Evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1907-1913, 1907-12-11
MANY men WORKING
Digging Graves FoP,h9 Victims Of
The Mine Disaster.
TWO MORE CEMETERIES OPENED
Expected That 200 Bodies Will Be
Recovered By This Evening
Relief Fund of $4,000
Has Been Raised.

Fairmont, w. Va, Dec. 11.--Fifty
section men in the employ Of the
Baltimore Il Ohio railroad and 25 la
borers were sent here from Clarks-
burg to help dig graves. The work
of rescue Is proceeding so rapidly
that bodies accumulated while graves
were being dug, and 1t became neces-
sary to summon additional help. In
all 142 bodis have been recovered and
by night It is probable that the num-
Der will reach 200.
1t has rained and showed all day
until the scene Is sea of slush. In
addition to the need of more men to
dig graves 1t was found necessary to
ind more ground for graves. The lit
tle company cemetery was not large
enough, and additional land was do
nated by the Fairmont Coal Co. for
burial purposes.
There are reports that some OF the
Diners entombed are yet living, but
they are not generally believed. One
workman claims to have heard knock
ngs or raps In one section of q
toom cut off by debris While 1t is
believed he was mistaken, efforts are
being redoubled to reach the spot
Horrible sights greet the working
party One body was found seated
with lunch basket before 1t, while
,ne arm was raised in the act Of de-
livering spoonful OF beans to the
mouth. Death came so quickly that
he body grew instantly rigid in that
position. In other rooms are found
missing limbs and few heads, In
lne room there were found two arms
neatly severed from the body, OF
which there was not slightest trace.
The bodies taken out last night
ike those recovered earlier, were for
the most part in bad condition, be-
ing MANNED and blackened and, be-
sides, many of them were far adj
5anced In decomposition. The health
officers fear an epidemic Of fever, due
o the decaylng bodies OF the men
Ind the animals caught in the mine,
and have prepared to enforce heroic
measures if it becomes necessary.
Lime is being taken into the mine
and scattered over the bodies.
West Virginia has rallied nobly to
the call for help sounded by Mo-
nongah, and it Is not improbable that
fully $4,000 may be raised for the
suffering families of the miners kill
ed in the explosion. Officials Of the
Fairmont Coal Co. have contributed
SIT, 500 the Monongah Co. $4,000 while
voluntary subscriptions are coming in
literally.
Not only Fairmont but the whole
state is engaged in the movement to
alleviate the suffering and sorrow at
Monongah Wheeling, for instance.
has manifested deepest concern, and
today Mayor Moore, of Monongah, re-
ceived from the Wheeling board OF
trade a set of resolutions Offering
coincidence and pledging assistance.
Request was made that Monongah call
upon the organization for any aid In
its power to give. Various financial
institutions are contributing. The
City bank, of Wheeling giving $500.
The Second National, of Cumberland,
has given 500, indicating sympathy
on the part of Maryland. Clarksburg,
Grafton and nearly every city in the
state are contributing in amounts
ranging from $500 down to small con-
tributions of 81 and even so cents.
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