The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-12-09
Now Eating Into the Bowels of
Mine Wherein 1t Is Estimat-
ed Four Hundred Men Paid
Price of Their Occupation.
HEALTH AUTHORITIES AND
MINE OFFICERS IN CLASH.
Adds Deeper Sorrow to Be-
reaved Women Who Still
Await News of Their Loved
Ones in Awful He'll Pit.
DISPUTE OVER BURIAL.
BLACK DAMP is INTERFERING
MUCH WITH WORK OF RESCU-
ING PARTIES WHO ARE LABOR.
ING DAY AND NIGHT.

MOnOnSan. W. va, Dec. 3.-N itH
only forty-three bodies of dead miners
actually removed from the wrecked
ny, fire. which broke out Sunday morn
ing, but is now under control. The
heartrending work OF bringing the
charred bodies out of the hell hole was
resumed to day. In addition to bodies
in the mines, fifteen were found dead
on the outside, which leaves 32S bod
les still in the mines. Health author
tiles and the mine officers are now In a
clash. The health board wants To
bury the dead bodies in a trench with
out identification, while on the other
hand, the mine officials wish TO turn
the mover TO friends. This argument
between the two interested parties Is
doing much to increase the sorrow #
the immediate families of the dead
miners. II too, is delaying the work
of rescuing parties.
Worked All Night.
All through last night the work If
recovering the men entombed in the
mines here went steadily forward.
shift followed shift into the black open
ing of the man-ways. and shift after
shift dragged themselves into the
| fresh air. reeling and exhausted.
These, as they appeared were forced
into the temporary hospitals, but they
refused to take rest
| Last night they took out two bodies
| from No. S. Tonight they will take
out many more dead who have already
| been dug out of the wreckage and are
+ lying along the catacombs ready for re
moval. The authorities of the mines
believe that 1t is best TO postpone the
removal of the bodies until after night
fall in order to avoid the demonstra-
tions of the grief-stricken crowd.
| May Take Three Weeks.
! Every hour the probability grows
that it will require at least three weeks
! to bring the last of the dead miners
| to the surface.
This morning gaunt old miner
named John Morgan came staggering
out of the hole at No. s. gasping for
breath. He was noted for his brav-
cry. He had been miner all his life.
and his face was shot blue with oil
burns from the blasting. Il have
been back a mile and a half he said.
Il went in as long as I could get any
| air. | had to crawl out with my
mouth to the ground to get breath.
There is no hope. They are all dead.
| The yare at least two miles in
sunny hills, measured mile and half
with their eyes. Why, it must be
away over there" said one, indicating
tie far-off sky kne. Yes, Just beyond
that sky line there were hills and hills
outside the range of vision under
which the dead were lying in huL-
dreds.
The deadly black damp hinders the
work of rescue quite as much as the
broken rock and timbers 1t is this
which most exhausts the men.
Here and there among the debris
were groups of twinkling lights, the
lamps Of the dead miners. As the
dawn frightened the car tracks became
black with moving professions of peo-
pie. which halted and punched around
the mine. The hammers of a score of
men working on temporary morgue
rang out sharply. Cots, beddings.
blankets and stretchers were stacked
here and there. Special officers kept
the crowd beyond barbed-wire barri-
cade.
Suddenly out Of the lark mouth Of
the slope came one OF the night shifts.
dozen men in all. roped together like
steers. Their faces were black and
cleaning with sweat Their eyes
rolled Whitley. The leader seemed
strong enough. but number staggered
and hung to his rope The last man
out. huge Norwegian cursed sayageiy.
NO use'' he said. ''it's hell in there.
What's the use anyway. The mine is
on fire, look"
Scenes Heartrending.
Heartrending scenes crowded fast
one upon the other in this sorely af-
fiicted mining community today Fu-
neral professions were in sight in all