Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-05-22
One of the Worst Disas-
ters on Record at Coal
Creek. EntOfnbed
Men Left Letters

-
KNOXVILLE, Tenn May 19-The stan
correspondent of The Knoxville Sentinel.
who IS ar Coal Creek, Tenn, wires MS
paper as follows;
A terrible disaster occurred near this
place this morning at 7.SO O'Clock. when
perhaps 300 men were killed in the Frater-
vile coal mine. two miles west OF the
town
superintendent George Camp states that
he is positive one hundred and sixty
men, were in the mine and there may nave
been from $50 toi300.
This he cannot determine until after an
investigation is made. Out of that NUM-
Der only five have been recovered.
Soon after the explosion a party was
organized and started in the hope OF res
cuing part of the men at least. The party
was, however unable to go more than 800
yards on account of slate having fallen IN
the main corridor. and on account Of stiff
ling smoke and gas and very excessive
heat.
The latter indicates that the mine is
burning.
It is three miles from the mouth of the
mine to the point where the men We're at
work, and this distance would have to be
traversed to get to them.
Probably upheavals of earth, coal and
slate will have TO be excavated in order
to reach the objective point,
Experienced miners say that even If the
! entombed men are alive they will more
than likely die from the effects Of the
: fire damp before they can be rescued.
I However, the disaster was so appalling
| that 1t is feared they are already dead.
Women Are Frantic.
The scene at the entrance to Fraterville
mine is heartrending.
Fully 10000 women and children are as
sembled there, many Of them undoubtedly
! having been made husbandless and father
less by the horrible catastrophe of few
hours ago.
They are mad in their grief. and APP
pealingly beg friends to go into the prob
ably burning furnace and rescue their
loved ones, If rescue is possible.
| Many Of these women and children are
| in want. and a massmeeting has been
called to be held here tonight at which
time leading citizens will take steps to
relieve the needy. 1t may be that the out
side world will be asked to help.
It was at first reported that an explosion
also occurred IN Thistle mine which adj
| joins Fraterville mine almost on the oppo-
site side OF the mountain.
Thistle NINE has it is stated, practical
| ~ been abandoned and II IS understood
10 have been the intention Of the Coal
L Creek Coal company. who owns the prop
| erty, TO abandon Fratervflle at an early
/ date on account of It having been worked
| continuously for over 80 years.
No men were at work in Thistle mine.
thus confning the disaster 10 FraterVille,
/ as far as casualties are concerned.
! superintendent George Camp was asked
1 for an official statement for publication
| Beyond the figures given above and the
/ opinion that the explosion was probably
| caused from gas igniting, he had nothing
| to say. He viii probably issue state
ment later. giving the name Of all the
i men who were known to be in the mine.
/ At 1890 o'clock a man was taken out OF
i the Fraterville mine. He was an unrec-
/ ognizable mass of flesh.
| A special to The Sentinel says:
Two rescuing parties were started into
| the Thistle and Fraterville mine entran-
ces as soon as possible after the explo-
| sion.
/ The Thistle party was unable to make
/ any Roadway whatsoever, as the gas
1 stified the men almost as soon as they
/ entered the shaft.
! The Fraterville party went as far as
! the Parting Of the Ways" into the mine,
where a heavy fall OF slate was encoun-
| tered.
This has cut off any further progress
/ into the mine until the slate obstacle can
4 be removed. The intense heat indicates
| that the mine is on fire.
At II o'clock there was no longer any
question but that the Thistle miners suffo-
Gated in the disaster.