The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-11

to rescue the miners. son of Harry Rod
gers 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 $50 men were still in the mine.
In his opinion, from all he could CLEAN, not
to exceed $50 men had come out.
When word OF the accident reached the
surface Messrs. Marshall G. Moore min
ing engineer, and one of his assistants, A
G. Prosser, promptly made an attempt to
enter the mine. They were followed in
short time by Mine Superintendent George
| T. Robinson. After much trouble they
| reached one of the telephones located in
| the mine and communicated with the Cam
| bria general office. They were unable to
give any details of the effects of the ex-
! plosion, but feared the loss of life would
| be large. Their progress was stopped by
/ the deadly gases and they stated that an
attempt would be made at once to reach
the scene of the accident. which is known
| as the 'Klondike," in the miners parlance
| No entrance to the working portion of the
mine can be effected from the main entry.
| Many of the miners escaped at Mill creek, a
| shaft reaching the mine the power
house at that point 1t Is feared that the
| loss of life Is large, and the damage to
the mine must he serious.
About a score of American miners who
were at work in the Klondike district no.
ticed the presence of the fire damp in their
| apartment soon after the explosion oc-
| Cured and started at once for the main
| entrance. They were almost overcome by
| the deadly gas, but reached the outside
| world in safety. One of the men who got
| out said it is not known what caused the
explosion and that probably it never will be
| known, as he believed none of the men at
work in the Klondke district can be saved
| He also said that only few days ago the
| officials issued order TO the employees in
the mine not to play with the gas. and that
| the very next day a young Hungarian was
seen pushing a naked lamp along the roof
| of the mine in search of it.
NARROW ESCAPES.
Mine Foreman Harry Rodgers, his as
sistant, William Blanch, and Fire Bosses
John Whitney, John Retallick and John
| Thomas were overcome by the gases and
| perished in an heroic attempt to rescue the
| fated miners. Mining Engineer Moore and
| Superintendent T. Robinson are al the head
! of a rescuing party from the Franklin
slope and Conemaugh mine. They are
| slowly working their way along toward the
| scene of the explosion, but must fight the
deadly gases every step Of the way. Can
| vas screens are being used to wall side en-
| frances and rooms so as 70 force a direct
| current of pure air ahead of the rescuers.
Engineer A. c. Prosser. who. with Mr..
Moore entered the mine at the main open
| ing came to the surface at MILF creek and
| Immediately set about securing men and
| material TO attempt the rescue. Ii will be
| absolutely impossible to state the loss of
| life until the rescuers reach the scene of
/ the disaster, which will not be sooner than
| midnight. Harry Rodgers. the mine fore
man, his assistant. W. \. Blanch. with
| Fire Bosses John Whitney, John Thomas
| and John Retallick. were not i'm the Klon-
dixie when the explosion took place, but
| started down a short time later. II Is
| feared all have perished. Griffith Powell
| and Thomas Foster. two other fire bosses
carried Mr.. Whitney 200 yards i'm the hope
| of saving his life when they were COM
PEELED 10 drop their burden and save them
selves. Mr.. Whitney was unconscious while
! being carried. The fifteen-year-old son of
! Harry Rodgers when he heard that his
| father had been overcome with afterdamp,
| started down toward the Klondike TO help
rescue him If possible, and he had no
sooner entered the drift when the deadly
| gas almost overCame him and he had TO
/ be carried back. His tongue protruded its
| whole length from his mouth and men had
! TO force his jaws apart with stick 10 pre-
vent iockjaw. Young Rodgers. who is en-
| ployed in the mine. was among those who
| escaped through the Mill creek shaft.
| Several miners have reached the surface
| who were working near the scene of the
| explosion They say that they passed
through a portion of the Klondike district
| and saw the bodies of at least fifty men,
| The men who came out were foreigners
| and were In such an excited condition that
| II was impossible TO get a connected story
| from them.