The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-27
TWO MORE BODIES ARE BROUGHT OUT Rescue Work Continues at Vir-
 ginia City GRAND TOTAL IS NOW 103 Work of Pumping Was Begun Last Night and Moro Bodies Will
 be Taken Out
 Today.
GRAND TOTAL IS NOW 1O3

Bessemer February 26-(specal)-Two bodies were recovered from the Virginia mines this morning, making a total of 1O3 found out of the JOS men who lost their lives in the disaster last Monday afternoon. The rescuers are still at work and it is probable that another body will be recovered before morning.
 The bodies of the men found today were Dave Harris, a white miner, and Jake Hooks, colored. Harris body was brought to the undertaking establishment of Kennedy Brothers in this city and the body of Hooks was sent to Pratt City, where the funeral was held this afternoon.
 The only body which has nat been turned over to relatives is that G Harry Hughes.
 It is thought that the pipes which are being laid in the mine in order that the water can be pumped out will be connected up some time in the morning. When this work is completed everything will be in readiness for the pumps to be started
 The two bodies recovered today were not so badly mutliated, but were in an advanced state of decomposition.
 With the exception of the throngs of people from all over the country who Hooked to the scene of Mondays catas- trophe this has been the quietest day in Virginia City in many weeks People from all over the country went out to the mine today. The weather was ideal and many who were unable to secure means of conveyance walked out to Vir ginia
 Most of the people were strangers and came out to Bessemer on the street cars. Although the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company ran extra cars on both lines, every car running between Bessemer and Birmingham was crowded.
 Early this morning the livery stable men had hired out all of their teams, and during the rest of the day 1t was im- possible to obtain any vehicle in this city.
 The inhabitants of Virginia City are still leaving to visit realtives in other parts of the district. From what can be gathered most of the people are making preparations to remove from Virginia as early as practical Those that are still at Virginia City spent day entirely free from any excitement. As the pastor of the Valley Creek Baptist church preached at Adger today there were no services held in that community, with the exception of the funeral service of Date White.
 CroWuS NISit virginia Olty.
 Notwithstanding Virginia mines Is in an isolated place, and surrounded by some of the worst roads in Alabama, there were perhaps more people who made the trip today than any other day since the explosion Monday afternoon. The roads which are bad at best have been in an almost impossible state, caused by the heavy rains of the past winter and the constant and heavy travel during the last week Many hacks and bug gies have broken down while en route and several automobiles were fastened in the mud today and their drivers were forced to turn them aroupnd and retur to this city without having reached Vir- ginia
 Tomorrow Jerry Fountain and w. H. Dennis, members of the relief committee, will go out to the mines and review tho situation relative to giving further as- sstance to the widows and orphans. They still have several hundred dollars on hand and this amount will probably be | augmented by additional subscriptions during the coming week. l Capt. John D. Hanby, superintendent l of the Sloss mines, went out to Virginia today and carried with him several min CTS to lend assistance in the recovery of the bodies. Captain Hanby also carried out $500 the amount of the wages of the 1 Sloss miners who contributed the days work yesterday and distribute the funds among the widows and orphans
 Next Thursday night at Library hall l the Temple Emanuel choir of Blrming- l ham will give an entertainment for the 1 benefit of the needy widows and orphans 1 of the unfortunate miners. MT. Mick elson will have charge of the arrange ment of the programme. The choir Is l composed of Miss Scholar. Miss Altman, Mir. Michaelson and MT. Heflin with Mir Grambs as accompanist.
 Anti-saloon Meeting. l The churches of Bessemer held a mass meeting tonight at the First Methodist church, the occasion being an address by the Rev. Dr. G. w. Young, vice president of the national anti-saloon | league.
 1 At the morning service and the union ] service tonight about s40O was raised to i wage an anti-saloon campaign in Ala bama
 ] Tonight pr. Young spoke mostly on 1 local option and pleaded with the church i people of Bessemer to do all in their l power to have the legislature pass a l local option law. He compared this state l with the large number of other states who have local option laws and said that when the people are given an op- portunity they have voted the saloon out ir the majority of instances.
 Odd Fellow Meeting. call has been issued to the Odd Eel 1 lows to Bessemer and surrounding vicin- l ity to meet at Odd Fellows hall next i Friday night for the purpose of starting a contribution for the Widows and Or phans home of the deceased Odd el- l low which the grand lodge proposed to build in Alabama.