The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-07-11
Loss of Life in
a Mine Explosion.
Continued from First Page.)

side world in safety. One of the men VINO
got out safely said it is not known what
caused the explosion and that II Wlii
probably never be known, as he belleVed
none of the men at work in the klon-
dixie district can be saved. He also sald
that only few days ago the officials IS
sued an order to the employees in the
mine not to play with the gas and the
very next day a young Hungarian was
seen pushing his naked lamp along the
roof of the mine in search OF IT, Inc
mine foreman. Harry Rodgers. his as
sistant, William Blanch, and flre nos9eo
John Whitney, John Retainer anu 'olll
Thomas were overcome by the gases anu
persisted in an heroic attempt 10 reScue
the fated miners. Engineer moore anu
George r. Robinson, superintendent are
the head of rescuing party from tue
Franklin slope, and Conemaugh mine
They are slowly working their way To-
ward the scene of the explosion Dut must
fight the deadly gases every step OF the
way Canvas screens are being used u
wall all the side entrances and rooms 50
as to force a direct current or pure an
ahead of the rescuers. Engineer "A u.
Prossen. who, with Mr.. Moore, entered
the mine at the main opening, came 10
The surface at Mill Greek and immediate
w set about securing men and material
ia aid in the rescue 1t will be absolutely
imnossible to state the loss of life until
tho rescuers reach the scene of the dis
oster. which may be several hours, pos
sibly midnight. Harry Rodgers, the
mine foreman; his assistant, William
Rlanch Fire Bosses John Whitney, John
Thomas and John Retallick were not IN
the Klondike when the explosion TOOK
place. but started down short time
later. 1t is feared all have persisted.
Griffith Powell and Thomas Foster, two
other fire bosses. carried Mr.. whitney
two hundred yards in the hope or saw
ing his life, when they were compelled
to drop their burden and save them
selves. Mr.. Whitney was unconscious
while being carried by his friends. Inc
fifteen-yea old son of Harry Rodgers,
when he heard that his father had been
overcome with after damp, started down
toward the Klondike to help rescue him
if possible. and he had no sooner en-
tered the drift when the deadly gas al
most overcame the lad and he had to
be carried back. His tongue protruded
it's whole length from his mouth and
men had to force his Jaws apart with
a stick to prevent lockiaw. Young
Rodgers, who is employed in the mine,
was among those who escaped through
the Mill Creek shaft.
Several miners have reached the sur
face who were working near the scene
of the explosion. They say that they
passed through a portion of the Klondike
district and saw the bodies of at least
fifty men.
The men who came out were foreigners
and were in such an excited condition
that it was impossible to get a connected
story from them. The mine has been
open for about fifty years and is pro-
ducing three thousand tons per day. 1t
is the property of the Cambria Steel
Company, general offices in the Arcade
building, Philadelphia.
The families of the entombed miners
are assembled in large numbers at the
mine opening, but they cannot secure
any definite information and must endure
q suspense of many hours