The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-20
TWO HUNDRED MEN
ENT0MBED IN mine
Third Great Coal Mine
Disaster in Same Belt
In a Month.
JACOBS cREEK pa r,oo.

oASob CREEK, PA, December 10.
IN EXPLOSION OF gas In the Darr
.,lllle, or the Pittsburg Coal Company,
located here. to-day entombed between
zoo and 2a0 miners, and there IL srarca.
ly ray of hope that single one .of
tnem VIII be taken from the rnines
aiiVe. Partially wrecked buildings in
the vicinity OF the mine and the con
iiticn of the Few bodies found early
In tho rescue work indicate an explo-
sion of such terrific force that it seems
impossible that any one could have
survived II. All of the thirteen bodies
taken out up to this time are terribly
lnut1luted. and three OF them arc head
less.
This is tho third mine disaster since
the first of the month in the veins OF
bituminous coal underlying Western
Pennsylvania and West Virginia, TO-.
The mine near Fayette and the two
mines neas Monongah. w. Va, in
which the two explosions occurred are
in the same belt as the local workings.
To.6ay's catastrophe swells the mum.
Der of victims of deadly mine gas
for the nineteen days TO between $50
and soc.
That to-day's disaster does not equal
ts0i- essrF stifpass IN loss or life and
attendant horrors the one IN West Wiz
ginia is due to the devotion to church
duties of a considerable number o.
the miners. In observance of the
church festival many of the 400 man
regularly employed ut the mine d!d
not so to work this morning. Those
who escaped through this reason arc
members OF the Greek Catholic Church.
and they suspended work to celebrate
St Nicholas Day
AS was the case at Monongah, the
p1lN tof e,t,,
the Dnrr mine having been closed Tues
day and Wednesday. 1t was 1880
O'Clock when the tenth trip of loaded
cars had been brought out to the tip
pie, and there came an awful rumbling
sound. followed Immediately by loud
report and n conclusion that shook
nearby buildings and was felt within
q radius OF several miles.
At the same time there came out Of
the mouth OF the mine an immense
cloud Of dense smoke and dust that
floated across the Yougnlogheny River.
Crowd Rusbcs to Scene.
1ntuitlvely every one in the vicinity
knew what had happened, and all
started for the one place. the mouth
mine and the homes Of many of the
miners, SO that only portion OF those
who started for the scene were able
to reach It. there being scant facilities
for crossing the stream. To those who
could not cross the water. the smoke
and dust pouring, in from the mines
mouth told story of seothing flames
back In the WORKINGS. and from this
ststent until late in the day that the
mine was burning.
The ventilating fans were kept II,
operation almost without interruption.
however, the power plant having with
n tta az Nln ncfn a.,
up to this time the. rescuers have
found no fire in any place in the mine.
AS far as known. only one man who
went t., 70 work this morning escaped;
from one OF the side entries shos~sy
after the explosion. tIe had left the
part OF the mine where most of the
to the englne-room for oil. u was
near entry 81" said he, when heard
an awful rumbling. started towards
the entry, but the next instant L was
not know anybhing. Then | got to
the side entry and worked my way
out"
Mapleton was somewhat cut and
bruised but later returned to the mine
and Joined the rescuing parties.
Prompt Rescue Work.
OF tho mine. was not in the mine when
sthe explosion occurred, and he quickly
organized rescuing parties, starting
one force of Twenty-Five men With re-
liefs at short Intervals in the main
entry, and similar force at side
Ientry. 1t is hoped to reach the greater
part of the victims through the latter.
So far little trouble has been encoun-
tered on account OF gas or lack OF a!r
by the rescuers
While tho officials and the rescuers
have only the faintest hope that any
of tho men may be living, all work Is
being carried on upon the theory that
some may have found places of safety
and every point OF the workings viii
be explored. The main office OF the
company Is In PittsburS, and immedi-
ately upon receipt of the news Of the
explosion. the officers hurried to the
mine and are leading and llrecting
the rescue work.
Were in Remote Workings.
About 1900 feet from the mouth
snnopntered by the rescuers. It is
found ,neany, q mile and a half he
yond this point, How long II will re-
quire to remove enough Of the fallen
roof to open u passage to these remote
Workings can only be conjeetured. as
are met with, y Is hoped from the
progress made pp to this time, how
ever; that the farther section will be
reached early to-morrow. There are
|sevcral side entries, through which
lContlnued on yhlrd Page,l
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