Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-20
IWENTY-F0UR
Men Killed In a W. Va.
Mine Disaster.
Two Explosions Caused by
Excessive Fire Damp.
rour.een Men Of Rescuing Party Are
Entombed.

Charleston, w. Va, March 19.-As the
result of the horribl, explosion in the
Push Run and Red Ash mines. near
ThurmOnd, last night, "A men now lie
clark in death in the TWO mines. Ten Of
these were killed in the explosion Sat
ur,av night. and the other IA We're q
r4sfuing party who entered the miEe
This morning. to tax" from the mines
fine charred and blackcncd remains Of
their fellow workmen. These latter
we're killed by second explosion. and
the after damp. The Hrs: explosion
seemed to shake the foundations of the
mountain. and the angry twin flash
from the two neighborinG draft-mOuths
lighted up the heavens for miles
around Soon, from the mining will ages
for several miles up and down the riv-
Or hundreds of people rushed to the
scene Of the disaster. The first explo-
sion was caused by Il naked liza me
coming in contact with the gas. The
flames leaped from tn. dritt-mOuth and
set fire to everything in reach that was
not bI0Wn out harms Way by the force
o. the explosion. The great drum by
which the loaded cars are run from the
drift mouth down the incline to the
tippe and the emptics drawn up. WAS
blown from its mOorinss. and down the
mountain side GOO feet. while the drum
house caught fire and was totally con-
sumed The big fan, which furnishes
air in the mine was so damaged that it
vas several hours before it could be
started again.
After considerable time, the great
fan MAS repaired and the power turned
On and it began drawing 100000 cubic
feet Of air through the house each mini
ute. \ rcscle party WIS formed and
about % men entered the mine in
search of the dead bodies of those who
had perished at the first explosion. Tho
men explored the mines for two or
three hours. putting up brattices 50
that pure air should follow them
wherever they went. finally some of
them came out and reported that the
dherS We're too careless in going for
ward water and the good air was being
supplied carrying at the same time u
naked light. At 3i5 another awful
explosion occurred causing by the gas
llame Of a miners lamp and IA more
souls were launched into eternity. This
explosion was not so forcible as the
former but more awful III its effects
AMI was followed by a shorter, thinner
tongue of flame. followed by a silence
so deadly that it seemed physically
painful and darkness impenetrable.
Mine Inspector Edward Pinckney ar
nsed on the ground today and took
charge Of the rescue Work. The second
explosion again damaged the fan and
Mr.. PInckney will allow no one to enter
the mine until it is working properly
and draft of fresh air is running
through the mine. When this is done.
he will lead the rescue squad himself.
The named Of the band who lost
their lives IN a vain l:tenlp' TO get pos
session of the bodies of those who per
tshtd in the FIRST explosion are as fol-
lows.
'rnckc.t Hutchinson. Peter Hutchins,
Norman Hutchinson. Thomas Bannis-
Ter, Fire I;0aS. and an Official National
Mine Workers Union: Charles Wmn
Jlmrs Winn Eratt Jackson. GeorS1
Hopkins. Henderson Nosely, T.. w
iinson.
The names of those who lost their
lives last night will not b. known until
The books Of the operators are checked
and even then it will be impossible to
indrntiiy them.