The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-24
Water is Now One Hundred Feet Deep in Some Parts
 of the Shaft
MINE INSPECTORS ARE
 PREPARING THEIR REPORT
Rescuers still Have to Proceed Slow iy and Have to Carry Fresh Ar With Them as
 They Go.

At F o'clock last night 92 bodies had been taken from the Virginia mines, the scene of Mondays explosion, and the rescuers were within short distance ot eight or ten more, and expect to get them out within the mex three or four hours. They are finding the bodies badly de- composed now and large quantities of dIsinfectants are required before the rescuers can continue their work.
 The work is progressing more rapidly now than 1t did Wednesday night, as the disinfectants are enabling the rescue parties to enter all the chambers on the various levels and proceed with their work just as rapidly as they can carry the air with them.
 Several rescuers were overcome yester- day by the after damp and had to be brought to the top of the mines and restored by the physicians, who are still In attendance. They had gone ahead of the fresh air in their eagerness to reach some of the bodies and get them to the top of the slope as soon as possible, and they were suddenly met by wave of the poisonous gas which overcame them. Other rescuers went to their aid at once and they were brought to the surface and restored.
 Water Is Rising Rapidly.
 The water in the mine is still rising rapidly and it is now about 100 feet or more in the shaft. It will not interfere with the work of rescuers further than to make it impossible to reach three or four bodies which are at the bottom of the slope. As soon az the rescue parties have reached all the bodies possible, the pumps will be repaired and the mines will be pumped Gry and the three bodies at the bottom will be secured. Follow ing this the inspection py the coroner's jury and the state board of examiners will be made.
 Following $ list of the bodies of white men which were brought to the surface yesterday before 8 o'clock and identified:
 CHARLES MoRELAIN.
 EARL HOPKINS.
 SAM BIRCEFIELD.
 SAM CODY.
 A. LORENZO.
 JOHN GALLIGER.
 BOB BEALE.
 CHAPLI1S MFALLS.
 WALTER 4HCOY.
 LANCEY ANTONIO.
 O. M. PARSONS.
 BONNIE KIKER.
 PAT MCOY.
 W. B. WRIGHT.
 E. L. FARGO.
 SAM CARTER, Wylam.
 No More Negroes Found.
 No negroes had been brought to the surface since late Wednesday afternoon, but it Is expected that several more will be found during the night
 The eight or ten more that will be found tonight are in third right in which level the rescuers are working now Many of those named above came from the fourth right"
 The bodies of Fargo and Carter were found in the ''manway" or the air shaft which runs parallel with the slope and which the men use in entering and leav- ing the mine. and which also aids in keep ing the air circulating through the mines. These men were evidently on their way out of the mines. They worked on the fifth left" but their bodies were found up above the third left"
 It is impossible to describe the awful condition in which some of the bodies are being found. Decomposition is se-- ting in so rapidly that large amounts of
 
 bodies as soon as they are discovered. and 1t Is several minutes before the res cuers can move them. The foul air in the mines is still pretty bad, but the dlsin- feetants are serving to keep them down to a large extent and making it pos- sible for the men to work
 The '.damps" in the mines are still very bad but the rescuers are carrying the air with them as rapidly as possible. They @tnf~. .ft,- except the one in which they are work. ing. This diverts the air from the slore into that particular chamber in which the men are working, and furnishes taem with sufficient air to enable them to breath with comparative ease
 Mine Inspectors on Hand.
 State Mine Inspector Gray and As- sistant Inspectors Hillhouse and Hufrer have been at the mines almost constant lv since the explosion, and they are gath ering facts and figures for their report, which has been ordered by Govern 1r Cunningham They have asked the aid of the state mine examiners, Preistly Toulmin, A. J. Reilly, David EirAwood and Robert Neill. All of these men are expert mining engineers and also know the practical part of the work, and their aid will be a great benefit ir securing an accurate report on the situation.
 The four members of the board have visited the mines and have worked at them for the past two or three days, aid irg the rescuers in their work. An off cial inspection will probably be made about Tuesday of next week. when the insnectors and members of the examin- ing board will go through the mines and try to locate the origin and if possi- ble the exact cause of the explosion. and setarn,ine who was to blame.
 The extent of the state mine 'inspec- tors authority under the statute is un- known, but according to the instructions from Governor Cunningham. he will have medically absolute authority. What will follow the report of the inspector is not known. but if he fixes the blame on any one living. 1t is more than probable that prosecution for criminal neglect will re- suit.
 state that some gas existed in the mine.