The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-12-20
Rescuers Are Working Night
And Day and the Big Fans
Kept Constantly Going That
Life May Be Sustained.
OFFICIALS STAT MENT.
SAY 1T is WONDERFUL THAT THE
FORCE OF EXPLOSION DID NOT
EXTEND TO THREE OTHER
MINES CONNECTED.

JdCouS SIeeh, I'd, Dec. ut -
faint hope that any of the two hun
dred miners trapped in Darr mine are
still living, but work is proceeding on
the theory that some may be found in
PAGES of safety. The fans used to
force air into the mine are working.
This gives some hope. The most re-
liable information PAGES the number III
the mine at the time of the exposion,
at one hundred and ninety, but there
may be more. Thirreen mangled bod
les have been recovered. If yesterday
had not been church holiday many
more men would have been caught in
the explosion. Officials say il is d
miracle that the force of the explosion
did not extend TO the three other large
mines connected with Darr mine.
AS the case at Monongah, the explo-
sion followed a brief shutdown, the
Darr mine having been closed Tuesday
and Wednesday. II was just IL 80
O'Clock, when the tenth trip OF loaded
cars had been brought out to the tip
pie and there came an awful rumbling
sound. followed Immediately by loud
report and concussion that shook
nearby buildings and was felt within
a radius of several miles. AT the
same time there came out of the
mouth of the mine an immense cloud
of dense smoke and dust that floated
across the Youghiogheny river.
lntuitively every one in the vicinity
knew what had happened, and all
started for the one place, the mouth of
the mine. The river separates the
mine and homes of many miners so
that only portion of those who start
ed for the scene were able to reach il,
there being scant facilities for cross
ing the stream. To those who could
not cross the water the smoke and
dust pouring from the mines mouth
told story OF seething flames back in
the workings and from this sorce came
reports that were persistent until late
in the day that the mine was burning.
The ventilating fans were kept in
operation almost without interrution.
however, the power plant having with
stood the force of the explosion, and
up to this time the reseuers have
As far as known, only one man who
went to work this morning escaped.
Joseph Mapleton. pumper. emerged
from one of the side entries shortly af-
ter the explosion.\ He had left the
part of the mine where most of the
men were working and was on the way
to the engine room for oil.
Il was in entry IL" said he. when
heard an awful rumbling. / started
toward the entry, but the next instant
was blinded and for little time
did not know anything. Then I got
to the side entry and worked my way
out
The main Office of the company is in
Pittsburg and Immediately upon re-
ceipt of the news of the explosion the
officers hurried to the mine and are
leading and directing the rescue work
About 500 feet from the mouth II
the mine heavy fall of roof was en-
countered by the rescuers. II is be-
lieved that most of the men will be
found nearly mile and a half beyond
this point. How long it will require
TO remove enough of the fallen roof to
make a passage to this remote work
ings can only be conjectured, as it de-
pends upon how often these falls are
met with. 1t is hoped from the prog
ress made up to this time, however,
that the farther section will be reached
early tomorrow. There are several
side entrances through which it is ex-
pected some men will be reached.
A remarkable feature of the disas-
ter Is the almost complete absence OF
the narrowing scenes usually enacted
by women, friends and relatives of the
victims on such occasions. Condi-
tions preventing of easy access to the
mouth of the mine are partly respon-
sible for this and those in charge of
the work are doing everything possible
to keep the women and children away
from the scene.
The blacksmith shop has been fitted
up as temporary morgue and num-
Der of physicians are in waiting -
render any services that may be re-
Quired Of them.