Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-07-19
WOE IN J0HNSTOwN.
Shocking Calamity in Cambria Compan.
Coal Mines.


Johnstown, Pa. (SpeciaD Johns
town has again been visited by an ap-
palling disaster. only less frightful than
the awful food OF May 81. 1880.
Hundreds of homes are made desolate
by mine explosion which took place
in the Cambria Steel Company Rolling
Mill mine. under Westmont Hill.
Just how many have been killed it may
take several days to determine. but that
II IS long list is certain. Il may reach
zoo. or even rise considerably above that
number.
Il was nearly an hour after the ex-
ploSion before any general knowledge Of
what had happened got abroad. Men
who came from the mines. escaping with
their lives. told the terrible news. and
soon II spread like wildfrc all over the
city
In scores OF homes there were pathetic
scenes. Mothers. wives. daughters. sons
and relatives were frantic with grief.
Hundreds rushed 70 the point and with
sobbing hearts awaited news from the
mine that held their loved ones.
~ '4iN bIClltiiS dCIpSS inc ilNtI lioh'
the Point the Cambria Iron Company
police stood guard. permitting no one 10
enter the mine. from which nOxious gases
were pouring.
1t was nearly / p. m. when all hope
OF sending rescue parties from the West
mont opening was abandoned.
Two men who had escaped from the
: mine-Riciard Bennett and John Meyers
went back two miles 10 see what as
sistance could be rendered but the FIRE
damp drove them back and they fell
PROSTATE when finally. after a desper
ate struggle. they reached the outside.
Doctors worked on the two men half
an hour before they were restored 10
consciousness Their story Of the stua
ton in the mine made il clear that the
rescue could not proceed from the West
mont opening. Then hasty preparations
were made 10 begin that sad mission at
the Mill Greek entrance
Soon after the news of the explosion
reached the Cambria officials Mining
Engineer Marshall G. Moore and one of
his assistants. Al. G. Prosser. made an
attempt TO enter the mine They were
followed by Mine Superintendent Geo.
!. Robinson, but the deadly gases
stopped their progress and they were
compelled to return TO the surface.
Mine Foreman Harry Rodgers. his as
( sistant. VIM. Blanch. and Fire Bosses
John Whitney. John Retallick, and John
! Thomas were overcome by the gases.
ard II is feared they persisted in heroic
effort TO rescue the miners. A son OF
Harry Rodgers then tried to reach his
father. but he was quickly overcome by
the deadly gas and was carried out UNI
conscious.
William Stibch spent several hours
at the Mill Creek opening. He said that
he believed as many as 4so men were
still in the mine In his opinion. from
all he could CLEAN. not more than $50
men OF the Goo had come out of the col
licry.
/ Officials OF the Cambria Company say
: that the explosion was caused by fire.
i.,r..p.
The catastrophe occurred in the sec
ton OF the mine known among the min
ers rs "Klondike.' The name OF the
section on the company's books is the
sixth west OF the south main head
ing" 1t is about 4 mile and a half
from the main entrance OF the Rolling
Mill mine.
The few survivors who have escaped
from the depths of the mine give
graphic descriptions OF the disaster
Outside OF the 'Klondike" section the
miners are safe and uninjurcd. Within
the fatal limits OF the section havoc was
wrought by the terrific explosion
Solid walls OF masonry three feet
through were torn down as though
barriers OF paper. The roofs of the
mine were demolished and not door
remains standing
Johnstown. Pa. (SpeciaD spite
of conflicting reports as 10 the number
of dead in the mine disaster. a careful
and complete compilation shows that
IoS is the extent of the list of bodies
outside the mine
To this number future explorations of
the mine corridors may add few, but
It cannot be many.
Almost all the employees who could
have been in the mine at the time of
the explosion are accounted for. Few
inquiries for missing have been pre-
scnted the authorities or to the mine
ftici;ls, and this. better :i.an ANYTHING
else. demonstrates the impossibility of
many bodies still remaining in the
mine.
The mine officials say there is no use
attempting 10 estimate the number of
dead. They say they simply don't
know They express the belief, how
ever. that all. or almost all, are out of
the mine