The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-11
Noxious Cases Overcome All
Who Attempt to Enter.
DEATH LIST WILL BE LONG ONE
Two Men Who Escaped Went Back
Two Miles in Attempt to Render
Assistance, ard Nearly Lost
Their Lives-Son, Who At,
tempted Rescue Of His
Father, Overcome.

AsScc1ateG
JOHNSTOWN. PA, July 16-Johns-
town has again been visited by an ap-
palins disaster.
1t is only less frightful than the awful
calamity of May 81. 1889, in cost of life.
out in its terrible consequences it has
brought the shadow of sorrow in hun
leds of homes made desolate by a mine
explosion. which took place in the Cam
hr1a Steel Company rolling mill mine
under W-estmont Hill. at 1920 O'Clock
this afternoon.
How many are dead it may take sew
eral days to fully determine, but that it
is long and shocking list is certain. It
may reach 900 or more men.
1t was nearly an hour after the ex-
plcsion before any general knowledge
OF what had happened got abroad Men
who came from the mines. escaping with
their lives. told the terrible news. and
soon it spread like wild fire all over the
city. In scores of homes there were the
most pathetic scenes Mothers wives.
daughters. sons and relatives We're
frantic with grief. Hundreds rushed TO
the point, and with sobbing hearts awaited
news that did not come from the i'll
fated mine.
IMPOSSIBLE TO ENTER.
At the opening across the river from
the point, the Cambria Iron Company
police. with several assistants. stood
guard permitting no one TO enter the
mine from which noxious gases were
coming It was nearly o'clock when
all hope of sending rescue parties from
the westmont opening was abandoned.
Two men who had escaped from the
r.ine-Richard Bennett and John Meyers
went back two miles to see what as
sis,ance could be rendered, but the
friehtful damp drove them back and
they fell PROSTATE and after desperate
ci -
The doctors gave the men assistance
and after working with them half an
hour restored them. Their story of the
situation in the mine made 1t clear that
The rescue work could not proceed from
the Westmont opening. and then hasty
preparations were made TO begin that
rad mission at the Mill Creek entrance
coo, after the news of the explosion
,eache6 the Cambria officials. Mining
r,rineer Marlal G. Moore and one Of
7,;s assistants. Al. @. Prosser. made an
.,,enant to enter the mine. IheY were
followed by Mine Superintendent George
=, pohinson. hut the deadly gases stop
ned their progress. and they We're COM
nelIed to return TO the surface.
FEARED THEY PER1SHEp.
Nine Foreman Harry Rodgers. his as
s..-anr William Blanch. and Fire Bosses
~, Whitney. John Retallick and John
-b,r7as were overcome by the gases. anu
g is feared they perished in an heFoic
,rort to rescue the miners A son OF
Harry Rodgers then tried TO reach ms
father. but ne was quickly overcome by
,,,e deadly gas and was carried cut IN
conscious.
William Stihich spent several hours at
+he Mill Creek opening. He said that he
t,lj.ved as many 45n men were still
.n the mine. In his opinion from all he
could CLEAN. not to exceed $50 men had
come out
When the news Of the explosion rea ched
,,e surface. Marshal c. Moore. mining
o,-.roer and one of his assistants. a.
q Prosser. promptly made an attempt to
c,,c- the mine. They were followed in
short time by Mine Superintendent Geo
IT Robinson After much trouble they
,-eoches one of the telephones located in
-. -,i,a and communicated with the
c.,.hria general offices. They were una
,Ia 10 give any details of the effects Of
+5e EXPLOSION. but feared the loss OF lie
pouI5 be large. The damage 10 the mine
,nrst Re serious Their progress was
storred by the deadly gases, and they
ffsted that an attemp; would al once ne
,radc to leach the scene OF the accloen'-
v,r,cr is Known as tho "1>1ondike In the
.ar,,,np nortion Of The mine can be ef-
fec.ed from the main entry. Many ci the
r-iaers escaped at Mill Creek, shalt
-cachirg the mine near Inc pn"ti-i!o]<,e
al that point.
MAY NEVER BE KNOWN.
Hrout score OF American miners who
n.rc At work in the Klondike district
n,t;ced the presence OF the fire damp IN
their apartment soon after the explosion
occurred and started at once Tor the
mir entrance They We're almost over
cor,,e by the deadly gas. hut reached the
c,aside world in safety. One of the men
r.fo got out safely said it is net known
,ohat caused the explosion. and that it
Nill probably never be known, as he be
l'-ved none of the men at work in the
I'~ndike district can be saved He also
sal that only few days ago the off
cials ssred an order 10 the employees of
t'o mine not to PLAY with the gas. and
that the very next day a young iunsa-
r'9n was seen pushing his naked lamr
along the roof Of The mine in search Of
f.
RESCUE WORK
Mining Engineer Moore and George T.
Robinson. superintendent. are at thc head
Of rescuing party from the Franklin
Slope and Conemaueh Mine. They are
slowly working their way 1~ward the
scene of the explosion. but must fight the
deadly gas every step Of the way. Can
vas screens are being used TO wall all
the side entrances and rooms so as to
'trce a direct current of pure air ahead
of the rescucrs. Engineer A. G. prr.sser
@.iio, with Mr.. Moore. entered the mine al
the main opening, came TO the surface nj
Mill Creek and Immediately set ahort se
curing men and material TO aid in tho
rescue.
It Will be absolutely impossible to state
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