New-York tribune., 1907-12-21
HALT WORK OF RESCUE.
Gases Stop Recovering of Bodies IN
Dark; Nine.

,,.- Creek penn Dec ae-Fron the Darr
mine of the Ir-Jtsburg Coal Company, "Ieie
a terrific explosion yesterday lmprisohea anu
almost beyond doubt, killed every one OF the
two hundred more men who had enuefeu 'L1'
,,ine for the day. only six bodies have been
brought to the surface late tonight oInei'
have been found and lie in the entry awaiting
4 propitious tTne Tor thelr IehloNdI ~ ~
temporary morgue.
Most of the men however, are still hemmed
in by heavy falls of slate and other roof for
nation, mile and half and more beyono 1ae
point TO which the rescuers have peneuateo'
Rescue work has been halted A vast amount
of brattishing must be done before 1t can pro
ceed The rescuing parties, 1900 feet from tle
main entrance, have found conditions such that
IA avert an additional disaster precautionary
work must be done. The poisonous gases must
be forced from the sections beyond and addi-
tiona5 air and ventilation must be provided for
that section. To neglect these precautions and
proceed with the explorations is to risk the Ire
Of every man in the rescuing force. To pro-
vide these safeguards VIII require hours OF
time and il is not believed that the great mass
Of bodies will be reached before late to-Tnorro"
afternoon.
Conditions about the mines and In this little
mining town are greatly improved The men
who began a holiday celebration by drinking
their carousng and disorder, which made last
night hideots. An important factor in bring
ing about this condition the acquiescence
Of the proprietor Of the towns only hotel IN the
caroners request that his bar be closed untli
after the bodies had been removed and the
funerals were over. No other drinking place
within two miles Of the mine is OPEN
Probably more potent than all else in this
improved condition was the arrival from Kit
ID I-ofI Tow a
former rector of St Timothy's Catholic Church
here of which q majority Of the victims were
members During the day he gave spiritual
CONSOLATION TO the widows and orphans and
talked 10 the men along lines to make them
sober and reflective.
As to the number Of victims estimates vary
from 175 10 $50. Coroner A C Wynne, Of West
1noreland County. said tonight that after a
careful investigation he was satisfied the num-
her would he between $50 and I90-
Conrad Schutil, forty-eight years old. crazed
by the death in the mine of his and other
relatives. ended his own life to-day by drown
ing in the river near the mine. He was Wld-
over and leaves four small children.
Mrs Carrino Deano was restrained with great
difficulty from committing suicide to-day. She
lost her husband and two sons in the disaster
and was crossing the river in the sky ferry" a
basket car suspended from cable, in quest of
the bo0leS @hen Sle was SelZed Win lfle iued
Of leaping into the stream In the frail car the
efforts of three required to restrain
her until landing reached.
President John Mitchell of the United Mine
Workers of America telegra phed from Indian
apolis authorizing district officials to draw upon
the national treasury for $1,000 for the families
Of the victims.
Harrisburg. Penn, Dec 2o.-James L. Rod
erick, chief of the state Department Of Mines,
started for Jacobs Creek to-day assist in the
recovery of men in the Darr mine. Mr.. Rod
erick has directed the nine mine inspectors in