The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-12-05
MINERS BURIED
IN NAOMI MINE
At FAYETTE CITY, PA, ARE PROB,
ABLY BETWEEN FIFTY AND
SIXTY MEN.
HALF OF THEM HAVE
NO DOUBT MET DEATH
Hundreds of Rescuers Have Been
Working Steadily For Hours-one
Dead Body Has Been RemoVed-Pa.
thetie Scenes at Mouth of Shaft.

Fayette City, Pa, Dec. 2.-BetweeL
so and 60 coal miners are entombed
in the Naomi mine of the United Coal
Co, three miles west of this city, fo,.
lowing terrific explosion. Probably
half the imprisoned men were killed
outright by the explosion.
Hundreds of volunteer rescuers hav.
ing been working for hours trying to
save the others.
One dead body had been removed
from the mine.
State Mine Inspector Lontitt is en-
the scene and pronounces the ,explo-
sio very serious one. He says the
mine was we'll conducted and consider
ed safe
A large force of rescuers are work.
ing in relays, but it is feared it will
be some hours before the point where
1t is thought most of the men are, will
be reached.
Threatening to be the worst of all
the frightful coal mine tragedies with
which the Pittsburg district has been
visited, this latest one has aroused the
people for miles around.
Thousands are fiocking to the mine
mouth, where every means known to
mine operation is being eXerted to
reach the men enduring living death
in the bowls of the earth.
Aid has been secured from Mononga-
hela City, Bellevernon and other near
by towns. All the officials Of the coal
company have been hurried to the
spot, while every available miner in
this section of the state has been
pressed into service as reScuer.
The explosion was caused, it is said,
by a miner going into an .old entry
with a lighted lamp. The mine en-
ploys 200 men, about rs of whom work
on the night shift. Most of the miners
had entered the old working when a
binding flash Illuminated the mine
There was a roar as tons of coal and
slate crashed down into the entries
crowded with workmen. Then utter
darkness followed, the explosion put
ting out of business completely the
lighting and air facilities in the
mine.
1t was several minutes before the
enormity Of what had happened dawn
ed upon few who had escaped. The
mine Immediately filled with gases,
ind several not hurt by the explosion
perished while running to get into the
fresh air.
One entire section of the mine was
found to be cut off from the outside,
All who are back there are dead or dy-
ing. The great quantities of gas often
found in the mines in this territory
means quick death for these men uu-
less their rescue is speedily accom-
| pIished
The report of the explosion shook
buildings in Fayette City and could be
heard for miles. Instantly the populace
recognized its import
Another mine disaster" was the
frightened prediction uttered slmult a.
neously by thousand OF lips.
In the homes of miners the explo-
sion fell like death signal and emp
tied every miners cottage in the VI
cinity. The occupants of tuese-men,
women and chilren-forr the saddest
picture in the scenes aOout the mine
this morning.
The women and children are crying
continually and stare with hope at the
seemingly fruitless work of rescue.
Figures on the number Cf men i'm
prisoned in the mine vary, andit is m
possible to get correct estimate from
the officials here. That there were
over 50 men in the entries some Of
the miners who escaped assert, while
the officials say the number is much
loss.