The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1902-07-16

III.
Men who came from the mines, escap-
ing with their lives. told the terrible
news and soon It spread like wild fire
J. 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 So0bing hearts, awaited news
that did not come from the ill-rated
, mine. 8
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 nOXious gases were
coming. 1t was nearly i o'clock when
all hope OF sending rescue parties from
Dhe 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 frlghtful 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 i'm the
mine made it clear that the rescue
work could not proceed from the West
mont opening, and then haS6y piepa-
fations We're 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.. ProSsert made
an attempt to enter the mine They
were followed by Mine Superintendent
GeGrge T. Robinson, but Ihe grses
Stopped rriei.rr-49 -49r0gresS ;s11d they were
compelled to return 70 the surface.
REsCUERs OVERCOME BY GAS.
Mine Foreman Harry Rodgers, his
assistant, William Blanch. and Fire
Bosses John Whitney, John Retallick
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 G.. Moore.
mining engineer, and one of his as
siStants, A. G.. ProSSer, promptly
made an attempt to enter the mine.
They were followed by Mine Superind-
ent George II. Robinson After much
trouble they reached one of the tclc
phones located III 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 bc
made to reach the scene of the acci-
dent, which is known aS the "Klon-
dixie" in the miners parlancc. No en-
trance to the working portion of the
mine can he effected from the main
entrance. Many of the miners eScap-
ed at Mill Greek, a shaft reaching the
mine near the power house at that
point.
MARROW ESCAPE OF AMERICANS.
About a score Of Americans, who
were at work i'm the NlOndike district,
noticed the presence of the fire damp
in their apartment soon after the cX-
ploSiOn occurred and started at once
for the main entrance. They were
almost overcome by the gas, but