The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-13
One Hundred and Twelve Dead Bodies
Recovered, and Possibly Five
More In the CoIliery.
MANY TO BE BURIED TODAY
ALL SUNDAY TO BE GIVEN UP To
FUNERAL PROFESSIONS.
Experience of a Fire Boss and N Fore
man Who Survived the Disaster
Cause of the Explosion.

JOHNSTOWN, Pa, July 12.-The extent
of the catastrophe of the rolling mill mine
of the Cambria Steel Company is not
capable of being grasped. Early tonight, in
spite of conflicting reports as to the num-
ber of dead, a careful and complete COM
pilation shows that 112 is the exact number
of bodies taken from the mine. Up to 6
o'clock this evening los had been recov-
cred and at S o'clock four more were
brought to the surface. To this number
future explorations of the mine corridors
may add a few, but it cannot be many
Almost all the employees who could have
been in the mine at the time of the life
wrecking explosion of Thursday are ac-
counted for Very few inquiries for miss
ing have been presented to the authorities
or to the mine officials and this, better than
anything else, demonstrated the impossi-
bility of many bodies still remaining in
the death tomb.
The mine officials say there is no use at
tempting to estimate the number of dead.
They say they simply don't know and urge
the futility of placing the matter on the
basis of guess work. They express the be-
lief, 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 explora-
ton. He expressed his conviction that not
more than FIVE dead bodies would be added
to the 112 already known.
Sunday will dawn on the populous city of
Johnstown prepared to devote its atten-
ton to mourning and funeral obsequies.
The inaugural of this grim programme was
given to-day when more than a score of
interments took place. AS late as o'clock
this evening funeral professions with
bands playing dirges and uniformed
corts at their heads passed through the
streets of the city. While time is pressing
on the undertakers to take care of all Of
the funerals, to-morrow's mournful pro-
gramme will not start especially early.
Many are trying to defer the last sad
rites until in the afternoon.
Early to-day a general belief settled over
the community and those officially assoc-
sted with the disaster that the end of the
gruesome developments was about reached.
This did not deter the coiners of street
rumors who caused numerous wild goose
chases After the bringing of fifteen bodies
70 the mOrgue at an early hour II was COM
monty rumored that mine officials were
endeavoring TO hide the truth TO the
extent of the disaster. The developments
of the day SnOWeu lLdl bueSt suspicious
were unwarranted.
At Q O'Clock in the morning there was an
impOrtant consultation in the offices at the
foot of the runway, from the Westmont
entry 1t was participated in by Mine
SUPERINTENDENT G.. I. Robinson, Chief Mine
Inspector James Z. ROderick State Mine
Inspector j. T. Evans. Mine Engineer NJ.
G. Moore. Assistant Mine Engineer ~ T..
Prosser \ larg map of the mine was ex-
amined and explained TO Chief Rod
erick. Many of the employees of
the mine including dggers, trap
boys. mechanics and others were
called in and quizzed The inquiry was de-
signed 10 give Chief Inspector Roderick a
preliminary impression OF the status of
things.
further investigations: Those of the
company's officials who We're in the
mine at the time Of the explosion
and have survived their injuries
Will be called on 10 testify. Until these
men are able 10 be present at the inquiry
and testify il 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 10 whose duty il was 10 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
nresence of death we must be altogether
charitable ana suspend judgment"
After the consultation at the Office Mr..
Evans went into the mine with Robinson
and Moore. They did not emerge until late
IN the afternoon. The work they did while
to the damage wrought and more critically
examine into the possible hiding places OF
more dead bodies Prying about In the
fourth right heading in the Klondike. Chief