Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-07-11
SOME DARING WORK OF RESCUE.
Two Hundred Men We're Imprisoned in
a Burning Shaft.


the scene OF 4 terrible disaster at 80
O'Clock a. m when an explosion OF fire
damp in mine No OF the Union Pa
cihc Coal Company caused the death,
il is feared. OF 234 men. injured scores
OF others and caused the destruction
OF vast amount OF property.
The mine was not set on fire, rs
stated in the earlier reports. but the
explosion shattered the tiinbers oil the
main shaft and numerous entrances.
filling the workings with debris. and
those Of the miners that were not kill
cd outright by the explosion were
buried alive
The explosion was heard for many
miles around anil attracted people from
the adjoining settlements. Huge tim
bcrs and railroad iron were hurled 500
feet from the mouth OF the Shaft.
Superintendent; +. s. Brooks and =
large force oi men began the work o:
removing the debris from the shalt that
they might reach the cntombcd miners.
heir progress into the mine wa,
blocked by the foul gases and several
times they were forced TO return 10 the
surface.
All day the rcscuing party worked.
the force being increased from time TO
time by the arrival ii ranchmcn and
others from nearby settlements and by
those OF relief train sent out from
RawlinS. which arrived 4; o'clock in
the afternoon. About l o'clock Jour
men were taken out alive. and 4 hall
hour later they were followed by ~
others Many were unconscious and
had to be carried from the workings.
Several are in a serious condition, but
it is believed all will recover.
Two hundred and cighty-two men
went down III the mine at Z O'Clock
and up 10 a late hour only IS have
been accounted for OF this number ?
are dead. 1t was some time after the
explosion occurred that the first man
was brought TO the surface. He was
followed by others until / o'clock.
when the last OF the IS was brought
out.
The rescucrs were unable to penc-
tratc further into the mine, as it was
necessary to make another opening to
permit fresh air 10 reach the lower
levels.
Horses and scrapcrs were put at
work hauling debris away from the
shaft. The work is progressing slowly.
owing to the narrow space in which
the rcscucrs are compelled 10 operate.
Late al night party OF rcScuers
reached four mules that were alive. and
this caused renewed hope. 1t is 4 faint
hope. however. for experienced mine
bosses say that when the imprisoned
men are reached all will be found dead.
Some OF the miners who escaped said
they saw 20 dead bodies III Entry No.
II. They reported that many OF the
men were crazcd by the explosion aud
ran hithcr and thithcr i'll the mine.
Many OF these could have escaped. but
they Law down. buried their faces III
their hands and gave up the fight.
Oh the 2S4 lett in the mine Us were
married and leave families. About Ioo
were Finlandcrs. so were coiorcd and
the res, were white men.
The Hanna mines are among the
best on the Union Pacific system, be-
ing established III 1873. The town was
named for Senator Mark Hanna when
he was a member OF the Union PACING
Coal Company.
Mine No. is practically a new prop.
erty. 1t has IS entries. Is miles oil
workings and a main incline shaft OF
one and half miles i'll length. Inc
mine has been recognized as danger
Gus property for some time on account
OF the large amount OF gas. but the sys-
TEN of ventilation has been so good
that an accident was not anticipated.