The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-07-15
AWFUL MINE HORROR
Hundreds Lose Their Lives in a
Pennsylvania Colliery.
Explosion Imprisons the Men in the
Bowels of the Enrth-Deadly
Coal Gns flinders the
Work of Rescuers.

Johnstown, Pa, July 11.-An explo-
sion of fire damp in the Rolling Mill
coal mine of the Cambria steel COM
pany, under West Mont hill, just after
noon Thursday brought death or in
jury to a great number of the 600
miners at work. Conservative esti-
mates place the number of dead at
175, the mine officers admit that over
100 men are entombed in the mines,
while some miners declare at least
400 persons are still buried. The scene
of the accident is known as the ''Klon-
dixie" Late at night less than 200 of
the 600 workers are known to have
escaped. At midnight General Manager
Price told Mayor Hendry IS bodies are
in sight.
Cause of Explosion Unknown.
About score of American min
.ers who were at work in the Klon-
dixie district noticed the presence of
tire damp in their apartment soon
after the explosion occurred, and
started at once for the main en-
trance. They were almost over
come by the deadly gas, but reached
the outside world in safety One of
the men who got out safely said it
is not known what caused the ex-
plosion, and that it will probably
never be known, as he believed none
of the men at work in the Klondike
district can be saved.
Rescuers Meet Death.
Mine Foreman Harry Rodgers, his
assistant, William Blanch, and Fire
Bosses John Whitney, John Retail
lie and John Thomas were overcome
by the gases and persisted in a he
role attempt TO rescue the fated
miners.
Mining Engineer Moore and George
Il. Robinson, superintendent, are at
the head of a rescuing party from
the Franklin slope and Conemaugh
mine. They are slowly working
their way toward the scene of the
explosion, but must fight the dead
ly gases every step of the way.
Miners Reach the Surface.
Several miners have reached the
surface who We're working near the
scene of the explosion. They say that
they passed through portion of the
Klondike district and saw the bodies
of at least so men. The men who came
out were foreigners and were in such
an excited condition that it was inn
possible to get connected story from
them.
Say 800 Got Out.
Two miners who came out of the
mine at the Mill Creek opening esti-
mate about 800 of the 600 men at work
in the Cambria drift got out at that
opening. They think the other 300
still there and probably dead
Condition Frightful.
The few survivors describe the con-
dition as frightful. Outside of the
Klondike the mines are safe and I'M
injured. Within the fatal Limits of the
mine the havoc wrought by the ex-
plosion is such as beggars description.
Solid walls of masonry three feet
through We're torn down as if barriers
of paper. The roofs of the mine were
demolished and not a door remains
standing.
Pathetic Scenes.
1t was nearly an hour after the ex-
plosion before any general knowl-
edge 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 wildfre 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.
Victims Brought Out.
Johnstown, Pa, July 11.-At 1920
Thursday night the first four victims
were brought to the surface from the
Klondike section. They were William
Robinson, who was unconscious when
found; John Retallic, alive and in pref
ty good shape, and two unknown
Slavs, both alive, but unconscious.
Entirely Unexpected.
Johnstown, Pa, July 11.-President
Powell Stackhouse was seen at the
mouth of the mine at midnight and
gave out the following statement:
1.-THE disaster is an unusual one and came
On us entirely unexpected. The mine had
been inspected only three days ago and
was pronounced in satisfactory condition.
The number of casualties is now placed at
lbs. No list of the names of the dead min
'ers can be given, for the majority of them
were foreigners and were known only by
check and not by name. The only way
their names will ever be known If the
bodies are not recovered in time for identi-
,fication will be by their families sending
their names to U.S..
Corn Acreage.
Washington, July 11.-Preliminary
returns to the statistician of the de-
no II mont of o.,.iol1 tl,ro ON tho anra-