Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-05-22
Coal Creek, Tenn, Scene Of the HOT-
rible Catastrophe.
ONLY ONE MAN LEFT TO TELL TALE
One of the Worst Disasters in History OF
Coal Mining-Men and Boys Caught in
a Death TPap-EXplOSiOn Caused
by Accumulation of GaS-Re-
lief Subscription Started
in Knoxville.

Coal CREEK, TENN, May 19--Ihs
worst disaster in the history of Tennessee
mining. occurred at 73O o'clock this
morning, when between 175 and 225 men
and boys met instant death at the Frater-
vile coal mine, two miles west Ofthis town
as a result of gas explosion.
Out of the large number of men and
BOYS who went to work this morning,
developments at 10 O'Clock tonight show
that only one is alive, and he is so badly
injured that he cannot live. This man
was William Morgan, an aged Engllshman-
who was road man in the mine, and was
blown out of the entrance by the force of
the explosion. One hundred and seventy
five miners we're checked in for work this
morning by the mine boss. In addition
to these, were boys who acted as helpers
and drivers, roadmen and Others to the
number of perhaps fifty.
Fraterville mine is the oldest mine In
the Coal Creek district, having been
opened in 1870. 1t is fully three miles
- from the mines opening to the point
where the men are at work. They had
not been at work long, before the terrible
explosion occurred There was a fearful
roar and then flames shot from the en-
trance and the air shafts.
The news of the disaster spread like
wild.fre, but as soon as possible, two
rescuing parties were started in, one at
the main entrance, the other through the
Thistle mine, which adjoins and in which
no men were at work. The Thistle party
were unable to make any headway, as the
gas stlled the workers. The Fraterville
party went fully two miles under the earth
until heavy fall Of slate was encountered.
At this barrier the men worked like
demons, hoping against hope that those
beyond might be safe The scenes at the
mouth of the mine while the workers were
within, were beyond description. Busi-
ness had been suspended in Coal Creek
and all its mines as soon as the news OF
the disaster became known, and men,
women and children gathered around the
Fraterville entrance. Women whose
husbands and sons were within, were wild
with grief Ali day long the rescuers
toiled at the slate obstruction and not
until o'clock this evening did they force
an entrance through it. Up to that hour
only five dead bodies had been recovered
and hope was still that many were still
safe. The hopes of the living were
doomed, however, ior when once the
rescuers could enter and proceeded they
walked through continuous tomb 'ol
death. There was not sign of life
Every man had perished, they believe
although it will be tomorrow morning be-
fore all the rooms can be entered.
Eight bodies we're first discovered, and
these were sent to Coal Creek. Twenty
six more we're soon found. They
were not disfgured beyond identification
and each corpse, as it was borne from th'
mouth of the gigantic tomb, was surroun
ded by eager crowds of relatives of the
men who were entombed. The mine was
not on fire except in remote portions, anC
all bodies perhaps may be reached before
daylight.