
We publish the above article sim
ply because it makes interesting
reading and will even be enjoyed
BY the Five miners who lost their
lives in the terrible explosion" It
IS a splendid sample Of the enter.
prising newspaper fakir when he
tries himself and draws almost en-.
tifely On his imagination for facta.
There was a small explosion and
FIVE men did get their hands burned
rather badly and that was all there
was OF DO. We were there the next
morning after 'this terrible affair"
and nobody said anything about il
and we didn't even know oft ul
We got On Che train and got COPY
Of thc Cincinnati POST with blood
curdI.ng headlines about b. The
letter from Tunneiton DO this paper
that week save the facts and some
sensational correspondent DO Graf
ton or Fairmont most likely the
latter place, got hold Of The matter
and made a picturesque story Of it,
We recognize the ear marks all
right