The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1902-07-17


Johnstown, Pa, July i0.--Johns-
town has again been visited by on ap-
paiiinR disaster, only less friRhtful
than the swful calamity of May 81,
1ss0. In cost Of life. A terrible cz-
ploslon took place Ia The Cambria
Steel Co. rolling mill mine under
Westmont hill this afternoon, and
how many ara dead it may take sew.
sral days 70 fully determine. That It
Is long and shocking list Is certain,
and IL may reach two hundred or
more men.
About six hundred men were OF
work when the explosion occurred.
II was nearly an hour after the TX.
plosion before any general knowledge
Of whU, had happened got abroad.
Men who came from the mines told
the terrible news, and soon IL spread
like wiidnre all over the city. In
scores Of homes there were the most
I pathetic scenes. Mothers, wives,
daughters, sonz and relatives were
frantic with grief, and hundreds
rushed 90 ihr scene.
usrsts Eaevtn at nesc0s.
AZ the opening across the river
from the point. the Cambria Iron Co.
police, with several assistants stood
guard, permitting no one 20 enter the
mine. from which noE.ous gases were
coming. Il was nearly four o'clock
when oil hcPc 81 sending rescue par.
ties from the Westmont opening was
abandoned. Two men who had es-
capped from the mine-Riehard Ben
nett and John Msyers-went back
two miles 20 see what assistance
could be rendered. but the friEhtful
damp drove them back, and they fell
PROSTATE when they finally. after q
desperate struggle, reached tho out
side. Two doctors gave them assist
ancr, and after working with them
half an hour restored them. Their
story Of the scenes IN the mine made
not proceed from the Wcstmont open
ing. then hHaty preparations were
made 60 begin that sad mission at the
Mill creek entrance. Soon after the
nrws Of the explosion reached the
Cambria officials, Mining Engineer
Moore and one Of his assistants, a. c.
Prosser, made an attempt to enter
the mine. They were followed by
Mine Superintendent Robinson. hut
the deadly gases stopped their prog
ress and they were compelled 20 re-
turn In tho surface.
Mine Foreman Rodgers, his assist
ant. William Blanch, and Fire BOSSES
John Whitney, John Retallicl and
John Thomas, were overcome by the
gases, and II IS feared they persisted
in an heroic effort 10 rescue the mi
ners. 4 son Of Harry Rodgers then
tried to reach his father, but he was
quickly overcome by the deadly gases
and was carried out unconscious.
William stiblch spent several hours
at the Mil Greek opening. He said
that he believed ns many as $50 men
were still in the mine. It was hts
opinion, from all he could CLEAN. that
not more than $50 men had come out.
Czuss Of the EHpIosiea.
The mining officials of the Cambria
company stated the explosion was
one Of fire damp. The few survivors
who have escaped from the depths 81
the mine describe the conditions 10
be friRhtful In their nature. Outside
of the klCndike the miners are safe
and uninjurcd. Within the fatal limits
Of the mine the havoc wrought is such
ss beggars description Solid walls
of masonry three feet through were
torn down as though barriers Of pa
per The roofs of the mine were de.
molished, and not door remains
standing In the face of these difi.
cuities even the most heroic efforts
towards rescue may well seem hope
less.
ssHs hirsewI@us EseapeN.
The stories of the men who escaped
ere miraculous. Tom Foster. an as
sisfant foreman in the Klondike mine,
was among the first 10 emerge from
the Mill creek shaft. shortly after
Powell Griffith. FIRE boss eRmc up.
Foster was in his Office when the ex.
pioslon occurred His FIRST though.
was for the safety Of the men under
his charge. With the help Of Foreman
Roberts an effort was made to replace
= few Of the shattered doors. an the
while the fire damp was closing
around them. Through galleries into
headings. warning and helping, the
two men went. Roberts fell, but Fos-
ter staggered on. whittier he hardly
knew. In the midst Of the danger he
met Powell Griiiith, Are boss. He
had faced what seemed certain
5eath, in an effort TO save his men.
Forward they went. dragging o
eomrade into a place Of safety here,
giving 8 word Of warning there, until
human endurance could stand the
strain no longer. Exhausted they
staggered into heading, where the
fire damp had not entered. There
they rested for moment and then
plunged forwArsi--whcre, they did
NOT know-uuiii finally they wandered
into water level and through 81
raaeAsd a rlacs Of safety.
John Whitney. who was beyond the
dip where the explosion look pace.
sai6: II was at thr heading one-haif
Haiis from the explosion. arwrrss
d0xra were overcome by sar damp or
gas. and ! had aIi could do 10 co.
rape. n was terrible. After the en-.
plussan we went hack 20 rescue the
IeHn fprtnnate nnd nearly lost onrl
evsn lives. We got une nan and saved
his life. did not ser my father who
was struggling 20 get out. ! don't
think many outside az the drivers ca.
eaped.s
G@sstns out fAe fssee.
sehnst5wn. Pa. Juiy iu.--At 1880
IL arsf foas victims were hrought
"a tbs surface frem The Klondills sec
tloxs