The Van Buren press., 1902-05-24
another SAD CALAMITY.
Death Dealing Explosion In the Fra
terville Coal Mine at Coal
Creek, Tenn.
225 MEN AND BOYS LOSE THEIR LIVES.
Prompt. But Unavailing Efforts to Rescue
the Entombed Men-When Entrance
Was Effected Through an Adjoining
Mine 1t Was Found That Every One Had
Perished.

Coal Creek, Tenn, May 2o.-The
worst disaster in the history of Ten
nessee mining occurred at 1880
o'clock yesterday morning, when be-
tween 175 and 225 men and boys met
instant death at the Fraterville coal
mine, located two miles west of this
town. A gas explosion was the cause
Of the disaster.
Out of the large number of men
and boys who went to work yesterday
morning, only one is alive, and he is
so badly injured that he can not live.
This man is William Morgan, an aged
Englishman, who was a road man in
the mine. He was blown out of the
entrance by the force of the explo-
sion.
One hundred and seventy-fve mi
ners were checked in for work yes
terday morning by the mine boss. In
addition to these there were boys
who acted as helpers and drivers and
roadmen, and others to the number
of perhaps fifty.
Fraterville mine in the oldest mine
in the Coal Creek district, having
been opened in 1870. 1t is fully three
miles from the opening of the mine
to the point where the men were at
work. They had not been at work
long before the terrible explosion &C.
Cured. There was fearful roar and
then flames shot from the entrance
and the air shafts.
As soon as order could be brought
out of chaos, two rescuing parties
were started in, one at the main en-
trance, the other through Thistle
mine, which adjoins and in which no
men were at work. The Thistle par
ty was unable to make any Roadway
as the gas stihed the workers.
The Fraterville party went fully
two miles under the earth until q
heavy fall OF slate was encountered.
At this barrier men worked like de-
mons, hoping against hope, that
those beyond might be safe, ...
The news of the disaster spread
quickly, and the scenes at the mouth
Of the mine, while the workers were
within were beyond description. Bust.
ness was suspended in Coal Creek and
all its mines as soon as the news be.
came known, and women and chill.
dren gathered around the Frater-
vile entrance. Women whose hus-
bands and sons were within were
wild with grief. .,..,sN~si
All day long the rescuers toiled at
the slate obstruction, and not until
five o'clock did they force an en-.
trance through It, Up to that hour
only five dead bodies had been recov.
cred, and hope was still high that
many within were safe. The hopes OF
the living were doomed, however, for
when once the rescuers could enter
and proceeded they walked along one
continuous tomb Of death. There was
not sign Of life. Every man had
persisted
Eight dead bodies were first recov-
cred, and these were sent TO Coal
Creek. Twenty-slx were soon found.
They were not dis6gured beyond
Identification, and each corpse az IL
was borne from the mouth OF the
great tomb was surrounded by eager
crowds OF relatives of the men VIII
had been stricken down. The mir
was not on fire, except in reno
portions, and all bodies will, perhaps
be reached and recovered.
The Fratcrvlllc mine IL owned by
the Coal Creek Coal Co., OF which
Maj, 7. c, Camp Ia president, lie was
In Cincinnati, but hurried TO the
scene Of the disaster.
In 1901, after inspecting Fraterville
mine, state Commissioners Of Labor
II, A. Shlhctt reported that the ven.
tilntion was not up TO requirements;
that the furnace was inadequate TO
ycntilate the mine, and that the dir.
ways were chokcd In places.