The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-02
SPARK SUPPOSED ID HAVE
 SET OFF KEG OF POWDER
Definite Cause of Accident is Unknown, as Fred Stealing, Who Had Charge
 of the Powder, Was In. stanly Killed.

white men were killed and three white men and five negro convcts were injured. The dead:
 T. S. MASSEY. of East Lake, Mine foreman.
 FRED SHEDDING, of Littleton, pow derman.
 The injured:
 W. L. RODGERS. Mine Superintendent for the state, serious.
 w S. FUCKER, assistant mining boss. serious.
 J. HILL, trackman, probably fatal.
 Five. negro convicts.
 MT. Rodgers was burned about the face and hands, and was less injured than either of the others.
 MT. Fuckers injuries are serious, but not necessarily fatal while grave appre- hension is felt for the trackman, Hill. hurt
 Cause Is Unknown.
 The cause of the explosion is unknown, but it is supposed to have been the result of a spark from the lamp of the powder man, Steddlng who was putting powder in the powder house for the night shift. About seven kegs exploded. hurlng the unfortunate man against the rocks kill ing him instantly.
 J. w Mcqueen, vice president of the Sloss-Sheffeld Steel and Iron company, was seen at late hour last night and made the following statement:
 'I have just returned from Flat Top with the three white men who were in- jured. The cause of the explosion is unknown, as Stealing the powder man, was killed outright.
 MT. Massey was appointed mine fore man in the place of J. H. Tidmore, who recently resigned that position. MT. Rodgers, Mr. Massey and Mir. Fucker were in the slope where the explosion occurred.
 Placing Powder in Store House.
 ''Stedding, the powderman, was placing powder in store house in a workedout heading and by some means. probably by a spark from his lamp. ignited a keg of powder. Stealing was killed instantly. MT. Rogers and the other men were 300 feet from the explosion, but in the pas sage of the flames as they followed the current of air to the opening. MT. Rodg- CTS threw himself on the ground and tried to protect his face with his arms. After the flames passed over him he raised up an saw Massey lying on the ground and Fucker enveoped in flames. In an en- deavor to tear the clothing off MT. Ruck- CT, Mir. Rodgers was severely burned about the hands. Mir. Rodgers injuries are less serious than those of the other | two men.
 Inhaled the Flames.
 Massey must have inhaled the flames as he lived only a short time. Fred Sted- ding had been employed by the Sloss-Shef field company for five years and was considered an expert and in every way efficient for his work. MT. Fuckers in- juries are very painful, and Hill, the trackman, is bAdly burned The injuries to the convicts are slight and are being | treated at the hospital at the mines'' T. c. Culverhouse, superintendent of mines for the Sloss- Sheffield company, accompanied Mir. Mcqueen to the scene of the disaster He said:
 ''It was very lamentable affair." but might have been worse While I have some apprehension for Trackman Hill, I believe the other two injured men will soon recover. The mine will be ready for the resumption of work tomorrow morn- ing at o'clock
 Rumors in Birminqham.
 The news of the explosion was received 1 in Birmingham about 3:30 O clock yester- day afternoon, but with no details. Be- fore 6 o'clock 1t was rumored that 400 men had been killed and injured and that the victims would be brought to Birming- ham at o'clock by a special train over | the Southern railway.
 Every ambulance in town was at the Twenty-seventh street depot in readiness and large crowd of people gathered around to try and learn the true facts. Messages stating the true facts of the case were received by the operator at Twenty-seventh street, and when the train arrived with the three injured men not more than hundred persons were there to meet it. MT. Rodgers and Mr. Fucker were conveyed to Talley & McAdory's in- llTI1dTy anu iliil was tdheH to the 6t. Vincent hospital.
 l P. T. Rodgers, superintendent of Pratt City mines of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company, and J. T. Rod- gers, warden for the Tennessee company. and brothers of the injured mine super intendent, met the train and accompanied their brother to the infirmary. 1 The Killed. T. s. Massey, the mine foreman. one of the victims. lived at Ensley, and is we'll known in mining circles. He was employed by the Tennessee company for years and left that concern about year ago and went away from the district. He returned about a year ago and was employed by the Sloss- Sheffield company as assistant mine boss. .s
 On the resignation of J. H. Fillmore he was promoted to being mine foreman and entered his new duties in that capacity yesterday, only to fall the victim of a fatal explosion.
 His reputation has been excellent. and