Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-11
800 Widows and 1000 Or
phans at Monongah.
SALVAGE WORK PROGRESS
Contributions Up to Date Total
Almost $4,000.
170 BODIES so FAR RECOVERED
Additional Fans Have Helped to
Clear Workings of Deadly
Black Damp.

MONONGAH, w. Va, December IL
The excitement of the first few DAYS fol.
lowing the terrible disaster at the Fair
mont Coal Companys mines here has
about subsidized and the situation has set
tied down into steady systematic search
for the bodies of the victims Up to noon
today 10 bodies had been brought to tho
surface. and with large additions to tho
rescuing force 1t is hoped to have the
mines cleared very soon.
In the caverns penetrated today condi-
tons were found to be much better. There
was an absence of gas and the deadly
black damp to interfere with the search-
ers and the wreckage was not so great
The installation of additional fans has
much improved the ventilation.
The relief work is progressing in a sat-
isfactory manner. A dozen relief stations
are now in operation and supplies of all
kinds are coming in rapidly and being as
quickly disbursed The cash contributions
up to this time total $4,000.
In reply to an expression of sympathy
and offer of assistance from the Cleveland
Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Arnett
wired that the relief committee figured on
300 widows and 900 orphans as a result
of the disaster, and there was no question
that destitution among them would be
very great.
Rumor of Men Still Alive.
There were reports last night that some
of the miners entombed are yet living.
but they are not generally believed. One
workman claims to have heard knockings
or raps in one section of a room cut of
by debris. While it is believed he was
mistaken, efforts are being redoubled to
reach the spot.
Horrible sights greet the working party.
One body was found seated with lunch
basket before it, while one arm was
raised in the act of delivering a spoon
full of beans to the mouth. Death came
SO quickly that the body grew instantly
rigid In that position. In other rooms are
found missing limbs and few heads.
In one room there were found two arms
neatly severed from the body of which
there was not the slightest trace.
The officials of the Fairmont Coal Com
pany have been constantly on the scene
working as hard as the men with shovels
and picks. In many instances they have
gone thirty-six hours at stretch with
out sleep, while President Watson and
Vice President Wheelwright have been on
duty day and night. Mr. Wheelwright,
clad in a miners togs, with rubber coat.
boots and hat was out in the rain nearly
all day. Two men who, have rendered
good service are Messrs.-T II. Bennett
and ]. r. Buckingham, who have han
died a vast volume of detail associated.
with the direction of the rescue work.
Raise Fund Of $4,000.
West Virginia has rallied nobly to the
call for help sounded by .Monongah, and
it is not improbable that fully S35OO0
may be raised for the suffering families
of the miners killed in the explosion. Of
ficials of the Fairmont Coal Company
have contributed S17.5O0, the Monongah
Company 81, 500, while voluntary subscrip-
tions are coming in literally. =
Not only Fairmont, but the whole stateS
is engaged in the movement to alleviate
the suffering and sorrow at Monongah,
Wheeling, for instance, has manifested
deepest concern, and yesterday Mayor
Moore of Monongah received from the
Wheeling board of trade a set of resolu-'
tions offering coincidence and pledging as
sistance. Request was made that Monon-
gah call upon the organization for any
aid in its power to give. Various financiar
institutions are contributing. The City
Bank of Wheeling gave $500. the Second
National of Cumberland has given 500,
indicating sympathy on the part of Mary
land. Clarksburg, Grafton and nearly
every city in the state are contributing
In amounts ranging. from $500 down to
small contributions of 81, and even 30
cents
The employees of the Fairmont post office
raised a fund of 500, headed by POST
master A. H. Fleming. with $50. As
sistant Postmaster Brand gave $40, while
every cashier clerk and messenger gave
S. each. Pittsburg is raising fund,
and has so notified Monongah.
The National Grand Lodge of Elks has
contributed $1,000, a result of the ef7
who is one of the local lodge of Eks.
The relief work is in the hands of a
general relief committee, of which Mayor &
Arnett of Fairmont is chairman. At a
meeting, held in his offices, it was de-
eided to add to the committee the names
of Bishop P. J. Donahue of Wheeling
and Judge ]. M. Mason of the circuit
court. The committee consists of the
above and Mayor Moore of Monongah.
Father Boutlou Rev. J. c. Broomfield.'
Rev. H. G. Stoetzer, ]. E. Sands and j.
NJ Jacobs.
Fifty Newspaper Men.
The scene of Americas greatest mine
catastrophe has lost its fascination for
the thousands who have surged about the
pit entrance of mines Nos. q and OF
the Fairmont Coal Company from the
moment of the awful explosion of last
Friday morning. This crowd had been
dwindlng ever since rain started Monday
night, uIltll last III there only renamed
the forces employed in rescue work. the
newspaper workers and the inconsolable
near relatives of victims, who remained,
faithful in their vigil during the down.
pour all night and all day and are still
shivering and enduring eXc-uciating ply
steal discomforts in the wet snow that
has succeeded the rain.
Rescuers are working necessarily After,
the bodies are located the rescuers say.
the most difficult part of the work is
encountered. The bringing out of the
bodies. distance o. mile or more
through the underground workings, Is
tedious on account of meager facilities,
and considerable confusion results in re-
porting the number recovered.
Telegraphic service at Fairmont has
been under heavy strain the last week
Monongah has no telegraph Office and the
fifty correspondents on the scene have
to go to Fairmont. eight miles distant.
where they file their copy. The Western
Union is the only service here. the local
manager being Mr.. w. T. Mcwhorter.
Under ordinary circumstances there is
only one operator. but five extra men have
been at work day and night. Over 10000