The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-13
EXPERIENCE OF SURVIVORS.
John RetalIick and Harry Rodgers
Tell of Their Escape.

JOHNSTOWN, Pa, July 12.-John Retail
lick. fire boss of the Seventh district, and
Mine Foreman Harry Rodgers, both of
whom were in the Klondike mine when the
explosion occurred were so far recovered
this evening from the effects of the after
damp as to be able to tell of their terrible
experience Both men were in the Cone
maugh Memorial Hospital. but will soon be
able to return to their homes. Retallick
emphatically said the explosion was caused
by blasting, a shot setting off the fire
damp Of his terrible experience. he said:
when 1 went to work Thursday morn
ing there were about 200 miners at work in
the mine. From the very latest informa-
ton that I can gather there are yet about
twelve entombed in the mine These men
are scattered and it may be some days yet
before their bodies are recovered. They
are in the headings which it is still impos-
sible to reach on account of the gases.
81 was in No. right but two hours be-
fore the damaging explosion occurred. 1
left that part of the mine and went out to
the other headings to attend to my work.
When the accident happened there were
five of us on the cars ready TO go out Of the
mine on a trip We did not hear or feel the
something had occurred Our belief was
confirmed in a minute when we heard men
scrambling in all directions for a place OF
safety. Quickly l realized there was no
avenue of escape except to get TO the air
somewhere but L thought L had plenty OF
time and could save all the men, we I'M
medately went down the main entrance IN
the Klondike. There were with me at that
time William Robinson, who has charge
Of the mining machinery; Henry Rodgers,
foreman of the mine; William Blanche
nj whitney IOSRDh IOmllnSOn.
other boss, and a Hungarian miner whom
did not know. The after damp was then
surrounding us strong and while we We're
going TO No. l right Whitney fell We
tried to assist him, but he was gone, and
then for the first time we thought of our
own safety.
''Tomilson was the second man to fall,
and l felt my knees giving away but made
another strenuous effort to stand and
started to run. Rodgers and Robinson were
keeping in close touch to me and neither
were saying q word. We knew of split
of air at No. l right, and if we had been
able to reach that point we could have
thrown that down in the mine and prob
ably have saved the lives of scores of
miners.
ing our way In the darkness L never heard
such sounds arise from human beings as
the breathing of those miners. 1t all
that could be heard except for an Occa-
sional shrek or grOan. Men were walking
and crawling everywhere. Many were cry
ing some were praying. others expressing
wishes to see their wives and families be-
fore they died, and only half conscious IS
l was, only my death will blot that time
from my memory. Then the after damp
swept in about us stronger and the men
began dropping as beeves at a slaUgh ter.
After they fell they would make one or
two fnai gasps and then die. From No. 3
right. whiSh point we had reached with
a great deal of difficulty, we headed back
to No. righN, near where the dOwncast
fan is located. Which sends the air through
the MIL creek shaft. While trying to gain
this point | lost consciousness and do not
know what occurred until j was brought
out from the mine and placed in the hos
pi:al. The last that l can remember was
that I was extremely week and losing
breath at every ste0. The agonizing
groans of the dying men in my ears worried
me and l sank down perfectly resigned TO
die"
Mine Foreman Rodgers relates a some
what similar experience.