Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-07

precipitate even more pitiful scenes thar
those Of today. with hysteria in all of it.
devious forms rampant among the popu'
lace. Precautions have already beer
taken to prevent these narrowing mani.
festationS OF grief, but there Is little hope
that they Will avail.
The rescuing parties penetrated mine
No. s about $3.50 feet before they came
upon the first OF the dead. a majority OF
the corpses will. it is believed, be found
about a mile further back.
Effects Of Explosion.
1t is hardly possible that all the bodies
will be recovered for several days. The
900 men were working in a territory one
mile square. 1t will be days before a
thorough search of all of this area can be
made. AS the rescuing parties advance
they must clear away the debris. The
and these choke the entries on all sides.
Many heavy brattices we're also denol-
ished. peculiar and remarkable fea-
ture is that notwithstand ng the force of
the explosion, very little OF the nine roof
was wrecked. By those who witnessed 1t
the explosion was likened to the discharge
OF cannon. Every movable object shot
with terrific force through the mine. At
The entrance of mine No. S a concrete
power house was completely demolished.
A piece of concrete Weighing fully 1000
pounds was blown clear across the West
Fork river landing on the side of a hill.
In a radius OF half a mile not another piece
of concrete can be found. Great holes
were torn in the hill on either side of the
entrance of No. s. Mine cars were
crushed as though made of paper. and
the huge steel tipple was blown apart.
On al sides electric light wires were
thrown to the ground, and many persons
narrowly escaped death from these In the
rush for the mine, following the expio-
sion.
The Fairmont and Clarksburg Traction
Ccmpany's cars pass within ten yards Of
the mine entrance. and a. large car
capped being blown into the West Fork
river. All the passengers were stunned
by the terrific conclusion.
Fifty Physicians.
The mine officials state that 40 per cent
o. the victims are Anne ricans.
Fifty physicians are at or near the
party, many of whom have been over
come and needed medical attention, and
ready to succor any who may be brought
from the depths of the mine alive.
The company has sent rush orders for
collins to Pittsburg, GAINESVILLE and other
towns. the total number ordered being 4OO
up to this time.
Gov. Dawson of West Virginia notified
the cOmpanys officers that he had wired
Chief Mine Inspector Paul of Charlestown
to the scene, and that he would arrive at
Monongah this morning. The governor
also said that if he could be of any assist
ance in any capacity he would be glad to
do anything within his power.
. Accident Due to Gas.
1t is stated that eighty bodies have been
located. It was the intention to bring
these bodies to the surface early today.
but inadequate facilities, owing to the
force of the explosion. prevented this.
C. w. Watson, president Of the Console
dation Coal Company. dictated the follow
ing statement to the Associated Press:
The accident is deplorable from any
standpoint. 1t was entirely unexpected.
AS set We do not know the exact cause
Of the explosion.
1T might have resulted from a blown
out shot igniting a pocket of gas. About
% per cent OF the mine accidents Of the
country are caused in this manner. 1t is
probable the present one resulted from
the same cause. We will conduct a rigid
investigation. investigations, however, will
not benefit the dead miners. Their fami-
lies will be looked after. The company
will bury all the dead. Every facility
within the power of the company Is being
extended to all newspa perman in order
that the general public may be accurately
Informed as to the disaster. We have
nothing to conceal and are pleased to give
whatever information we can
Saloons All Closed.
All saloons In Monongah have been
closed since the explosion, and the 5000
miners employed in other mines in the
vicinity have suspended work and ten
dered their assistance to the rescuing
parties.
Shortly after midnight fire broke out in
the main entry of No. mine. and delayed
rescue work several hours. It was due to
starting fan, and did little damage. It
Is expected free access will have been
gained to all sections on both mines by
O'Clock this evening.
The property loss il estimated at $4,000,
exclusive of the cost of rescue work.
1000 Men Employed.
The mines are located on opposite sides
of the West Fork river, at this place, but
merged in their underground workings by
. heading and on the surface by great
steel tippie and bridge.
The two mines regularly employ 1000
men. working in two shifts 800 during the
day and 500 during the night, and the
best information obtainable is that the
entire day force had gone to work this
morning and that all were caught With
in an hour after the explosion relief par
ties. composed Of brave. experienced men.
were at work. Superintendent John
Brannon Of the shaft mine at No. head
ed the first relief party. He had ten men
with him. Charles Price. one Of the men
in that corps. was overcome by fire damp
and had to be brought out. He narrowly
escaped with his life.
Cause Of Explosion.
There is much speculation as to the
cause Of the explosion, but the most gen.
orally accepted theory is that 1t resulted
from black damp, scientifically known az
methane. 1t is believed that a miner at
tempted to set OFF blast. which blew out
and ignited an accumulation Of this dead
coal dust, highly inflammable substance
West Virginia mines. However, ali ex-
plantations of the cause up to this time
are necessarily speculative. Only a thor
ough Investigation after the mine is re-
opened will disclose the cause, II 1t is ever
ascertained.
The explosion affected both mines, and
so far as now known appears to have
done about as much damage in one as in
the other 1t has not been established in
which mine Ii originated. Evidencing the
terrific force of the conclusion props in
the entry of No. 6 mine supporting the
roof were not only shattered and torn
from their position. but were blown out
of the entry and to the opposite side OF
the river. Other evidence of the awft,I
force is shown in every section Of ths