The Oskaloosa herald., 1902-01-30

u - MFANA9
The work of Identification was car
ried forward as rapidly az possible.
All curious ones, all relatives and all
others not in connection with some
detail of the work were kept put of
the building and 1t was kept looked.
The mine clothing was cut from the
forms and the bodies bathed and pre-
pared for the homes as rapidly as
possible. 1t was a long and a sicken-
ing labor, but the force at work did
not desist until the great labor had
been accomplished. The Identified
ton had been completed as given
above and the men and boys removed
to the homes that but a few hours be-
fore had known the same mes well
and happy.
The Genes of grief enacted in the
little mining town of Lost Greek Fri
day evening were such that sickened
the bravest hearts. homes thus sud
denly robbed of father, husband child
or brother were to be found in ali
parts of the camp.
Property Damage small
The damage to the mine was not so
great as was at first supposed, in fact,
it will be very slight. The damage to
the guides along the shaft was easily
and quickly repaired and the other
damage will not be great. The dam
ages to the air passages in the mine
is the thing that caused the great de-
lay in getting to the miners who were
in 1.-THE pitt" The force of the ex-
plosion had blown out all of the
"hrattishes" that closed up the "cut
overs." With these put it was i'm
possible to get a circulation and it
was folly for men to think of pene-
trating to the face of the mine with
the entries and the rooms full of foul
air and damps. The men went into
the mine as far as able and as soon
as the first were overcome and made
i'll there were others ready and eager
to take their places at the work. The
first thing that was done was the re-
placing Of the ''brattish" work in
closing the %cut-overs and this made
the further progress of the rescue
work possible. 1t was not until the
last opening, that had been blown
out, had been closed that.it was pos
siole to get to the farthest parts of
the mine.
The explosion occurred in the
northeast part Of the mine and the
west part of the pit was unaffected
by it. The men in the west rooms
and entries were uninjured and some
of them were unaware that an ac-
cident had occurred until they were
called.
The explosion was not nearly as
severe in force as was at first thought
but it vas terribly fatal to the life in
the mine. That the explosion itself
was not severe was shown from the
fact that parts of the mine were un-
touched. In an explosion of this sort
it is usual for the flames to follow
the entire purse of the air circula-
ton and the force exerted is some
times severe in the extreme and the
mines where the accidents occur are
oft times badly wrecked. 1t will be
recalled that a dust explosion occur
red in the Pekay mine about three
years ago that was attended by some
lose of life. The explosion in this case
was quite severe and much damage
was done to the mining property.
No Mules Killed
1t was first reported that ten mules
had succumbed in the mine. None
of the animals were killed as was
first thought and reported by persons
about the mine. All were found to
be safe and alive.
Small Fire
The flames that started in the mine
were of no consequence and amount
ed to very little. No damage to the
mining property resulted from the
fire. The explosion ignited some of
the litter or combustible matter about
the mule stables and this started to
burn. The stable foreman was at the
place and he had little or no trouble
in putting out the fire. No damps
were caused from this source and no
damage to property resulted.
Relief
The Lost Greek Company cared for
the men as they we're removed from
the mine and did all that could be
done under the circumstances. The
members of the company resident in
Oskaloosa were on the ground as
soon after the accident as possible
and what ever assistance was poss-
IDLE to render was Immediately forth
coming.
Cause of Explosion
The company have made no direct
statement yet as to the direct cause
of the explosion but it is generally
believed that the disaster was due to
q WINDY shot" that was fred In one
Of the rooms. A careful examine
ton will be made before any state
ment is given out on this point.
Personal Bravery
Numerous stories of the bravery
and fearlessness OF the men about
the mine are being told today. 1t
was a time when the strongest of