Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-06-12
THE HORRORS OF THE UNDER
GROUND FIRE PIT DESCRIBED
BY A SURVIVOR.


o. railroad. Body found lying in the
pasageway about one thousand feet
from the shaft. A wife, three sons
and II daughter survive.
Taylor Gunsa ulaus, ST., loader;
leaves widow and several children.
Fritz Kruger.
Those still entOmbed in the mine
and known for a certainty to be
dead:
VIM. +. Allison, assistant super
intendent of mines; leaves wife and
five children.
Dennis Wardley, foreman mine
No. i; wife and four children.
John keck. foreman Darr's mine;
leaves wife and several children.
Michael Roy, foreman Euclid
mines; leaves widow and small boy.
Bernard Ball; wife and two chill
dren.
Taylor Gunsaulus, Jr., son of man
taken from mine; leaves a wife.
Jerry DAILY; wife and children.
John Peoples; leaves wife.
John CnntO. machine boss Darr
mine.
samuel Hadley. assistant foreman
mine No. z; leaves wife and two chill
drcn.
Peter MarchandO, boss driver mine
No. 1; leaves wife and child.
John Sickle, pipeman. mine No.
3; leaves wife and three children
Injured:
Smith.
Harry Beveridge.
Robert McKenny. pit boss.
Charles NcCmfcry, superintendent
soaper mine.
Clarence settler.
Daniel McCuIlOuEh.
Thomas Gleason.
All are badly burned and bruised.
Harry Beverage and Arthur Smith
cannot live. Twelve of the dead were
men who went into the mine as rescu-
ers. What caused the explosion and
loss of life is something the mine oper-
atoIs' inspectors of the ninth and elev-
enth districts spent the greater part of
the day trying to find out.
The officials of the coal company de-
clare that none but regulation mine
lamps were used, while others are of
the opinion that one of the men care
lessly lit match.
The explosion was terrific, and for
fully three hours no one entered the
shaft.
When entrance was finally accom-
plished one of the surveyors succeeded
in traversing about two thousand feet
OF the shaft, where he found the four
men together and a., dead Efforts
were made to bring the bodies out, but
the fire damp was too much for the res
cuers.
The rescuers reported to Superin-
tendent William McCune that the men
were dead, and it would be folly to en-
ter the mine and risk human lives to
bring out dead bodies.
But Superintendent McCune asked
sponded five of whom again reached the
open air, while the balance were slow
ly smothered or roastd to OATH
The situation again reached a climax
when Mine Inspector Bernard Callahan,
accompanied by seven men, descended
the shaft. The men gave the signal to
be lowered down at 1904. and about an
hour afterward terrific report was
heard.
1t was another explosion and grave
fears were entertained for the party
The experience of the men was told by
Callahan. He said
After passing No. 2 shaft the air
became foul. About 1000 fet from No.
shaft we found evidences of the re-
peated explosions. The track was
strewn with broken coal and timbers.
In the darkness one of the men STUN
bled over the body of man who was
Immediately recognized as Supt. VIM.
McCune. His body was horribly crush
ed and mangled. Men were left to con-
proceeded. After going about $50 feet
further we came across another body
This proved to be Taylor Gunsaulus,
ST. Another detail was left to take
his body
THE air was now very foul and just
as we. had made up our minds to re-
treat we discovered a third body
I'VE heard a roar ahead and all in
stinctively started toward the shaft
Some dropped lamps and the lights
i. others went out and just as We were
in total darkness there was roar of
flame that threw us to the floor How
far it went none knew. because every
mar had his face buried in the debris.
Lying PROSTATE it singed my hair and