Rock Island Argus., 1907-12-07

president of the mining company, was
at Parkersburg, w. Va; when the ex-
plosion occurred and chartered a spe-
cial train to bring him to the scene.
He reached here late last night
The disaster is the worst in the his
tory of coal mining in West Virginia.
and probably the worst which ever oc-
Cured in America.
Probably Caused by Fire Damp.
While no definite statement can be
obtained it is believed the explosion
was caused by fire damp, as only last
week both mines were inspected and
found in good condition. The ven
tilating apparatus was in perfect or
der and expert miners say there could
not have been any dust in the mine,
Rescue work was begun promptly.
and officers of the
mine were on the ground within half
an hour after the explosion and has
tened the relief measures.
Every physician in Fairmount was
hurried here to help the local doctors.
A temporary hospital was established
near the mouth of one of the mines.
This was of great benefit to members
of the rescue gangs. who were often
overcome.
The deadly fire damp made it i'm
possible to DO much early in the day.
especially at mine No. s, where the
Ventilating system was completely
wrecked. Until another fan could be
brought from ShinnstOn. II miles
away. and temporarily installed, the
time they ventured into the gas filed
hole
Survivors Tell Of Horror.
The explosion occurred shortly after
10 o'clock after the full day force had
gone to work in the two mines affect
ed These mines are located on oppo-
site sides of the West Fork river at
this place but merged in their under
ground workings by a heading and on
the surface by great steel tipple and
bridge.
The living men are unable to give
any detailed report of the disaster or
even explain how they reached the
surface.
They say 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 farther back in
the workings there was a larger mum
Der. of whom they know nothing.
Main Body Behind Cavc-In.
1t is the opinion of the mine Official
and others familiar with mining tha'
these men had not penetrated the
mine as far as had the majority of the
dav shift when the explosion occurred
and that they headed for and reached
the main entrance before the heavy
Cave-in that now blockades the en-
trance more tran few hundred feet
beyond the main opening of mine
No 6.
As to the miners referred to by the
rescued men as having hean alive
when last seen. It is believed that they
were caught back of a heavy caYe-iii
OF coal and mine roof and that they
could not have survived more than q
few minutes in the deadly gases With
which the entry filled as soon as the
ventilatirg system was interrupted.
May Get Air, but Perish.
There is more hope for those in
more remote sections Of the mine. as
they may have reached workings
where fresh air is supplied by othel
openings. But at best only the most
slender hope is entertained for th5
survival of any one of the men in the
mine until the debris can be cleared
away and communication with the
outside reestablished.
The two mines regularly employ I,
900 men, working in two shifts, 5OC
during the day and 500 during the