The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-07-15
ExTENTscF The MINE CATASTRO-
PHE CAN NOT BE GRASPED
over A HUNDRED DEAD
Number Of Bodies SO Far Recovered
Is 112-ProbabIy Only a Few 9th
ers Still misunderstanding VIII
paratiOns for the Funerals and
the Question-Many Lofter About.


YOUNGSTOWN, Pa, July 12.-The extent
of the horrible catastrophe of the Roll
ing Mill mine of the Cambria Steel
Company, is not capable Of being grasp
ed Early tonight in spite of conflict
ing reports as to the number of dead,
a careful and complete compilation by
the Associated Press shows that 112 is
the exact number Of bodies taken from
the mine. Up to s o'clock this evening
108 had been recovered and at o'clock
four more were brought to the surface.
To this future explorations Of the
mine corridors may add a few, but it
cannot be many.
Almost all the employees who could
have eeen in the mine at the time Of the
ife-wrecking explosion of Thursday
are accounted for. Very few inquiries
for missing have been presented the
authorities or to the mine officials and
this better than anything demonstrates
the impossiblity of many bodies still re-
manning in the death tomb.
The mine officials say there is no use
attempting to estimate the number Of
dead. They say they simply do not
know and urge the futility Of placing
the matter on the basis of guess work.
They express the belief, however, that
all. or almost all, are out of the mine.
General Superintendent Robinson came
out about o'clock this afternoon after
an arduous days exploration He eX-
pressed his conviction that not more
than five dead bodies would be added
to the 112 already found. Sunday will
dawn upon the populous city Of Johns
town prepared to devote its attention to
mourning and funeral obsequies- The
inaugural of this grim programme was
given today wfrer mIfe tlfdsa <ss<sso1o
Of interments took place. AS late as
o'clock this evening funeral professions
with bands playing dirges and uniform
ed escorts at their heads passed
through the streets of the city.
While time is pressing on the under
takers to take care of all of the funer-
ais. tomorrow's mournful programme
will not start especially early. Many
are trying to defer the last sad rites
until afternoon.
Early today a general belief settled
over the community and those officially
associated with the disaster, that the
end Of gruesome developments were
about searched. This did not deter the
coiners of street rumors, who actively
piled their avocation and caused numer-
Gus wild goose chases.
After the bringing of the fifteen bod
les to the morgue at an early hour it
was commonly rumored that mine Off
cials were endeavoring to hide the truth
as to the extent of the disaster.
The developments of the day showed
that these suspicious were unwarranted-
At o'clock in the morning there was
an important consultation in the offices
the foot Of the runaway from the West
mount entry.
1t was participated in by Mine Super
intendent G. T. Robinson, chief mine
inspector James E. Roderick, state Mine
Inspector T. T. Evans, Mine Engineer
M. G. Moore, assistant mine engineer,
A. G. Prosser. A large map Of the mine
was examined and explained to Chief
Roderick. Many of the employees of
the mine, including diggers, trap bays,
mechanics and others were called in
and quizzed. The inquiry was designed
to give Chief Inspector Roderick pre-
liminary impression of the status of
things.
Inspector Evans said later as TO fu-
ture Investigations:
Those Of the companie officials who
were in the mine at the time Of the ex-
plosion and have survived their injur-
les, will be called on to testify. Until
these men are able to be present at the
inquiry and testify it will be useless to
try to do anything. The Cambria Steel
Company has the right to make the
best presentation Of the case possible
and these are the ones who can best
speak Of the situation in which the
company Is concerned"
Asked as to whose duty it was to take
| care Of the accumulation of gas in the
| mine. Mr.. Evans said:
"The fire boss, Of course, but two or
| three Of the fire bosses were killed by
the explosion and in the presence OF
death we must be altogether charitable
and suspend Judgment"
After the consultation at the Office.
Evans, Robinson and Moore were in the
mine all the afternoon. examining the
damage wrought and the possible hid
ing place. Of more dead bodies. Pryins
about In the foruth right heading in
the Klondike. State Inspector Evans
came across rooms 1s and 20 distributed
between which were the bodies of tht