Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1902-05-21
225 MEN KILLED.
Most Appalling Disaster in History OF Ten
nessee Mining Occurs at Coal Creek.

Coal Creek, Tonn., May 10.-The worst
disaster in the history of Tennessee min
ing occurred at 7.30 o'clock this morning
when between 175 and 225 mon and boys
met instant death at the Fraterville coal
mine, located 2 miles west of town, as a
result of a gas explosion.
Out of the largo number of mon and
boys who went to work this morning,
Developments at 10 clock tonight show
that only one is alive and he is so badly
injured that he cannot live. This man
was William Morgan, an aged English
man, who was n roadman in the mine
and was blown out of the entrance by
the force of the explosion.
One hundred and seventy-tive miners
by the mine boss. In addition to these
there were boys who acted as helpers,
drivers, roadmen and others to the num-
Der of perhaps fifty.
Fraterville mine is the oldest mine in
the Coal Creek district, having been
opened in 1870. 1t is fully three miles
from the mine opening to the point
not been at work long before the terri
bic explosion occurred. There was a
fearful roar and then flames shot from
the entrance and the airshafts. Two
searching parties were started in, one at
tho main entrance, the other through
Thistle mine, which adjoins, and in
which no men were at work The This
tie party was unable to make any head
way, as the gas stfled the workers. The
under the earth until heavy fall of
slate was encountered. At this barrier
men worked like demons, hoping against
hope that those beyond might be safe.
The scenes at the mouth of the mine
while the workers were within are be-
yond description. Men, women and
children gathered around the Frater-
and sons were within, were wild with
grief.
All day long the rescuers toiled at the
slate obstruction, and not until o'clock
did they force an entrance through it.
Up to that hour only five dead bodies
had been recovered and hope was still
high that many within were safe. This
hope was doomed, however, for when
once the rescuers could enter and pro-
ceed, they walked along one continu-
Gus tomb of death. There was not a
sign of life. Every soul had perished,
they believed although it will be early
in the morning before all the rooms can
be entered.
Eight dead bodies were first recovered,
and these were sent to Coal Creek.
Twenty-six more were soon gathered.
They were not disfigured beyond identi-
fication, and each corpse, as it was borne
from the mouth of that gigantic tomb,
was soon surrounded by eager crowds of
relatives of men who were entombed.
The mine was not on fire except in re-
mote portions, and all bodies will per-
haps be reached before daylight.
NOT ENOUGH AIR.
In 1901, after inspecting Fraterville
mine, State Commissioner of Labor III.
A. Shifett reported that the ventilation
was not up to requirements, that the fur
mace was inadequate to ventilate the mine
and that air-ways were choked in places.
He found that 1874 men were at work on
the day of his visit, requiring by statute
1920 cubic feet of air per minute. The
volume of air entering the mine was only
5000 cubic feet per minute. The com
parry had recently installed big 18-foot
fan for keeping the mine ventilated, and
this was considered amply sufficient