The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-03-22
THE RESCUERS DEAD
Fourteen Sacrificed Themselves for
felIOw-Miners.
WAS SECOND DEADLY EXPLOSION
Twenty.iour Men Killed at Rush Run and
Red Ash Mines Flames Shot from the
Mouth OF the Drifi-cars Thrown Down
the Side Of the Mouutaln-Reseue Party
Lost Their Lives Through care,essness.

Thurmond, w. Va. (Special) The
explosion in the Rush Run and Red Ash
Mine at 10 o'clock Saturday night, by
which 10 miners were killed, was fol
lowed by second explosion in the Rush
Run opening at 3:45 Sunday morning,
by which II more lives were lost. These
were members OF party who had volun-
tecred to get into the mine and discover
il perchance any Of those who had pre-
viously been entombed were still alive
When the first explosion occurred it
was found that its initial point was the
Rush Run opening, and that there it had
expended most Of its force. The drum
by which loaded cars are lowered down
the incline and empties drawn up was
blown from its fastenings and sent some
600 feet down the mountain side, while
the flames that shot from the drift mouth
set fire to the farmhouse and consumed
it.
In very few minutes the head of the
incline was destroyed the rails twisted
and bent, the crossties were torn from
their beds and hurled down the hillside.
The fan which carries the air through
the mine was found out of commission
though not permanently damaged, and
all hands went to work to get it in
working order as soon as possible. By
midnight this was done, and it was set
going. AS it began to suck the air
through the wire the work of organizing
a rescue party was begun.
There were plenty of volunteers and
soon body Of brave, determined men,
led by Thomas Bannister, the fire boss
and Crockett Hutchinson, the machine
boss, entered the drift mouth and began
working their way toward where they
knew the dead bodies were. With the
recklessness that characterized men who
daily face death there were those in the
party who carried naked lamps. They
could not be held back to wait for the
brattices to be repaired. so that the all
supply would keep up with their advance
After two or three hour, some of the
more cautious began to return to the
outside, saying there were those inside
who were taking too desperate chances
with their uncovered lamps. Their fear:
were well founded, for two or three OF
them had scarcely reached the outside
and stepped away from the mouth OF the
mine when the second explosion came
District Mine Inspector Pinckney is
now in charge and will lead the next
rescue party. He will be careful that nc
one enters without a safety lamp.
The fan was again wrecked by the
second explosion, but has been again re-
paired, and the fan is now pumping Ioc
feet OF air through the mine every min.
ute AT Red Ash the force of the ex
plosion was not 50 great, and the flame.
issuing from the drift mouth did no
ignite anything. A number of cars were
blown down the mountainside but be-
yond that there is no outside evidence OF
damage
The mines are a mile and half apart
at the entrances, but are connected by
so many side entrances that they are
practically one mine. They belong to the
New River Smokeless Coal Company
and have daily capacity of 1000 tons
each
The cause of the first explosion is un-
| known.