Evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1907-1913, 1907-12-20
More Than 200 Miners EntOmbed
In Mine Near COnneIIsviI|e.
BODIES TAKEN OUT MuTIlATEl
Great Disaster In the Same Field
Wherein the Monongah Diggings
Are Located Only One Man
Able to Get Out.


Special dispatch to the Journal
Jacobs Creek, Dec. 20.--An explosion
of gas in the Darr mine of the Pitts
burg Coal Co. Thursday entombed he
tween 200 and $50 miners, and there
is scarcely a ray of hope that sim
gle one of them will be taken out
alive. Partially wrecked buildings in
the vicinity of the. mine and the con-
dition of the few bodies found early
in the rescue work indicate con-
cussion of such terrific force as to
make it seem impossible that anyone
could have survived it All of the
IL bodies taken out up to II o'clock
Thursday night are terribly .nntilat-
ed. three being headless.
This is the third mine disaster since
the LIST of the month in the veins OF
the bituminous coal underlying West
ern Pennsylvania and West Virginia
for the Naomi mine, near Fayette
City, and the two mines at Monongah
w. Va, in which the earlier explo-
sions happened, are in the same belt
as the Pittsburg workings. The ca
tastrophe swells the number of vic
tins OF deadly mine gas for the 10
days to between $50 and 900.
Went to Church; Escaped.
That Thursdays disaster does not
equal or even surpass in loss of life
and attendant horrors the one in
West Virginia is due to the devotion
to church duties OF a considerable
number of the miners. An observance
of the church festival of st. Nicholas
many of the 400 or more men regu-
larly employed at the mines who are
Greek Catholics did not go to work
Thursday morning.
AS was the case as Monongah the
explosion followed brief shutdown,
the Darr mine having been closed
Tuesday and Wednesday. 1t was just
at 11.30 o'clock, when the tenth trip
of loaded cars had been brought out
to the tipple that there came an aw-
full rumbling sound, followed imme-
diately by loud report and con
cussion that shook nearby buildings
and was felt within radius of sew
eral miles. At the same time there is
sued out. of the mouth of the mine
an immense cloud of dense smoke
and dust.
Everyone in the vicinity knew what
had happened and all started for the
mouth of the mine. The river sepa-
rates the mine and the homes Of
many of the miners, so that only a
portion of those who proceeded to the
scene could reach it, there being no
facilities for crossing. the stream.
Only One Man Escaped.
The ventilating fans were kept in
operation almost without interruption,
however. the power plant having with
stood the force of the explosion, and
until late Thursday night the rescu-
ers have found no fire at any place
in the mine. AS far as is known,
only one man who went to work that
morning escaped.
Joseph Mapleton, plumber, emerg-
ed from 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.
Il was near entry 3D. said he
when heard an awful rumbling.
/ started towards the entry, but the
next instant was blind and for a
little time did not know anything.
Then | got to the side entry and
worked my way out.
Mapleton was somewhat cut and
bruised but after going home and
having his injuries dressed he return
ed to the mine and joined the rescu-
ing parties.
Relief Parties Started.
William Kelvington, superintendent
OF the mine was not in the slope when
the explosion occurred He quickly
organized rescuing parties. starting
one force of 25 men with reliefs at
short intervals in the main entry
and similar force at side entry,
While the officials and the rescuers
have only the faintest hope that any
Of the men may be alive, al work
is being carried On upon the theory