The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-20
n RESCUING MINERS KILLED.
ANOTHER EXPLOSION IN THE
NEW RIVERS MINES.
Victims OF the Three Explosions New
Number zA-sOme Of the Miners say
60 were Knled-Ftro Han Two Miles
From One Wine into an Adjacent one.

Number ZA-SOnle Of the Miners say
50 We're Kned-Fire RaR Two Miles
From One Wine into an Adjacent one.
THURMoND, w. Va, March ie.-The
explosions IN the Rush Run and Red Ash
mines at 10 O'Clock last night, by which
ten miners were killed, we're followed by a
second explosion IN the Rush Run opening
at s45 O'Clock this morning, by which
fourteen more lives were lost. These were
the members Of party who had volunteered
TO get into the mine and discover II any OF
those who had previously entered were
still alive
When the fret explosion occurred II was
found that It's initial point was the Rush
Run opening and that there II had expended
most Of lite force. The drum by which
loaded cars are lowered down the incline
and empties drawn up was blown from It's
fastenings and sent some 600 feet down
the montainside, while the fame that shot
from the drift mouth set fire TO the drum
house and consumed It In q few minutes,
The head Of the incline was destroyed,
the rails we're twisted and the cross ties torn
from their beds and hurled down the hill
side. The fan which carries the air through
the mine was put out Of order, though not
permanently damaged, and all hands went
TO work TO get it In working order as soon
az possible.
By midnight this was done and II was set
going. As It began 10 suck the air through
the mine the work Of organizing q rescue
party was beuEn, the idea being that by a
remote possibility some one might be
found alive.
There were plenty Of volunteers, and
soon q body Of determined men, led by
Thomas Bannister, the fire boss and Crockett
Hutohinson} the machine boss, ent cred the
drift mouth and began working their way
toward where they knew the bodies lay.
With the Teoklessness that characterized
men who daily with death daily there
we're those in the party who carried naked
lamps and who could not be held back to
wait for the brattioes.to be repaired 30 that
the air supply would keep up with their
advances. After two or three hours some
OF the more cautious began to return to the
outside saying there we're those inside who
were taking too desperate chances with
their uncovered lamps.
Their fears were we'll founded, for two
or three Of them had scarcely reached
the outside and stepped away from the
mouth Of the mine when the second ex-
ploson came, and they knew the lives Of
their recent companions had been sacri-
feed by the carelessness Of members OF their
own party. The second explosion threw
everybody near the mine into a panic Of
fear and when the time comes for essaying
another rescue II will doubtless be hard
to secure the necessary help.
DlstTiut Nine Inspector PinOtnsy y now
In charge and win lead the next party,
bring areful that no one enters without a
safety lamp. II is probable that no further
attempt in this direction will be made until
tomorrow morning. The fans were again
wrecked by the second explosion, but have
been repaired and are now pumping into
the mine
At Red Ash the force Of the last e1plo-
sion was not 30 great, and the flames issuing
from the drift mouth did not ignite any
thing Seveml cars were blown down the
mountain side, but beyond that there
is no outside evidence of damage.
The mines are a mile and a half apart
at the entrances, but are connected by so
many side entrances that they are prac-
tioally one mine. They belong to the New
River Smokeless Coal Company and have
a daily capacity Of coo tons each. The
cause Of the first explosion can only be
guessed, The fan had not stopped day
or night since last Sunday and there could
have been no very great accumulation Of
gas unless. through some assure recently
tapped an opening for the contents Of a
pocket Of the black damp was struck and
it issued at some place where the circulating
air failed to reach.
The explosion last night in the Rush Run
mine extended TO the Red Ash mine two
miles away and great flashes Of fire burst
from the mouths Of both mines. The fact
that fires are rigging in both mines may
prevent an examination for several days.
In the Red Ash Mine forty-six men
we're killed by a similar explosion a few
years ago. The mines are away from
telephone and telegraph communication,
seventy miles from Charleston. and the
only means Of communication is through
the oompany's private telephone
Doubt is cast on the number killed by
miners on the ground that the estimates
are based on the companys figures. Ex-
| element prevails some persons putting
| the death list as high as IS. A report reached
| Charleston that four bodies had been taken
! from a cavern near the Red Ash entrance.
| They had been blown a quarter OF a mile
/ eka 49,. - Of ha nina