The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-07-08
SOME DARING WORK OF RESCUE.
Two Hundred Men Were Imprisoned in
a Burning Shaft.

the scene OF terrible disaster at TO- 80
O'Clock a. m. when an explosion OF fire
damp in mine No. OF the Union Pa
cifc Coal Company caused the death,
it 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, as
stated in the earlier reports, but the
explosion shattered the timbers OF the
main shaft and numerous entrances,
filling the workings with debris, and
those Of the miners that we're not kill
cd outright by the explosion were
buried alive.
The explosion was heard for many
miles around and attracted people from
the adjoining settlements. Huge tim
bers and railroad iron were hurled SOC
feet from the mouth OF the shaft.
Superintendent Z. S. Brooks and a
large force OF men began the work OF
removing the debris from the shaft that
they might reach the cntombed miners
Their progress into the mine was
blocked by the foul gases and several
times they were forced to return to the
surface.
All day the rescuing party worked
the force being increased from time to
time by the arrival OF ranchmcn and
Others from nearby settlements and BY
those OF a relief train sent out from
Rawlins, which arrived at ? o'clock in
the afternoon. About o'clock -four
men were taken out alive, and a hall
hour later they we're followed by 42
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 eighty-two men
went down in the mine at 7 o'clock
and up to 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 4S was brought
ont.
The rescuers were unable to penc'
trate further into the mine. as it was
necessary to make another opening to
permit fresh air TO reach the lower
levels.
Horses and scrapers were put at
work hauling debris away from the
shaft The work is progressing slowly,
owing to the narrow space in which
the rescuers are compelled to operate.
Late at night party Of rescuers
reached four mules that were alive. and
this caused renewed hope. 1t is 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 in Entry No.
II. They reported that many OF the
men we're crazed by the explosion and
ran hither and thither in the mine.
Many OF these could have escaped, but
they lay down, buried their faces il
their hands and gave up the fight.
OF the 23i lett in the mine us were
married and leave families. About Ico
were Finlanders, so were colored and
the rest were white men.
The Hanna mines are among the
best on the Union Pacific system, be
ing established in 1873. The town was
named for Senator Mark Hanna when
he was a member OF the Union Pacific
Coal Company.
Mine No. is practically new prop
erty. 1t has 20 entries, IS miles OF
workings and main incline shaft OF
one and half miles in length. The
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.