Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-07

Three cha--ed bodies lying in the I'M
provised rlorgue, four badly injured men
and 493 r.en imprisoned by tons of coal,
rock and mine debris in the depths of
the hills surrounding this mining town,
with the chances all against single one
of them being alive, is the most accurate
summary obtainable tonight of the
results Of mine explosion today. which,
in all probability, was attended by
greater loss of life than any former dis
aster in the history of the bituminous
coal mining industry of America.
All Men at Work
The explosion occurred shortly after
10 o'clock today, after the full force of
500 men had gone to work in the two
mines affected. These two mines are
No. 6 and No. of the Consolidated Coal
company located on opposite sides of the
west fork OF the river, at this place, but
merged in their underground workings
by heading and on the surface by a
great steel tipple and bridge.
The finding of the three bodies and the
four dying men is the only reward of
the strenuous and uninterrupted work
on the part of the large rescuing forces
that Immediately set to work at every
possible point.
The three living men, while unable to
give any detailed report of the disaster
state that Immediately back of them
when they began their frantic struggle for
liberty there was a large number of men
engaged in similar struggle, while still
further back in the workings there was
larger number of whom they know
nothing.
Others Farther Underground
1t is the opinion of the mine officials
and others familiar with mining that
these seven men had not penetrated the
mine as far as had the majority of the
day shift when the explosion occurred,
and that they headed for and reached the
main entrance before the heavy cavein
that now blocks the entrance not more
than a few hundred feet of the main
opening of mine No. G.
AS to the miners referred to by the
rescued men as having been alive when
last seen it is believed they were caught
back of heavy cavein and could no,
have survived more than few minutes
in the deadly gases with which the entry
filled as soon as the ventilating system
was interrupted. There is more hope for
those in more remote sections of the
mine, as they may have reached work
ings where fresh air is supplied by other
openings, but at best, only the slender
hope is entertained for the survival of any
one of the men in the mine when the
debris can be cleared awao and communi-
cation with the outside re-established.
One Thousand Employed
The two mines regularly employ 1000
men, working in two shifts, 500 during the
day and 500 during the night, and the
best information obtainable at this time
work this morning and that all were
caught$
1t was shortly after 10 o'clock when the
explosion occurred. and at that hour even
the latest of the struggling force is Gus
tomarily at work, according to mine Of
ficias.
Beyond these figures the company Off
cials do not attempt to give estimates.
The general opinion in the town is that
the number of dead and imprisoned will
reach 5OO A few persons believe this
number will be exceeded, claiming that
more than half of the total force worked
during the day. while. on the other hand,
some think the number will be smaller.
How 1t Happened
There is much speculation as to the
cause of the explosion. but the generally
accepted theory is that it resulted from
black damp. scientifically known as
methane. 1t is believed that a miner at
tempted to set off blast, which blew out
and ignited an accumulation of the dead
ly gas, and that this, in turn. ignited the
coal dust, highly intiammable substance
found in greater or less quantities in all
West Virginia mines
However all explanations OF the cause
up to this time are necessarily specula-