The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1905-05-03
UN AT ELEANORA
AFT KILLS THIRTEEN MEN.
herican and Ten Foreign Miners Met Instant
n about Ten O'clock Thursday Night in Mine
of Rochester CO Pittsburg Coal c. Iron Co.
DIV OUT" SHOT CAUSE OF EXPLOSION
the Victims held Saturday and Sunday and Large
crowds Attended Them Most of the Bodies Taken to
Anita for Burial An Official Investigation Made.

the victims lived near tne Snalt All
the others were residents of Eleanora,
two miles distant, except the Kirk
woods, who resided at Sugar Hill. The
explosion occurred at dead Of night and
the company is said to have suppressed
as much as possible the horrible extent
of the accident until the majority of
the bodies had been rescued and were
ready to be taken to their homes. For
this reason there were comparatively
few around the mouth OF the shaftat any
time Friday and almost none of the
heart rendering scenes which might
have been expected from the extent
and appalling nature of the catastrophe.
Saturday and Sunday a few sightseers
from points on the trolley line visited
the shaft, but there was nothing
on the surface out of the ordinary
TO be seen. The mine was not in
operation and silence reigned supreme
in the lonely valley.
All the victims were buried Saturday
and Sunday, Five of the foreign miners
residing at Eleanora were taken to
Anita Saturday for interment. Sunday
afternoon three hearses in row. fol-
lowed by seven three and four seated
carriages full of mourners slowly wound
over the hills from Eleanora to Anita,
where burial was made.
The two other foreigners resided at
the same house short distance west OF
the shaft and strange sight was to be
seen there Sunday morning. The two
black coffins were setting side by side
in one room, white cloths covered the
faces of the dead men, at their heads
burned four candles surrounding
cruciix, and in an adjoining room were
gathered score or more of their form
er companions who were slowly chant
ing weird and solemn song. These
men were members of the Order of St.
Joseph, of Delaney and that lodge
attended their funeral Sunday after
noon.
George and Adam Kirkwood were
brothers who lived at Sugar Hill, or
Desire, and were respected citizens of
that place. They belonged to the
Improved Order Of Red Men and many
members Of that order from Eleanora,
Wishaw and Reynodsville attended
their funeral at 1000 o'clock Sunday
morning. The sermon was preached by
Rev. William Yates.
The case of the youngest victim, the
only other American, was very sad
one. John Hopkins was the son of
D. G. ard Mary A. Hopkins and was
fine, manly young fellow. He was well
known to all the miners and very
large crowd came to the Hopkins home
at LOO p. m. Sunday to accompany the
body to its last resting place. The
coffin, borne by six young men, was
carried from the Hopkins home to the
trolley line and taken to Anita where
services, conducted by DR.. Harry G..
Teagarden, were held in the Cumber-
land Presbyterian church. Pocahontas
Council, No. Sc, and the Pythian Sister,
hood, Of Punxsutawney, attended in a
body as mark of sympathy for the
bereaved parents.
Mine inspectors Elias Phillips, of
Fourth district, Joseph Knapper, 'of
Eighth district, and Roger Hampson,
of Twelfth district, who investigated
the mine disaster gave their testimony
before the coroner's jury at Punxsutaw-
ney yesterday, and it was in substance
that the disaster had been caused by a
blowout" shot, which ignited an ac-
cumulation of gas and some coal dust,
which had also accumulated in the
heading in which the explosion occurred.