Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1902-01-26
IN MINE EXPLOSION
SCORE OF MEN PERISH
Many Burned and Mangled
Beyond Recognition.
ELEVEN SERIOUSLY INJURED

ELEVEN SERIOUSLY INJURED
Catastrophe Occurred In Shaft No. 2
of the Lost Creek Mining Company
In Iowa, and Was Worst Mine Dis.
aster In States History.
Lost Creek, Ia, Jan. 25.-Twenty
one dead bodies were today taken from
the improvised morgue in shaft No.
of the Lost Creek Coal Mining com.
pany of this place as the result of
the worst mine disaster experienced
in the history of Iowa. Some of the
bodies were terribly mangled and be-
yond recognition and could only be
identified by some trinket or some.
thing found in their pockets. The IL
injured are improving and no addition.
al deaths are anticipated
The explosion was what is known
as dust explosion. The miners had
just fired their usual noon shots, one
of which proved to be a f1zzle. The
burning powder ignited the gas and
the explosion followed Smoke and
debris were blown out of the shaft
200 feet high. Part of the top works
was torn away and the fans and cages
were partially wrecked. This made
the work of rescue very slow and it
was o'clock before volunteer parties
dared to venture into the east entry
where the explosion occurred. When
they fought their way in a horrible
sight greeted them. The dead and in
jured were terribly burned and mutt
lated, some of them almost beyond
recognition. Fire had broken out, and
this added terror to the spectacle The
flames were finally controlled and af
ter several of the rescue party had
succumbed to the fumes all the dead
were found and carried to the top of
the shaft.
List of Dead and Injured.
The following is a list of the dead
in the mine explosion at Lost Creek:
Mike Fox, Sr., aged 48.
Mike Fox, Jr., aged 21.
John Elder, aged 23
G. B. Crews, aged 81.
Russell tlsh aged 27.
Joe Berto, aged 80.
S. G. Creighton, negro, aged 28.
James Stovall, negro, aged 35.
Andrew Pash, aged 49,
Sam Humphrey, aged "a. %g
James Humphrey, aged 81. fs~
J. J. Humphrey, aged 80.
Daniel Fish, aged "a.
Dave Waitress, aged %.
Frank Gasperi, aged 35.
Alexander Gray, aged "a.
Jack Manneally, aged 20.
John Martin, aged 20.
George Benochan, aged 20.
Joe Gasperi, aged "a.
John Kaval, aged 32
Those most severely injured are: Ed
Swanson, Joseph Mabie, leg broken
and head hurt; John Jerlxin, Frank Sc
crees, of Eddyville, arm broken, burn.
ed; oliver Mabie, OIL Los Creek, arm
broken, burned; Charles Leaman, of
Lost Creek, leg broken burned; Ed
Swanson, of Eddyville, bruised and
burned; Jonas Mabie, Jr., of Lost
Creek, bad burns; William Harvey,
George Gogo and Harry Derrock.
Coroner Foohlinger, of Oskaloosa, is
today holding an inquest to determine
who is to blame for the disaster. The
trouble was caused by an explosion
of dust ignited by a shot too heavily
charged. 1t proved to be what miners
call a "screamer." The shot when ex.
pIoded instead of knocking down the
coal fired straight out into the room.
This kind of a shot causes much dust,
and the flames coming into contact
with the dust usually furnish an ex.
plosion.
Effect Was Terrific.
In the accident the effect was sim
ply terrific. The tracks were torn up
and the guides for the cages were
blown away. On this account they
could not be operated for three hours.
The fans were also damaged and could
not be used ventilate the mine inn
mediately, All the entry doors were
blown con- tely out and no system
of ventilatiC2 could be arranged until
the doors W. , replaced by volunteers,
and it was most certain death to go
into the mine.
AS soon as the cages could be op.
Grated volunteers speedily stepped for
ward. The first man to enter the mine
was Jap Timbrell, general superin-
tendent of the mine. He was eagerly
followed by many others, who took
their turns in going to the relief of
the victims. AS soon as the mine was
fully explored 20 dead bodies were
found.
Coroner Foehlinger, of Oskaloosa,
was on the ground and took charge of
the dead bodies. He caused them to
be taken to the company's store, about
a mile distant. Here an improvised
morgue was established and the bodies
were wrapped in blankets. The coro-
ner did not deem it advisable to ex.
pose them to the view of the crowd.
The Lost Creek mine, where the &C.
cident occurred, was about 10 miles
south and 1 mile east of Oskaloosa,
and miles northeast of Eddyville. 1t
is owned by the Lost Creek Coal com.
pany of which c. E. Laughlin, H. L.
Spencer, Jeff Timbrell, F. E. Green
and 0. S. Ellis are the chief stockhold.
ers. The shaft where the accident oc.
CURED is No. 2. and has been operated
about 19 months. 1t has been thought
perfectly safe. The ventilation is per-
feet, the only possible fault ever found
being that it was a little dusty at