The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1907-12-27

Jacobs Creek, Pa. Especially An
explosion of gas in the Darr mine
of the Pittsburg Coal Company here
entombed between 200 and ESQ min
ers, and there is scarcely ray OF
hope that a single one of them will
be taken from the mines alive. Par
TALLY wrecked buildings in the vi
cinity of the mine and the condition
of the few bodies found early in the
rescue work indicate an explosion OF
such terrific force that 1t seems inn
possible that anyone could have sur
vived it. All of the bodies taken out
up to this time are terribly mutflated,
and three of them are headless.
This is the third mine disaster
since the first of the month in the
veins of bituminous coal underlying
Western Pennsylvania and. West Vir-
ginia, for the Naomi mine, near Fay
cite City, and the two mines at Mo-
nongah, w. Va, in which the earlier
explosions happened, are in the same
belt as the local workings Thurs
days catastrophe swells the number
of victims of deadly mine gas for the
10 days to between $50, and 500.
That the disaster does not equal
or even surpass in loss of life and at
tendant horrors the one in West Vir-
ginia is due to the devotion to church
duties of considerable number of
the miners. In observance of the
church festival many of the 400 or
more men regularly employed at the
mine did not go to work. Those who
escaped through this reason are MEM
bers of the Greek Catholic Church,
and they suspended work to cele-
brate st. Nicholas Day.
AS was the case at Monongah, the
explosion followed brief shutdown,
the Darf mine having, been closed
Tuesday and Wednesday.
1t was just 11.30 o'clock when the
tenth trip of loaded cars had been
brought out to the tipple, and there
came an awful rumbling sound, fol-
lowed Immediately by loud report
and concussion that shook nearby
buildings, and was felt within a ra-
dius 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 foated
across the Youghiogheny River.
Intuitively, everyone in the vicin-
ity knew what had happened and all
started for the one place, the mouth
of the mine. The river separates the
mine and the homes of many of the
miners, so that only a portion of
those who started for the scene were
able to reach 1t, there being scant
facilities for crossing the stream.
To those who could not cross the
water, the smoke and dust pouring
from the mines mouth told a story
of seething flames back in the work.
ings, and from this source came re-
ports that were persistent until late
in the day that the mine was burning.
The ventilating fans were kept In
operation almost without Interrupt
ton, however, the power plant hav-
ing withstood the force of the explo-
sion, and up to this time the rescuers
have found no fire any place in the
mine. AS far as known only one man
who went to work in the morning
escaped.
Joseph Mapleton, a pumper, emerg-
ed from one of the side entries short
ly after the explosion. He had left
the part of the mine where most of
the men were working, and was on
his way to the engine room for oil.
81 was near entry 81" said he,
when heard an awful rumbling.
started towards the entry, but the
next instant l was blinded, and, for
little time, did not know anything.
Then I got to the side entry and
worked my way OUT