The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1907-12-12
HUNDREDS OF MEN
BURIED IN Mine
TERRIBLE EXPLOSION OCCURS
IN TWO SHAFTS NEAR
!. >. MoNoNGAH, W. VA.

Victims Probably Number Nearly 400
-DIsaster Worst In History Of
BItumlnous Coal FieIds-ResuIt OF
Black Damp and Dust.
Monongah. .v.,Dec. six charred
and blackened bodies lying in the i'm.
provised morgue prepared near the
entrance to the mine, five men hover.
ing between life and death from the
awful bruises sustained and the dead
~ gases inhaled, In a temporary hos
pital into which one Of the company
buildings has been transformed, and
1853 men imprisoned by tons of coal,
rock and mine debris in the depth of
the hills surrounding this mining town,
with the chances all against a single
n Of them being alive, is the most
accurate summary o%btainable of the
results Of a mine explosion Friday
which in all probability was attended
by greater loss Of life than any former
disaster in the history Of the bitumin-
oAo SOo4 AAAAAu6 4AuuStly VI k1u1SlxCds
Nearly 400 In Mines.
The explosion occurred shortly after
ten o'clock, after the full force of $50
men had gone to work in the two
mines affected. These mines are Nos.
6 and 8 Of the West Fork river, at this
place, but merged in their underground
workings by a heading and on the sur,
face by a great steel tipple and
bridge.
The finding Of the corpses and the
badly injured men is the only reward
for strenuous and uninterrupted work
on the part Of large rescuing forces
that Immediately set to work at every
possible point.
The five living men are unable to
give any detailed report of the disas-
ter OF to even explain how they
reached the surface. They state that
Immediately back of them when they
began their frantic struggle for lib
erty 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 know nothing.
Entonbed Men Probably Dead.
It Is the opinion Of the mine officials
and others familiar with mining that
these men had not penetrated
the mine as far as had the majority of
the. day shift when the explosion &C.
Cured and that they headed for and
reached the main. entrance before the
heavy cave-in that nov blockades the
entrance more than a. 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 a heavy cave-in
OF coal and mine room and that they
could not have survived more than a
few minutes in the deadly gases with
which the entry filled as soon as the
ventilating system was interrupted.
There is nor hope for those in
more remote sections Of the mine, as
they may have reached 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 established.
Black Damp is Blamed.
There is much speculation as to the
cause Of the explosion, but the most
generally accepted theory is that it
resulted from black damp, scientifcal-
ly known as methane. It is believed
that a miner attempted to set off a
blast, which blew out and ignited an
accumulation Of this deadly gas, and
that this In turn ignited the coal dust,
a highly inhammable substance found
in greater or less quantity in all West
Virginia mines. However, all explana-
tons OF the cause up to this time are
necessarily speculative. Only a thor
ough investigation after the mine is
reopened will disclose the cause If it
is ever ascertained.
The explosion affected both mines
and sc far as now known appears to
have done about as much damage in
one as in the other. It has not been
established in which mine it original.
ed. 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 we're blown out of the
entry and to the opposite side of the
river. Other evidence Of the awful
force is shown in every section of the
mines that has been reached by the
%rescuers.
Relief Work 10 Difficult.
The American. miners Of the town
have been placed In charge Of the re.
lief work, but the Italians and other
foreigners are working under them
most faithfully. It is impossible for a
man to remain long in the depths Of
the mine and tho rescue forces are
divided to work in relays with fire.
quent reliefs. Many in the relief par.
ty have already become exhausted and
been sent to the surface.
Monongah is a mining towp in