Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-07-17
OVER 100 PEOPLE KILLED IN A MINE.
Another Terrible Calamity Visits Johns
town, Pa, Costing Many Lives.

day broke through the pail of fog this
morning the grim details of the disaster
at the Rolling Mill mine of the Cam
bria Steel Co., yesterday afternoon,
dawned with renewed force on thou
sands waiting for authentic news as to
the extent of the explosion.
The first official statement of the
disaster was given The Associated Press
reporter by General Mine Superinten-
dent Robinson at Z o'clock this morn
ing. He said:
'As to the direct cause of the ex-
plosion, cannot exactly say. We know
there was an explosion of firedamp in
the sixth right heading of section of
the mine commonly known as the
klondike. So far as / can find out
now, there were not more than three
or four deaths from the explosion itself.
damp. Our mine officials, Foreman
Henry Rodgers, Fire Boss John Retail
lie, Machine Boss William Robinson,
VINO is my brother, and Slav, whose
name do not know, were back, eat
ing lunch, when the explosion occurred.
They Immediately went down to the
point of the explosion to put up the
slopings, in order to carry the air FIN
its proper channel again. These we're
blown down by the force of the ex-
plosion. They, with the exception of
the assistant foreman and one of the
bosses, were overcome by afterdamp.
They were found by rescuing party,
and the chances are that all will re-
cover, with the exception of my brother.
As to the rescue work, l directed it to
commence just as soon after the ex-
plosion as possible. We started in at /
p. M. We started working our way
down by putting up brattices, in order
to carry the air in with us. / suppose
it was 10 clock at night before we
came across the bodies of the living.
Drs. John Lowman and John Hannah
went down with US. They carried tanks
of oxygen with them, which were
emptied to good effect on the living
We found 20 dead on our way to the
four living. Twenty more we found
later on. They were scattered through
that section of the mine. Most of them
were on their way out when caught by
the fatal afterdamp. Mining Engineer
Nj. G. Moore and myself will organize
another searching party and go in at
o O'Clock this morning. There is damp
in the left heading, which will make
our progress toilsome. Part of the mine
is SO filled with afterdamp we cannot
get in until we turn the current Of
air in. -
The Rolling Mill mine had been
worked for about so years. Five or six
years ago the section where yesterdays
disaster occurred was opened. The
miners fancifully called it the Klon-
dixie. 1t is said that for the last three
years gas has been noticed in it, and
careful inspections were kept up. In
the last three years safety lamps had
been carried by the men.
Frank Sabot, one of the boys who
met death in heroic endeavor to save
his comrades, was safely out of the
mine after the explosion. He worked
in the mine ever since the Klondike
was opened tip He had trapped" in
the mine longer back than that. After
the explosion, he hastened into the
vault of death to do what be could to
close the traps and check the spread of
the afterdamp. He was found lying
near partly closed door leading off to
the left headings.
Outside of the property loss, this
catastrophe will cost the Cambria
Steel Goa large sum. The company has
for many years paid to the family of
ever person liitled in it's employ 81, 600,
outside of wna5 it expended for medi-
cal purposes, and it has paid every man
who has~lost IN eye or limb or became
otherwise partially disabled the sum Of
$500. 1t isunderstood that the rule will
not be deviated from.
Johnstown, Pa, July 12.-0ne hundred
and five persons are now dead from Thurs
days explosion at the Rolling Mill mine of
the Cambria steel Co. 1t is not probable
that this record will be sweled to any great
extent, and in no case is it expected the list
will exceed Ito or 115. The mine workings
we're thoroughly explored by rescuing party
during the night.
At 3 O'Clock this morning the charred and
mutilatad bodies of 15 victims were brought
to the Westmont pit mouth and taken to the
morgue. The bodies were found in the
upper end OF No. right heading, where the
explosion occurred. They, were all lying far
in from the point of the explosion, and
could not be reached until the heading had
been entirely cleared of the noxious gases
Three deaths occurred during the night at
the Cambria Hospital. These were among
the last living victims who were brought
out OF the mine yesterday afternoon in an
unconscious condition. Another of these is
in a serious condition.
II was learned at the pit mouth today from
mine officials that every heading and
chamber both to the right and left of the
main klondike heading was penetrated dur
ing the night, and that not trace of any
dead or living victims was found. 1t is ad-
mitted that some persons might have
crawlsd into obscure workings in their flight
from the afterdamp which followed the ex-
plosion, and these succumbed to the fatal
influence of the gas.
The party of rescuers which completed
the exploration of the mine went in at
O'Clock last evening and came out at
O'Clock this morning. In the crowd were
DIR. George Hay, DIR. Frank b. Stotler and
lOr. w. N. PriDplp. DIR. Huv mid tho hon1-
ings both to the right and left of The main
KlondiKe heading were practically free from
foul mir when they went in. Nothing i'm
peded the progress of the searchers. The
long search was rewarded when they reached
No. right heading. Far back in the head
ing the searchers came across the blackened
and charred bodies of Is men, This dis
coyery was made shortly after midnight
Mine Superintendent Robinson was at his
office early today. He said they would have
the mine ready for work next Monday. He
declared there has not been the slightest dam
ger from explosions since the one of Thurs
day. The mine, he admitted, especially the
section known as klondike. always con-
tanned gas. II did not exist in dangerous
quantities, he said; and to cause an explo-
sion, some one must have violated the rules
as to lights. Every precaution WAS taken to
guard against accident. He strongly COM
mended the Johnstown doctors for their
bravery, which saved the lives of dozen or
more men. when we made our first dash
into the mine," he said, I'VE were taking
our lives in our hands, as none knew what
was beyond in our course. The doctors came
on and followed our lead without the
slightest tremor.'
State Mine Inspector J.. T. Evans reached
the pit mouth at O'Clock this morning. 4
There he was joined by Chief Inspector
James h. Roderick, who came here last
night. Mr.. Roderiek said he had no inten-