Los Angeles herald., 1905-03-20
SECOND EXPLOSION KILLS
THE REScUERS
GAS CAUSES THE DISASTER
Men Seeking Bodies Of First Victims
Become Careless and Lamp
lgnltes the After
Damp
BY Associated Press.

CHARLESTON, w. Va, March 19.-
As result of the horrible explosion
in the Rush Run and Red Ash mines
near Thurmond last night, twenty-four
men now lie dead in the two mines.
Ten of these were killed in the ex-
plosion Saturday night and the other
fourteen were q rescuing party who
entered the mine this morning to take
from the mines the bodies Of their
fellow workmen. These latter were
killed by a second explosion and the
after damp. The first explosion
seemed to shake the foundation of the
mountains and the angry twin 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 ex-
plosion was caused by a naked flame
coming i'll contact with the gas The
flames leaped from the drift mouth and
set fire to everything in the mines
which was not blown out by the forca
of the explosion. 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
from it's moorings and down the
mountainside 900 feet and the drum
house caught fire and was totally
consumed.
Much Property Destroyed
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
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 III
search of the bodies of those who had
perished at the first explosion. The
men explored the mines for two or
three hours, putting up brattices so
that pure air should follow them wher-
ever they went. Finally some of then,
came out and reported that the others
were too careless in going forward
faster than good air was being sup
piled, carrying at the same time
naked light. At 3:45 another awful
explosion occurred, caused by the gas
coming in contact with the naked
flame of az miners lamp and fourteen
men perished.
Mine Inspector Edward Pinckney ar
rived on the ground today and took
charge of the rescue work. The sec
ond explosion again damaged the fan
and Mr.. 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.
Saturday Nights Victims
The names of the band who lost
their lives in a vain attempt to get
possession of the bodies of those who
perished in the first explosion are as
follows:
CROCKETT HUTCHINSON, ma
chinist, Boyd county, Ky.
PETER HUTCHINSON, miner,
Boyd county, Ky.
NORMAN HUTCHINSON, miner,
Boyd county, Ky.
THOMAS BANNISTER, fire boss;
an officer of the National Mine Work
ers' Union, Fayette county, w. va.
CHAs. WYNN, miner. Fayette
county, w. Va.
JAMES WYNN, miner, Fayette
county, w. Va.
PRATT JACKSON, mine boss,
Louisa, Ky.
GEORGE HOPKINS. track boss;
Maiden, w. Va.
HENDERSON MORLEY, Fayette
county, w. Va.
e. w. HINSON, track man, 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 will be inn
possible to identify them.
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