The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1907-12-13
Five Hundred Men We're in the
Workings at Monongah, w. Va,
When Accident Occurred.
FEW WILL ESCAPE ALIVE
viii Probably Prove to be Greatest
Disaster That Has Ever Hap
pened in History of
American Mining.

Monongah, w. Va, Dec. six
charred bodies lying in the improvised
morgue, five badly injured men and
$50 men imprisoned by tons of coal,
rock and mine debris in the depths
of the hills surrounding THIS mining
town, with the chances all against a
single one of them being alive was
the most accurate summary obtain
able Friday night of the results of
mine explosion which in all proba-
bility was attended by greater loss of
life than any former disaster in the
history of the bituminous coal mining
industry of America
The explosion occurred shortly af-
ter 10 o'clock Friday after the full
force of 500 men had gone to work
in the two mines affected These
mines are numbers and s of the
Consolidated Coal company, located
on opposite sides of the West Fork
of the river, at this place, but
merged in their underground workings
by heading and on the surface by
great steel tipple and bridge.
The finding of the six bodies and
the five dying men is the only re-
ward for strenuous and uninterrupted
work on the part of large rescuing
forces that Immediately set to work
at every possible point.
The six living men, while unable to
give any detailed report of the dis
aster, state 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 further back in
the workings there was a larger
number of whom they knew nothing.
1t is the opinion of the mine officials
and others familiar with mining that
these seven men had not penetrated
the mine as far as had the majority
of the day shift when the explosion
occurred and that they headed for and
reached the main entrance before the
heavy cavern that now blockades the
entrance more than few hundred
feet beyond the main opening of mine
No. 6.
AS to the miners referred to by
the rescued men as having been alive
when last seen, it is believed that
they were caught back of heavy
cave-in and could not have survived
more than few minutes in the deadly
gases with which the entry filled as
soon as the ventilating system was
interrupted There is more hope for
those in more remote sections of the
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 communication
with the outside re-established
At II o'clock Friday the list of
employees of mines Nos. and s, at
Monongah. had been checked off,
showing that $50 were in the two
mines when the explosion occurred.
Of these, six have been brought to
the surface dead and five escaped
through air shafts. The latter five
are in the miners hospital here, with
serious injuries and in a precarious
condition.
Neither entry has been opened to
the real workings and the indications
are that majority if not all caught
in the mine are dead.
1t is reported here that mine Of
ficials have ordered $50 collins shipped
to Monongah as soon as possible.
There is much speculation as to
the cause of the explosion, but the
most generally accepted theory is
that it resulted from black damp,
scientifically known as methane. II is
believed that a miner attempted to
set off a blast which blew out and
ignited the coal dust, p highly inflam-
mable substance found in greater or
less quantities in all West Virginia
mines. However, all explanations of
the cause up to this time are neces'
sarily speculative. Only a thorough
investigation after the mine is re-
opened will disclose the cause If it is
ever ascertained.