The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-01-09

Roanoke, Va. January IA special
to the Times from Blueiield. w. Va,
says:
Twenty-one miners were killed IN an
explosion OF mine gas in the shaft of
the Cooper Mine Company at Coaldale,
". Va. at moor today. Up TO mid
night only one body had been recover
ell. Immediately following the explo-
sion. which was heard Tor several
miles. rescue parties set TO work 10 ex-
plore the wrecked shaft.
Coaldale is a mining town situated
in Mercer county on the line of the
Norfolk and Western railway, and In
- miles west Of Bluefield.
But Cnce before in the history of the
PocahortGs coa field has there been
such - fearful disaster as hat in the
Coaloa.e c~o"sp~ly's shaft today The
Victims OF that other disaster sleep IN
u4e cemetery at p~ocahontas.
Today at ECou while the mines were
crowded with men there was a sudden
and heavy rumbling a mile aud more
in the depths Of the mountain. and
tAi' ! 4 vi PASS St aiid IL
shafts CT that immense mine the shock
was felt. Before the detonations had
died out, Bank Boss Thomas Williams.
who was a long way from the explo-
sion, staggered TO his feet and feeling
his way 10 a mine telephone, called to
those on the outside that there had
been a terrific explosion of mine gas
and asked for help.
Gathering about the entrances has
tening crowds urged by cool heads and
anxious hearts, hurried to prepare for
the rescue Of the missing ones and an
exploration of the wrecked workings.
AT / O'Clock n man was brought nut.
He was III. G.. Conrad. and his body
was literally torn to pieces. His cloth
ing was hanging in shreds.
Up to Il late hour tonight no other
bodies had been discovered. There
was considerable smoke and gas in the
entries, and Notwithstanding the fact
the big fans were working with full
capacity the gas and smoke were not
being cleared very fast.
| The following are the dead and their
bodies are with the exception Of Con-
| rad, still buried i'm the mine:
J. w. Larne, w. Larne, Jim Sluss,
Larez Aaladar, Hungarian; Anthony
Bruce, Pole: Fl. G. Conrad, Silas
White, John Patterson, Gus Harris,
| William Price, William Ward, Walter
Gwinn, Siph Gray, Sterling Williams,
| Albert Barnum, Nationan H~irston,
William Curry, Silas Harris, June KEEL
ley, Lee Price, John Whiteield.
81 miners in the Coaldale Com
pany's shaft at Coaldale. w. Va. were
probably instantly killed by an ex-
plosion that took place there about
noon today. There were three white
and eighteen colored men entombed.
and no hope is held out that n OF
them escaped death. The explosion
was of terrific force. and caused in
tense excitement throughout the sur
rounding country. many people be-
lieVing an earthquake had occurred.
The mining cars and most of the
property used in the mines are sup
posed To have been blown To pieces. At
$50 o'clock this afternoon a body of
one Of the miners was discovered some
hundred feet from the mine entry. so
mutilated that he is unrecogniZable.
All hope Of recovering alive the en-
tombed miners has bee shattered by
the pouring forth of gases from the
different entries. If the twenty-ene
men were not all killed instantly by
the explosion ii is believed hat they
II nave succumbed to the great ac-
emulation of gas following the ex-
ploeion.
The CoaldaIe operation is owned and
operated by the Cooper Brothers who
are also owners OF the Mil Creek and
Mcdowell coal and coke companies
The Coaldale plant is considered one
of the best operations in the field. Ed
Cooper is on the groun supervisie
h rescue work. 5