Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1902-05-29
How Men Faced Death.

INV Va N--N N-N~N
occurrences ever recorded is the story
of how the miners in the Fraterville
coal mine, near Knoxville, Tennessee,
met their death in the explosion that
happened there last week. The ex-
plosion partially wrecked the mine,
and 226 men and boys were either
killed at once or sutfocated few hours
later. The rescuing parties that en-
tered the mine as soon as possible
found only dead bodies.
The last find reported was that OF
thirteen bodies in an entry. Five OF
the men had written letters before life
became extinct. One Of these letters
gave the time of day it was written as
$50 o'clock Monday afternoon, thus
indicating that these, and perhaps
other, entombed men lived many
hours after the terrible explosion,
which occurred Monday morning
at 7.3O o'clock.
The letters gave general sugges-
ton of the suffering that was under
gone, indicating that the men were
gradually being strangled to death by
the foul, gaseous air that was filling
the mine. One piteously read; my
God, for another breath :"
Here are some of the farewell notes
found on the bodies taken from entry
No. Is:
We are shut upin the head OF the en-
try, with little air, and bad air COM
ing on us fast. 1t is now about Il
o'clock. Dear Ellen, l have to leave
vou in bad condition. Now, dear
wife, put your trust in the Lord to
help you and my little children. Ell
len, take care Of my little darling
Lilly. Little Elbert said that he had
trusted in the Lord. Charles Woods
saws that he is safe in heaven, and II
he never sees the outside again hewill
meet his mother in heaven. We are
not hurt, but only perishing for want
Of air. There are but few OF us
here, and don't know where the other
men are. Elbert, his son, said for
YOU all to meet him in heaven. Tell
all the children to meet with us both
Do the best you can with the chill
dren. We are praying for air to sup
port us, but it is getting bad How
ard, Ebert said for you to wear his
shoes and clothing. Ellen, / want
you to live right and come to heaven
Raise the children the best you can
Oh, how wish to be with you Good
by. Good-by. Bury me and Elbert
in the same grave. Ny little Eddie,
good-by Jimmy, good-byi goOd-by
Horace. II is 25 minutes after 2
There are a few of us alive yet. Oh
God, for one more breath Ellen, re,
member me as long as you live. Good
by, darling. ). L. VOWEL
Dear wife and Baby: want tc
90 back home and kiss the baby, but
can't, so good-by. | am going tc
heaven. Meet me there.
JAMES Brooks.
To Geo. HudSon'8 Wife: If | dom
see you any more, bury me with th'
clothing I have. Iwsnt you to meet
me in heaven. Good-by. Do as syor
wish. GEORGE HUDSON.
Dear Darling Mother and sister
I am going to heaven. want yor
all to meet me in heaven. Tell al
your friends to meet me there, anc
tell the church have gone 10 heaven
Tell my friends not to worry over me
for l am in sight Of heaven. Oh, dear
stay at home, or at your fathers, and
pay all debts, if possible, and bury me
at Pleasant Hill, if it suits you all
Bury me in black. It is now about
1.30 o'clock. Good-by, dear father
mother, brother and friends. have
not suffered much. Your boy, your
friend. JOHN EEsDoy.
These letters had been scribbled OF
odd pieces Of paper with stumps o.
lead pencils, and told a mute story O
tragedy that has revived the grief fell
in this community to keener degre'
than ever. The bodies were found
huddled behind a brsttice they haC
built with their own hands.
The letters were nearly all direc
tions to families as to what disposition
should be made of the writers bodies
and business affairs, and instruction.
as to rearing their children. One o
the victims, an orphan, addressed hii
letter TO Everybody" and pleaded
that they change their way Of living