Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-07-17
IN APPALLING DISASTER.
Terrific Explosion In the Cambria
Steel Co.'s Mine at Johns
town, Pa.
SEVERAL HUNDRED MINERS EETOMBED.
Heroic Efforts Made to Reach the Victims
The Few Survivors Who Escaped From
the Mine Describe the Conditions rs
FrightfuI-A Number of Miraculous Es-
capes.

town has again been visited by an ap-
palling disaster, only less frightful
than the awful calamity of May 81,
1889, in cost of life. A terrible ex-
plosion took place in the Cambria
Steel Co. rolling mill mine under
Westmont hill this afternoon, and
how many are dead it may take sew
eral days to fully determine. That it
is a long and shocking list is certain,
and it nay reach two hundred or
more men.
About six hundred men were at
work when the explosion occurred.
1t was nearly an hour after the ex-
plosion before any general knowledge
of what had happened got abroad.
Men who came from the mines told
the terrible news, and 500 it spread
like wildfire all over the city. In
scores of homes there were the most
pathetic scenes. Mothers, wives,
daughters, sons and relatives were
frantic with grief, and hundreds
rushed to the scene.
Heroic Efforts ut Rescue.
At the opening across the river
from the point, the Cambria Iron Co.
police, with several assistants stood
guard, permitting no one to enter the
mine, from which noxious gases were
coming. 1t was nearly four o'clock
when all hope of sending rescue par
ties from the Westmont opening was
abandoned. Two men who had es-
capped from the mine-Richard Ben
nett and John Meyers-went back
two miles to see what assistance
could be rendered, but the frightful
damp drove them back, and they fell
PROSTATE when they finally, after a
desperate struggle, reached the out
side. Two doctors gave them assist
ance, and after working with them
half an hour restored them. Their
story of the scenes in the mine made
it clear that the rescue work could
not proceed from the Westmont OPEN
ing, and then hasty preparations were
made to begin that sad mission at the
Mill creek entrance. Soon after the
news 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, but
the deadly gases stopped their prog
ress and they were compelled to re-
turn to the surface.
Mine Foreman Rodgers, his assist
ant, William Blanch, and Fire Bosses
John Whitney, John Retallick and
John Thomas, were overcome by the
gases, and it is feared they persisted
in an heroic effort to rescue the mi
ners, A 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 Stibich spent several hours
at the Mill Creek opening. He said
that he believed as many a $50 men
were still in the mine. 1t was his
opinion, from all he could CLEAN, that
not more than $50 men had come out,
Cause of Ii Explosion.
The mining officials of the Cambria
company stated the explosion was
one of fire damp. The few survivors
who have escaped from the depths OF
the mine describe the conditions tc
be frightful in their nature. Outside
of the Klondike the miners are safe
and uniniured. Within the fatal limits
of the mine the havoc wrought is such
as 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 a door remains
standing. In the face of these diff
culties even the most heroic efforts
towards rescue may well seem hope
less.
Some Miraculous Escapes.
The stories of the men who escaped
are miraculous. Tom Foster, an as
sistant foreman in the Klondike mine
was among the first to emerge from
the Mill creek shaft. Shortly aftel
Powell Griffith, a fire boss came up
Foster was in his office when the ex
plosion occurred. His first though
was for the safety of the men unde,
his charge. With the help of Foreman
Roberts an effort was made to replac
O few of the shattered doors. All tn,
while the fire damp was closin,
around them. Through galleries int
headings, warning and helping, tn
two men went. Roberts fell, but Eos
ter staggered on, whittier he hardl
knew. In the midst of the danger h
met Powell Griffith, a fire boss. II
had faced what seemed certai
death, in an effort to save his men.
Forward they went, dragging
comrade into a place of safety here
giving a word of warning there. unit
human endurance could stand tn
strain no longer. Exhausted the
staggered into a heading, where til
fire damp had not entered. Thel
they rested for a moment and the
plunged forWard-Where, they a
not know-until finally they wandere
into a water level and through
reached a place of safety.
John Whitney, who was beyond IL
dip where the explosion took plac
said: II was at the heading one-ha
mile from the explosion. Sever
dozen were overcome by the damp
gas, and ! had all ! could do to G
cape. 1t was terrible. After the e
plosion we went back, to rescue Il
less fortunate and nearly lost o.
own lives. We got n man and saw
his life. I did not see my father, wi
wal struggling ia get out. l dor
think many outside of the drivers {
capped"