The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-25
DeSOlatiOn at Mines Some
 what Relieved.
100 BODIES RECOVERED
Not Many More Believed to
 Be EntOmbed.
State Inspector and Assistants Busy With Investigation Preceding Report Which win be Made
 the Governor.

Birmingham, Feb. 24.-(special)- The desoIation and sorrow at the vir- ginia Mines. where the awful catas- trophe took place on Monday afternoon Last gave way little today when com mittees from Bessemer. Birmingham, Pratt City, Ensley and other places in the district. continued their work of distributing financial aid to the suf- ferers of the explosion. More than $s.5oo has been distributed already and $1o,00o more will be given out in the next few days.
 There is no discrimination because of color in the distribution of the aid, the merit of the case being the only consideration. Many of the families left are destitute and quick assistance was needed. In some of the homes there was no food and this has been provided. The rescuers in the mines are still at work, despite the increasing water and bad air. The odors rising from the dead mules and from bodies of men still unreached is growing worse and worse but the volunteers are losing no time.
 One hundred bodies were out before 10 o'clock this morning. It is not be- lieved there are many more, though the search continues.
 State Mine Inspector J. M. Gray will make thorough investigation next week, assisted by James HiIlhouse and M KauRner, the assistant inspectors, and this. report ssIn De sent annedsats- iy to the Governor.
 statement was made that two or three rooms filled with gas were wall ed up in this mine and that windy" shot broke through the brattice, which allowed the gas to escape and an ex- Dlosion followed. This is denied by of flcials. Ed. Flynn. president of the United Mine Workers of America, when asked for an opinion as to the cause of the explosion, said he would prefer not to make any statement, leaving that to the State Mine In- spector.
 Funerals Continue.
 The funerals are still taking place throughout the district. Eight negroes and four white men were buried at Pratt City today while ten funerals took place at Virginia City. A num- Der of the victims were members of the various fraternaI organizations and funerals are being attended by the men of the secret societies.
 Rescuers at work in the mines state that they have experienced much trouble in the last two days. The dead mules are spreading an awful odor. Thirteen of the bodies of the men had to be carried across the body of dead mules Wul4S III luS tulGu AeLL entry several falls of rock. and coal impeded the way considerably.
 The next item of interest in connec- tion with the awful fatality will be in establishing the cause of the explosion and determining who is at fault. The Coroner's jury will work with the State Mine Inspector.
 State Mine Inspector J. M. Gray is loud in his praises to w. R. Fairley, Edward Flynn, Joe Hoskens, Joseph Barbour, Thomas Tinney, leaders in the United Mine Workers of America in Alabama; William Herbert, an expert mine operator; Amos Reed, superin- tendent and S. Hartley. bank boss of the Virginia mines. for the work done in rescuing the entombed miners. These men ris1ed their lives and worked hard in the tasks before them.
 L. B. Musgrove, the well known Walker County coal operator, has of- fered the suggestion that all miners, union and non-union give one days work and all operators one days profits on their output towards a fund which will be placed at interst so that an annuity can be secured to be used in case of any big accidents. The sug- gestion will be taken up, committees having been appointed to investigate the feasibility.
 HamburS-American Sale.
 Berlin, Feb. 24.-According to the Boursen Courier's Hamburg corre- E... .L..l. AL ~