Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1902-05-23
EXPLOSION IN A MINE
Terrible Disaster Occurs Near Coal
Creek, Tenn.
Gas Explodes in n Pit, killing Every
Man i'm the Minc-The Deaths
Are Estimated st from
1T5 to 225.

Coal Creek, Tenn, May 20. = The
worst disaster in the history of Ten
nessee mining occurred at 1880
o'clock Monday morning, when be-
tween 175 and 225 men and boys met
instant death at the Fraterville coal
mine, located two miles west of this
town, as a result of II gas explosion.
Out of the large number of men and
boys who went to work in the morn
ing, developments at midnight show
that only one is alive, and he is so
badly injured that he cannot live.
This man was William Morgan, an
aged Englishman, who was a road
man in the mine, and was blown out
of the entrance by the force of the
explosion. One hundred and seventy
five miners were checked in for work
Monday morning by the mine boss.
In addition to these, there were boys
who acted as helpers and drivers, and
road men and others to the number
of perhaps SO.
The Explosion.
Fraterville mine is the Oldest mine
in the Coal Creek district, having
been opened in 1870. 1t is fully three
mines from the mines opening to the
point where the men were at work.
They had not been at work long be-
fore the terrible explosion occGrred.
There was fearful roar, and then
flames shot from the entrance and
the air shafts. News of the disaster
spread like wildfire, but as soon as
order could be brought out of chaos,
two rescuing parties were started in,
one at the main entrance, the other
through Thistle mine, which adjoins,
and in which no men were at work.
The Thistle party was unable to
make any headway, as the gas stifled
the workers. The Fraterville party
went fully two miles under the earth,
until a heavy fall of slate was en-
countered. At this barrier men
worked like demons, hoping against
hope that those beyond might be
safe.
Sad scenes.
The scenes at the mouth of the
mine while the workers were within
are beyond description. Business had
been suspended in Coal Creek and all
its mines as soon as the news of the
disaster became circulated, and men,
women and children gathered around
the Fraterville entrance. Women
whose husbands and sons were with
in were wild with grief.
All Had Perished.
All day long the rescuers toiled at
the slate obstruction, and not until
five o'clock did they force an en-
trance through it. Up to that hour
only five dead bodies had been recov-
cred and hope was still high that
many within We're safe. The hopes of
the living were doomed, however, for
when once the rescuers could enter
and proceeded they walked along one
continuous tomb of death. There was
not a sign of life. Every man had
perished they believed, although il
will be several hours before all the
rooms can be entered.
Bodies Recovered.
Eight dead bodies were first re.
covered, and these were sent to Coal
Creek. Twenty-siX more were soon
found. They were not disfigured be,
yond identification, and each corpse
as it was borne from the mouth OF
the gigantic tomb was surrounded by
eager crowds of relatives of the mer
who were entombed. The mine was
not on fire except in remote por
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