The San Francisco call., 1905-03-20
MINERS DIE
v HILE BENT
ON RESCUE
Fourteen Perish in
an Attempt to
Save Others.
Descend Into DiggiDgS but
Fall Victims Of an
Explosion.
Disaster in the Ctal Fields Of West
Virginia Claims a Total Of
Twenty -Four Lives.

CHARLESTON, w. Va, March 10
AS a result of the explosions in the
Rush Run and Red Ash coal mines
near Thurmond twenty-four men now
lie dead in the two mines. Ten of these
were killed in the explosion Saturday
night and the other fourteen were
rescuing party who entered the mine
this morning to take from the mines
the bodies of their fellow workmen and
save any who might still be alive. The
rescuing PARTY fell victims to second
exposition and the afterdamp.
The names of the band who lost their
lives in vain attempt to get posses
sion of the bodies of those who per-
ished in the first explosion are as fol-
lows: Crockett Hutchingson, machin-
ist. Boyd County, Ky; Peter Hutching-
son, miner, Boyd County, KY; Norman
Hutchingson, miner, Boyd County.
Ky; Thomas Bannister, fire boss, and
an officer of the National Mine Work
ers' Union, Fayette County, w. Va;
Charles Winn, miner. Fayette County.
James Winn, miner, Fayette County;
Bratt Jackson, mine boss, Louisa, KY;
George Hopkins, track boss, Maiden,
w. Va. Henderson Morely, Fayette
County: L. w. Hinson. trackman. AM
herst Va.
The names of those who lost their
lives last night will not be known until
the books of the operators are checked.
and even then it viii be difficult to
identify them
The first explosion seemed to shake
the foundation of the mountains and
the fash from the two neighboring drift
mouths lighted up the heavens for miles
around Soon from the mining villages
for several miles up and down the river
hundreds of people rushed to the scene
of the disaster. The first explosion was
caused by d naked flame in contact
with the gas. The flames leaped from
the drift mouth and set fire TO every
thing in the mines which was not
blown out by the force of the explo-
sion.
The great drum by which the cars
are run from the drift mouth down
the incline to the tipple and the empties
drawn up was blown down the noun
tain side 600 feet. The drumhouse
caught fire and was totally consumed.
The cars that stood at the mouth OF
the mine were blown far down toward
the tipple, and much of the track of
the incline was destroyed. the rails
twisted and the crossties whipped
from their beds in the ballast and sent
scorched and charred many yards
away.
A rescue party was formed and about
twenty men entered the mine in search
of the bodies of those who had per-
ished at the first explosion The men
explored the mines for two or three
hours. putting up brattices so that pure
air should follow them wherever they
went Finally some Of them came out
and reported that the others were too
careless, going forward faster than
good air was being supplied. carrying
at the same time a naked light. At
3:45 a. m. another awful explosion oc-
Cured, caused by the gas coming in
contact with the naked flame of a
miners lamp. and fourteen men per-
ished.
Mine Inspector Edward Pinckney ar
rived on the ground to-day and took
charge OF the rescue work. The second
explosion again damaged the fan. and
Pinckney will allow no one to enter
the mine until it is working properly
and a draft of fresh air Is running
through the mine. When this is done
he will lead the rescue squad himself