Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1907-12-08

DEATH LIST LENGTHY ONE
Explosion Of Black Damp In Under
Ground Workiags as Moneassh In
West virsisis Was One Of the Worst
- Rsessd.


less than 400 miners were killed by
an explosion OF black damp. known TO
scientists as methane. IN mines No.
8 and No. Of the Consolidated Coal
company Of Baltimore at this place,
was considered Saturday morning by
those who took the most hopeful and
most conservative view OF the disas-
ter.
OF these victims six dead bodies had
been taken from mine No. at mid
night Friday night and sixty.five others
were piled up In the entry awaiting
completion OF facilities for bringing
them TO the surface.
From mine No. s. at the same hour.
fourteen bodies had been recovered
up TO that time. and a number OF 9th.
ers were ready TO be brought out as
soon as arrangement could be made 70
receive them.
Five rescuing parties. with ten men
In each party. are working at different
parts OF the two mlues TO the end
that every part of the workings may
be reached in the shortest possible
time.
Six charred and blackened bodies
lying In the improvised morgue pre-.
pared near the entrance 20 the mine.
five In n temporary hospital. lowering
between life and death from the awful
bruises sustained and the deadly gases
inhaled. and 800 men 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. was the most accurate summary
obtainable early Saturday OF the re-
suits OF mine explosion. which. In
all probability, was attended by greet.
er loss OF life than any former disaster
In The history OF the coal mining indus.
try In America.
The explosion occurred shortly after
the full force had gone 10 work In
the two mines affected. These mino1
are Nos. 6 and OF the Consolidated
Coal company. located on opposite
sides OF the West Fork river at this
place. but merged In their underground
workings by a heading. and on the
surface by a great steel tipple and
bridge.
The five dying men are unable 20
give any detailed report of the disaster
or to even explain how they reached
the surface. They state that imme-
diatsly back OF them when they began
their frantic struggle for liberty were
large number OF men engaged In q
similar struggle. while still further
back were still larger number.
The entry OF No. 8 mine 800 feet
from the mouth IL piled mp with wreck
age Of two strings of cars and two
electric motors.
The American miners OF the town
have been placed In charge Of the re-
lief work. but Italians and other for
eigncrs are working under them mos.
faithfully. II 10 impossible for n man
to remain long In the depths Of the
mine. and the rescue forces are divid.
cd In relays with frequent reliefs.
This place Is a mining town In Ma.
rion county. about six miles southwest
OF Fairmount. II has a population of
about 6.0Oe.
Until about ten years ago the mines
were operated almost exclusively by
Americans. but during the general
strike OF miners In the Pennsylvania
and Ohio fields many of the West vir
ginia miners went out In sympathy.
Al that time the mine owners brought
In large numbers Of foreigners to take
the places Of strikers. and they are
now IN the majority.
The explosion affected both mines.
and 20 far as 10 known Il has not been
established In which mine Il original
ed. Evidencing the terrible force OF
the conclusion. props In the entrance
OF No. mine. supporting the roof
were not only shattered and torn from
their positions. but were blown out of
the entry and TO the opposite side OF
the river.
Other evidence OF the awful force r.
shown In every section OF the mines
reached by the rescuers. Huge quan.
titles OF coal and rock were ioosened
and hurled into every opening. ard
all OF the underground structures are
wrecked beyond semblance OF It's orig.
nal shape.