The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-12-10

tion-People in Vicinity Dazed by
Magnitude of the Disaster-fsc4lel
funds Started Tor Widows ana Or
phans.
Monongah, w. Va, December T.
At o'clock tonight, total OF twenty
five bodies had been recovered from the
mines Nos. 6 and s of the Falrmont
CoaI Company at Monongah. Scores
of other victims were in sight or the
rescuing parties and it was estimated
that at least one hundred dead Will
be brought to the surface before day.
light tomorrow. However the, NUMBER
of bodies recovered tonight and early
Sunday depends entirely upon the con-
dition of the mine, it Is said Late
TODAY and tonight the deadly black
damp became more pronounced as the
further recesses Of the mines were ap-
preached.
It was stated tonight by General
Manager Leo. L. Malone OF the mines
that Ats actual miners were checked
off as entering the mines yesterday
morning. This number, it was fur
ther stated, did not include fully one
hundred trappers, mule drivers, pum-
pers and boys who are not under the
check system. Should these figures
be correct, the death list will be over
$50 persons. The condition of the
bodies thus far recovered is horrible.
Many are dismembered and burned
beyond recognition.
The accident, the greatest in the
history of American mining, has daz-
ed the people Of this vicinity. Tonight
the streets of both this town and
Fairmont are crowded with people,
while thousands line the hills in the
vicinity of the mines. Every bar In
Fairmont and Monongah is closed, no
tices on the doors announcing that the
suspension is caused by the mine ex-
plosion and will last until Monday
There is both precaution and respect
Kin the closing of the saloons.
Throughout the territory over sixty
mines have suspended operations tenn
porarily, and about 5000 miners are
visiting here and in Fairmont. Start
ing tomorrow morning, a new system
of rescue work will be inaugurated a
both mines. 1t is the intention tt
dispense with the services of the min
ers who have been employed in eithe
of the mines. In their places ther
will be about 200 expest mining mel
from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wes
Virginia, all of whom have volun
teered.
These men, under the direction o
Chief Mine Inspector J. w. PAUL. O
West Virginia, who arrived today iron
Charleston will be more fitted t
render effective service in the recog
nizing of the dead The reason fo
this is the condition now existing i
the mines are extremely dangerou
and it is feared should inexperience
men make an incorrect move a SET
ond explosion would occur, whic
would completely wreck the mine.
It is estimated that $50 families al
destitute. In many places relief fune
have already been started for TT
widows and children. Tomorrow
all the churches of Fairmont, Clark
burg and Monongah special service
will be held and it is probable CO
1ections will be taken. 1t is the pu
pose of the ministers to establish
= permanent relief fund. \ score
men of the rescuing parties are in
critical condition tonight from inha
ing black damp. Several of them a
expected to die One of these, Jol
Gabbert, was .a:"led from the mi
tonight almost q raving maniac. +
lungs were flied with black dam
which produced condition borderi
on insanity, and the services of TO
men were necessary to hold Gable
while doctor attended him.
Up to late tonight many entertain
hopes that some of the entombed II,
would be TAKEN from the mines ali
AS the bodies l..crye: cd today, hn
ever, ,Va"e ;..u, Git t, the surta
horribly mangled all hope was q
PEELED and distressing scenes follow
The walls of the foreign women.
expressibly weird, were very pathe
and caused tears among many or
men. From forty to fifty per cent
the victims, 1t ;s estimated, are Am
leans A majority of the bodies VIII
have been recovered will be buried
morrow. All day long men have b'
digging graves in the Catholic gr;
yard, located within sight OF the mil