The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-05-22
Disaster Wipes Out Almost En-.
tire Working Force in Ten
nessee Coal Nine.
SOLE SURVIVOR IS DYING
Two Hundred Men Entombed Three
Miles From Thousands Left
IN Distress.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn, May 90
Miners to the number of between
175 and 225 were entombed yes
terday morning oy ali explosion
in the Fraterville shaft at Coal
Creek, Tenn, and almost certain
ly have been killed. Thirty-four
bodies so far have been taken
from the works.
Three miles of subterranean
passages, filled with fire, deadly
gasses and fallen slate, lie be-
tween the remainder of the un-
fortunate workmen and the outer
world, making any attempt at
rescue almost impossible.
Gathered about the pits mouth
are over a thousand sorrowing
relatives and hundreds of other
persons who are willing to take
almost any risk in the work of
relief but are powerless. Sever
al attempts to reach the extreme
depths of the mine have been
made, but in each case the rescu-
ers have been driven back.
By freak of chance one man
of the scores that were working
in the mire at the time of the
disaster escaped. William Nor
gan, an aged Englishman, a
''roadman," who happened to be
In a passageway leading directly
to the open air, was caught by
the blast shot from the mine by
the explosion, hurled high into
the air and dashed against the
rocky hillside, fatally injured.
He has not been able to speak
since he was picked up, but it is
doubtful if he knows anything as
to the cause of the explosion.
This probably never will be ex-
planned. The most plausible
theory is that an accumulation of
gas became ignited from min
er's lamp, causing detonation
so sudden and terrific that none
of the workmen could escape.
Estimates of the number of men
inthe mine vary. The most con-
servative places it at 175. while
there is reason to believe that ii
may reach 225. One hundred and
seventy-fve miners were checked
in for work in the morning by
the mine boss. In addition tC
these there we're boys who acted
as helpers and drivers, and road.
men, and others to the number oil
perhaps fifty.
The explosion occurred al
7:30 o'clock. The men and boys
of the regular day shift had en-
tered the shaft, and had time tc
reach their chambers to begin
days labors when persons about
the mine heard a fearful roar,
and saw flames shoot from the
shaft and from every air vent
leading from the vast area of the
workings. Silence followed, and
since that terrific discharge moi
a sound of life has come from the
mine.
Runners were quickly sent te
neighboring mines. and within g
few minutes hundreds of mer
were at the scene eager to lenG
a helping hand to their fellows
| A party was organized and
started in. in the hope of saving
the lives of at least part of the
men. The men we're not able
to go more than 500 yards on ac
count of the slate having faller
in the main path and also or &C
count of sitting smoke and gas
and excessive heat.
Meanwhile a second party hal
started into the Fraterville mine
| 1t went fully two miles under the
earth when a heavy fall of slate
was encountered. At this barri
er the men worked like demons
hoping against hope that thos'
beyond might be safe.
Their hearts sank, however