The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-12
Days Gruesomc Details.

JOIINSTOWN. Pa. July 1l-This has
been day of heroic rescues at the Inflated
Rolling Mill mine OF the Cambria Steel
Company. Thrilling experiences attended
the efforts Of the forty brave and daring
fellows who went down into the bowels of
the earth with a very faint hope to spur
them that still they might be in time TO
restore TO life some OF those who en-
tombed Death lurked everywhere around
them, but. undaunted they surged for
ward. swayed with the nObest Of human
purposes The reward of their efforts was
the saving of the lives of fourteen Of their
fellow-men and bringing them back again
into the sunlight and back TO living fam
lilies.
Dead and manned bodies were located.
but no effort made to bring them out
OF the vast theater OF death until every
human energy was put forward toward
seeing that living soul might escape
their aid. That done. the dead were at
tended 10 and put in tram cars. brought up
and exposed to morbid gaze while being
transferred to wagons in which to be taken
TO the morgue.
Eighty-seven dead bodies were recovered
from the mine between daylight and night
fall. Still a party of officials and miners
battled on three miles inside the mine. Oc-
casionally word would come to the surface
by some mysterious means that another
heap of remains had been exposed to the
vision of the searchers. There remain dan
gerous headings in the F<londke section OF
the mine yet to be explored. No one knows
how many more dead will be found there.
The mine officials refrain from guess work
on the subject. The impression prevails
among the outsiders and certain employees
of the mine that 80 is low estimate OF the
casualty list
Fated JOhnstOwp spent the day horror
stricken. From dawn 10 dusk flying am
balances coursed the streets bearing grew
some burdens from mine to morgue from
morgue to homes. Great throngs serged
about the pit mouth, at the improyised
morgue. at the armory and about the
stricken homes Of the dead. Bulletin boards
were eagerly scanned for news from the
scene of the disaster. Exaggerated rumors
of all kind prevailed. One report gained
circulation that disaster had overtaken the
rescuing party which entered the mine
soon after . O'clock This proved one of
the entertaining yarns that had it's origin
among the crowd at the pit mouth. Re-
turning rescuers substantiated the details
or the report by officials.
FEARFUL WORK
IL i difficult to picture with any degree
approaching its fun worth the work Of res
cue and the attending scenes and incidents
OF the day at the center OF interest-how
brave men went into the jaws OF death IN
its most horrible form. encountered their
fellows transformed into raving maniacs by
hours Of waiting in the pitch darkness OF
the earths interior lifted them moaning
from their beds Of fallen rock. and then.
bending and crawling or all-fourS, CARRYING
them a quarter OF a mile underground 10
where cars could be reached TO take them
outside.
Alons in the early part OF the afternoon
cheering words came from the innermost
recesses OF the mine that life Yet fingered
In some OF the bodies found. The reSCilers
made first for No. & left heading which
they had been unable TO reach the night
before. Desolatc even for the scene of a
mine interior the aiding that
stretched out before them. Falls of roof
almost choked UP the heading but through
and over the debris the brave men pushed
their way. Iu the front young Patrick Mar
tin. his brother Peter. Philip White and
several cousins OF the Martins made their
way.
Suddenly in an open space they were
startled by the maniac laugh which eman-
ated from blackened form that rushed AT
them out OF the darkness. The man grasped
q pick handle and tried IN his frenzy. to
beat down his rescuers He was over
powered and dragged back 10 the main
heading 10 the cars. Thirteen other living
men were found at this chamber and phvsl-
clans were quickly taken TO the spot
At p. IN. the train OF mine ears came 10
the pit mouth. where waiting ambuIancas
stood Eight men were lifted over the sides
OF the cars. and. half carried. wendsd their
way 10 the ambulances They were ali