The Savannah morning news., 1902-07-11
APPALLING DISASTER
uIrNpREDS OF MINERS ENToMBED
AT JOHNsTOWN, PA.
DEATH LIST MAY EXCEED 200.
NIT FEW OF THE MISSING MEN
RESCUED.

Explosion in the "KlOndike" Sec
ton of Cambria steel COmpany's
westmont Hill Mine Entombs
Probably 500 or More Men, Only n
Few of Whom Have Been Rescued
AIive-Dead Men Seen in Mines in
Parties of 20 to 80. Where They
We're Caught by Fatal Gas-Mem-
hers of Miners Families BesieEe
the Mines Mouth and Beseech In
formation which No One Can Give
Them.
Johnstown, Pa, July 10.-Johnstown
mas again been visited by an appalling
disaster.
1t is only less frightful than the aw-
full calamity of May 81, 1889, in cost of
life but in it's terrible consequences 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 Westmont Hill at
1920 o'clock this afternoon.
How many are dead it may take sew
eral days to fully determine, but that
it is a long and shocking list is GER
tain. 1t may reach 200 or more men.
It was nearly an hour after the ex-
posion 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 wildfire all over
the city. In scores of homes there was
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 Inflated mine.
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. 1t was nearly 4 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 Mey-
ers, went back two miles to see what
assistance could be rendered. but the
frghtful damp drove them back, and
they fell PROSTATE, and after a deS-
perate struggle reached the outside.
The. doctors gave the men. assistance,
and after working with them half an
hour restored them.
Rescue Work Difficult.
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 prepar-
tn 0oip
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
an attempt to enter the mine. They
were followed by Mine Supt. George T.
Robinson, but the gas stopped their
progress and they were compelled to
return to the surface.
Mine Foreman Harry Rodgers, his
assistant, William Blanch, and Fire
Sosses John Whitney, John Retallick
and John Thomas were overcome by
the gases and it is feared they per-
lshed 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
al the Mill Creek opening. He said
mat he believed as many as $50 men
We're still in the mine. In his opinion,
from all he could CLEAN, not to exceed
l55 men had come out
When the news of the explosion
reached the surface Marshall G.. Moore,
inning engineer. and one of his as
slstants, A. G. Prosser, promptly made
an attempt to enter the mine. They
were followed by Mine Superintendent
George I. Robinson. After much trou-
pie they reached one of the telephones
tocated in the mine, and communicated
win the Cambria general office They
were unable to give any details of the
elects of the explosion, but feared the
loss OF life would be large, and that
uie damage to the mine was serious
ineIf progress was stopped by the
ueadly gases, and they stated that an
attempt would at once be made to
iieach the scene of the accident, which
Is known as the "Klondike" in the
miners parlance. No entrance to the
working portion of the mine can be
eiected from the main entry. Many
vi the miners escaped at Mill Creek,
d shaft reaching the mine near the
po"er house at that point.
Score Escaped.
about a score of American miners
VINO were at work in the Klondike dis
80 Houced the presence of the fire
utalhp in their apartment soon latter
one explosion occurred and started at
olIce for the main entrance They
we're almost overcome by the gas, but
+tsached the outside in safety. One of
sle men who got out safely said it is
~ known what caused the explosion
anu that it will probably never be
nno"n, as he believed none of the men
~ work in the Klondike district can
De saved.
Rescuers Perished.
he also said that only a few days
aso the officials issued an order to the
ttLlIployes in the mines not to play with
ne ne gas and that the next day young
ia9unsarlan was seen pushing his naked
.ainp along the roof of the mine in
search of it.
~, ne mine foreman, Harry Rodgers,
D. assistant, William Blanch, and Fire
Isses John Whitney, John Thomas and
I'm ih Retallick were overcome by the
"a and persisted in a heroic attempt
Ntlescue the miners. Mining Engineet
i1oore and George T. Robinson, super
intent are at the head of a rescuing
raiy from the Franklin Slope and
,ySoutgilnaugh mine. They are slowly
~ KING their way toward the scene of
EXPLOSION, but must fight the gas
a. step of the way. Canvas screens
~ rs being used to wall all the side en-