The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-07-15
VERY GREAT LOSS OF LIFE
Long and Shocking List of Dead.
Explosion Occurs and Wrecks
Mine-Impossible to Rescue the
Entombed Men on of the
NOxious Classes - Will Probably
Never be Known What Caused the
Explosion - Notwithstanding Scene
at the Mouth of the Mine.

disaster.
1t is only less frightful than the aw- |
full calamity of May 81, 1889, in cost of
life, but in its terrible it
has brought the shadow of sorrow in
hundreds of homes made d~esolate by a
mine exposition which took place in
the Cambria Steel Company rolling
mill mine, under Westmont Hill at
1920 o'clock this afternoon.
How many are dead it may take sew
eral days to fully determine, but that it
is a long and shocking list is certain.
1t may reach 200 or more men.
1t was nearly an hour after the ex-
plosion before N general knowledge
Of had happened got abroad. Men
who came from the mines, escaping
with their lives. told the terrible news,
and soon it spread like wild fire all
over the city. In scores Of homes there
was the most pathetic scenes. Mothers,
wives, daughters, sons and relatives
were frantic with grief. Hundreds
rushed to the point and with sobbing
hearts awaited news that did not come
from the Inflated mine.
AT the opening across the river from
the point, the Cambria Iron Company
i pollIc, Will SeNSIdi dSSlSIdllS, SlOOO
guard permitting no one to enter the
mine from which noXiouS gases were
| coming. 1t was nearly 4 o'clock when
all hope of sending rescue parties from
| the Westmont opening was abandoned.
Two men who a escaped from the
mine, Richard Bennett and John
| Meyers, went back two miles to see
what assistance could be rendered, but
the ~frightful damp drove them back
and they fell PROSTATE and after a des-
perate struggle, reached the outside.
The doctors gave the men assistance
and after working with them half an
hour restored them.
Their story of the situation in the
mine made it clear that the rescue
work could not proceed from the West
mont opening and then hasty prepara-
tions were made to begin that sad mis-
sion at the Hill Creek entrance. Soon
after the news of the explosion reach
ed the Cambria officials, mining en-
gineers Marshal G. Moore and one of
his assistants, AL. G. Prosser, made an
attempt to enter the mine. They were
followed by the mine Superintendent
George T. Robinson, but the gases stop
| ped their progress and they were COM
PEELED to return 20 the surface
Mine Foreman Harry Rodgers, his
assistant William Blanch and Fire
Bosses John Whitney, John Retallick
/ and John Thoma were overcome by
the gases n it is feared they persisted
in an effort to rescue the miners. A
son Of Harry Rodgers then tried to
reach his father, but he was quickly
overcome by gas and was carried out
unconscious. William S. Tibich spent
several hours at the mill creek opening.
He said that he believed as many as
$50 men were still. in the mine. In his
opinion from all he could CLEAN, not to
exceed $50 men had come out.
h the news of the explosion
reached the surface Marshal G. Moore,
mining engineer and one of his assis-
tants, A. G. Prosser, promptly made an
attempt to enter the mine. They were
followed by Mine superintendent T.
Robinson. After much trouble, they
reached one of the telephones located
in the mine n communicated with
the Cambria general office. They were
unable to give any details of the eff
fectS Of the explosion, but feared the
loss of life would be large and that the
damage to the mine was serious. Their
progress was stopped by the deadly
gases and they stated that an attempt
would at once be made to reach the
scene of the accident, which is known
as the "Klondike," in the miners par
lance. No entrance to the working
portion of the mine al be effected
by the main entry. Many of the min
ers escaped at Mill Creek. a shaft
reaching the mine near the power
house at that point.
About a score of American miners
who were at work in the Klondike dis
trict noticed the presence of the fire
damp in their apartment soon after the
exposition occurred and started at
once for the main entrance. They We're
almost overcome by the gas, but reach
ed the outside in safety. One of the
men who got out safely said it is not
4 u-hnt nc ~ --l
that it will probably never be known,
as he believed none of the men at work
in the klondike district can be saved.
He also said that only a few days
& the officials issued an order to the
employees in the mines not to play
with the gas, and hat the next day
a young Hungarian was seen pushing
his naked lamp along the roof Of the
mine in search of it. The mine fore
man, Harry Rodgers, his assistant,
William Blanch. and Fire Bosses John
Whitney, John Thomas and John Re
tall1ck were overcome by the gases and
persisted in a heroic attempt to rescue
the miners. Mining Engineer Moore
and George 7. Robinson, s~uperinten-
dent are at the head of a rescuing-
party from the Franklin Slope and
Conenaught mine. They are slowly
working their way toward the scene of
the explosion, but must fight the gas
10y "dy. NdlFdS ScTeti4S
are being used to wall all the side en-
trance and rooms so as to force a cur
rent OF pure air ahead Of the rescurers
Engineer A. G. Fosser, who with Mr..
Moore entered the mine at the main
opening, came to the surface at Mil
Greek INC Immediately set about Sc
curing men and material to assist in
the rescue. 1t will be absolutely i'm
possible to state the loss Of life until
the rescuers reach the scene of the dis
aster, which may be several hours,
possibly midnight.
Harry Rodgers, the miner foreman.
his assistant, William d. Blanch, with
Fire Bosses John Whitney, John Re-
tallick and John Thomas, were not in
III when the explosion took
place, but started down a short time
later. 1t is feared all have persisted.
Griffith Powell and Thomas Foster,
| two other fro hosSoS carried Mr. Whit