The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-07-16
GREAT DISASTER.
Three Hundred Gen Perish in a
JohnstoWn Nine.
BEEN IN OPERATION 50 YEARS.
Cause of the Explosion Not EurWr.
bat Supposed to be the
CarcieSSneSS oiSoIAc
Miner.

appalling disaster last Thursday. 1t
is only less frightful than the awful
calamity Of May 81. 1899, in coSU OF
life. but in its terrible consequence it
has brought the shadow Of sorrow in
hundreds Of homes made deSolate By a
mine explosion. which took place in
the Cambria Steel Company Rolling
Mill mine. under WcStmont Hill, at
1920 o'clock Thursday afternoon.
How many are dead it may take
several days to ascertain. but that it
is a long and shocking list is certain.
1t may reach 200 or more men.
1t was nearly an hour after the eN-
plosiou before any general knowledge
of what had happened got abroad.
Men who came from the mines cScap-
ing 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 were frantic with grief.
Hundreds rushed to the point and,
with Sobbing hearts, awaited news
that did not come from the ill-fated
mine.
THE WORK OF RESCUE.
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 noNiouS gases were
coming. 1t was nearly o'clock when
all hope Of sending rescue parties from
the WeStmont opening was abandoned.
Two men who had escaped from the
mine, Richard Bennett and John
Meyers. went back two miles to see
what assistance could be rendered, but
the frightful damp drove them back
and they fell PROSTATE, and after a
desperate struggle reached the outside.
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 it clear that the rescue
work could not proceed from the West
mont opening, and then haSty prepa-
rations were made to begin that sad
mission at the Mill Creek entrance.
Soon after the news Of the explosion
reached the Cambria officials Mining
Engineer Marshal G. Moore and one
Of his assistants, Al. G. ProSser, made
az attempt to enter the mine. They
were followed by Mine Superintendent
George T. Robinson, but the grSeS
stopped their progress and they were
compelled to return to the surface.
REsCUERs OVERCOME By GAS.
Mine Foreman Harry Rodgers, his
assistant. William Blanch, and Fire
Bosses John Whitney, John RetallicE
and John Thomas were overcome by
the gases. and it is feared they perish
ed in an effort to rescue the miners.
A son of Harry Rodgers then tried to
reach his father, but he was quickly
overcome by gas and was carried out
unconscious.
William Stibich spent several hours
at the Mill Creek opening. He said
that he believed as many as $50 men
were still in the mine. In his opinion.
from all he could CLEAN, not to exceed
$50 had come out.
When the news of the explosion
reached the surface Marshal 6. Moore,
mining engineer, and one Of his as
sistants. \. G. ProSSer, promptly
made an attempt to enter the mine.
They were followed by Mine Superind-
ent George T. Robinson. After much
trouble they reached one Of the tele
phones located in the mine and com
municated with the Cambria general
office. They were unable to give any
details Of the effects OF the explosion,
but feared the loss Of life was large
and that the damage to the mine was
serious. Their progress was stopped
by the deadly gases and they stated
that an attempt would at once be
made to reach the scene Of the accl-
dent. which is known as the Mon
dixie" in the miners parlance. No en-
oce to the working portion OF the
...e can be effected from the main
entrance. Many Of the miners eScap'
ed at Mill Creek, shaft reaching the
mine near the power house at that
point.
MARROW ESCAPE OF AMERICANS.
About a score Of Americans. who
were at work in the klondike district
noticed the presence Of the fire damp
in their apartment soon after the eX
plosion occurred and started at once
for the main entrance. They were
almost overcome by the gas, but
reached the outside in safety. One OF
the men who got out safely said it wa:
not known what caused the explosion
and that it will probably never be
known. as he believed none OF the meI
AT work in the klOndike district car
be saved.
CARELESSSESS OF MINERS.
He also said that only a few days
ago the officials issued an order to the
EMPLOYEES in the mines not to play
with the gas, and that the next day
young Hungarian was seeil pushlns
his naked lamp along the roof OF the
mine in search of it. The mine fore
man. Harry Rodgers. his assistant
William Blanch, and Fire Bosses Johr
Whitney, John Thomas and JONI
Retallick were overcome by the case:
and perished in a heroic attempt t
rescue the miners. Mining engineer
Moore and George 7. Robinson. sup
erintendent, are at the head of1j
rescuing party from the FRANKLIN
Slone and Conemaugh Mine. They
are slowly working their way TOWARD
the scene of the explosion, but mus
fight the gas every step Of the way
Canvas screens are being used TO wal
all the side entrances and rooms 50 a
to force current Of pure air ahead 0
the rpscuers. Engineer A. q. ProSSer
who. with Mr.. Moore, entered tn
main opening, came the to surface a
Mill Creek Thursday and immeolatei