The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-07
375 WORKERS DIE IN
WEST VA. COAL MINE
Men in Shafts Ar Impris-
oned by -ons Of Rock
and Debris.
FUMES DELAY RESCUE WORK
Sitting Atmosphere Turns Back
Gangs Striving to Dig Way Into
Gas Filled Headings.

A1onogah w Va, Dec. 6-Three hun
dred and eighty men were entombed
behind tons OF coal. rock and mine
debris in two successive mine expio-
sions this morning in shafts Nos. and
8 Of the Consolidated Coal company on
opposite sides of the West Fork river
here.
six bodies, horribly charred, have
been recovered, and five men escaped,
more dead than alive, through air
shafts. 1t is feared every one Of the
men in the mines IS dead or will sue
cumb before rescuers reach them
Clarence w Watson of Baltimore,
president of the mining company, was
At Parkersburg. w Va. when the ex-
plosion occurred and chartered a spe-
cial train to bring him to the scene.
He reached here late tonight.
Worst Mine Disaster In America.
The disaster is the worst in the his
tory of coal mining in West Virginia.
and probably the worst which ever
occurred in America.
While no definite statement can be
obtained it is believed the explosion
was caused by fire damp, IS only last
week both mines were inspected and
found in good condition The ventilat-
ing apparatus was in perfect order and
expert miners say there could not have
been any dust in the mine
Rescue work was begun promptly
superintendent and officers of the mine
were on the ground within half an
hour after the explosion and FASTENED
the relief measures.
Physicians Rushed to the Scene.
Every physician in Paramount was
hurried here to help the local doctors.
A temporary hospital was established
near the mouth of one of the mines
This was of great benefit to members of
the rescue gang, who were often over
come.
The deadly fire damp made it i'm
possible to do much early in the day,
especially at mine No. s. where the
ventiIating system was completely
wrecked Until another fan could be
brought from Shinnston. twelve miles
away. and temporarily installed, the
rescuers practically faced death every
time they ventured into the gas filled
hole.
Tonight the fumes are so strong it
is almost impossible to proceed until
carpenters replace the airholes in the
hillside and thus establish circulation
of air in the mines. Without these
the fan is of little avail.
Survivors Tell of Horror.
The explosion occurred shortly after
10 o'clock today after the full day force
had gone to work in the two mines
affected These mines are located on
opposite sides Of the West Fork river.
at this place, but merged in their I'M
,-lrf inc nd
or the surface by a great steel tipple
and bridge.
The living men are unable to give
any detailed report of the disaster or
even explain how they reached the
surface.
They say that Immediately back of
them when they began their frantic
struggle for liberty there was a large
number of men engaged in a similar
struggle, while still farther back in the
workings there was a larger number
of whom they know nothing.
May Get Air, but Perish.
There is more hope for those in more
remote sections of the mine, as they
may have reached workings where
fresh air is supplied by other openings
But at best only the most slender hope
is entertained for the survival of any
one OF the men in the mine until the
debris can be cleared away and COM
munication with the outside reestab-
lished.
The two mines regularly employed
900 men, working in two shifts, SOC
during the day and 500 during the
night.
The best information obtainable at
this time is that the entire day force
had gone to work this morning and
that all were caught
The explosion occurred at an hour
when even the latest of the Struggling
force is customarily at work. according
To mine officials.
Beyond these figures the company
officials DO not attempt to give esti-
mates.