The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-22
Hundreds of ResCuerS Have Hasten ed to the Scene From Every rlin-
 ing Camp in the District
Supply of Collins is Inadequate and Telegrams Have Been Sent to
 Other Cities to Send Supply.
BY E. R. NORMAN.

Bessemer, February 21.-(Special.)-7 ?. m.-The ghastly work of recovering the bodies from the ill-fated Virginia mine Is proceeding rapidly, and tonight at ' o'clock over thirty bodies have been brought to the top. The contract for burying the dead has been given to Ken nedy Brothers of Bessemer, who have fitted up q morCue on Second avenue. in the building adjoining the City Furniture Go. MT. Kennedy estimated the number of dead to be buried at 130
 At o'clock this afternoon one of ths men who had been entombed was brought out alive. He was just barely alive, but efforts are being made to resuscitate him. He was not identified.
 At o'clock tonight special trani brought a carload of twenty seven bodies semer are assisting in the work of pre- pairing the dead for burial. Photographic orders have been sent to several large iealers for caskets, which will be forward ed to Bessemer by fast express.
 The horrors which tho reseuing party h,s met with in the quest for the bodies of the dead are aickening in the extreme. Down in vne of the entrances a human head was found in a dinner pail. The arms and lega of .he victims of the frightful catastrophe are found strewn in many places in the bottom of the mine.
 First Body Recovered.
 The first body recovered was that of James Brown, the late boss driver His were found 45o feet from the top of the slope.
 Browns arms end legs were broken and the flesh had been peeled off his body. leaving it black and charred by the pois- onous gases Isc was identified by his watch charm and his pocket knife As MT. Browns duties permitted him to leave the mine earlier than other of the miners, he was evidently on his way out when the explosion occurred. MT. Brown leaves a wife and one child.
 The generally accepted theory of the explosion Is that the "wInd' explosion afternoon ignited the thick dust. of which Virginia mine is nearly always filled. causing spontaneous combustion.
 Ildu Ilopcos
 This morning at 10 o'clock the hopes of the anxious waiting throng around the mouth of the slope was buoyed by Reed announcing that there was yet hopes. and requesting all the physicians that had been in constant vigil for eighteen hours to remain until the bottom was reached. MT. Reed had
 
 since the explosion occurred and his ex- pressed opinion brought fresh hopes to the breast of the sorrowing watchers on the outside.
 As the explosion evidently occurred about "the third right" MT. Reed based his hopes on the theory that the air nearer the bottom might be sufficiently pure to keep some of the men alive. The doctors readily and eagerly acceeded to NJ. Feeds request and stated their will lngness to remain until the last man. whether dead or alive, was brought to the top.
 Water in Mines.
 The entrance has been closed and fresh mir has been driven ahead of the res cuers.
 At the opening of the mine platform has been erected and number of stretchers have been provided on which to lay the corpses when they may be Identified. Many blankets. bandages and other medical necessities have ben provided which are ready to use in case there be a spark of life left in any man as he is brought to the top. Coroner Paris is in charge of the disposition of the dead.
 Faithful Helpers.
 Parties of experienced miners from all over the district reinforced the rescuers this morning, and although the men who have been working for over eighteen hours were entreated to go home, they remained around the slope. and with hag- gard faces and wild eyes continued to take part in the work. The miners from the ore mines on Red mountain, on going to work this morning. heard of the ex- plosion and. dropping their tools, came to the aid of their fellow mine workers. In their red overalls they presented quite coal miners who were at work, all for 6 common cause.
 6 contrast with the black and begrimmed
 The work of rescuing was in the hands of experts who made all the arrange ments with minute detail. Everything was gotten in readiness to receive the dead miners. This morning ovir one hun dred safety lamps were sent out from Birmingham and these were placed in condition for the rescuers to invade tho lowest. the dangerous and perhaps the most fatal part of the mine A large number of men were put to work making tags to be placed on the bodies of each of the men as 1t was recovered from the rooms. In this manner there will not be any danger of wrong indentifcation. The bank boss knows In v.lch room each