Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-09
FLAMES PUT
STOP TOWORK
OF FRESCUERS
ANXIOUS CROWDS BRAVE DAN
GER AT MONONGAH 4
PROCESSION OF VICTIMS PASSES
LINE OF FUNERALS
Woman, Refusing to Believe Husband
Dead, Prepares His Meals-Wid-
ows Faint In Cemeteries
at Services
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
MONONGAH w. Va, Dec. 8,-But fifty
three bodies had been recovered from
mines No. and No. of the Fairmont
Coal company when darkness closed over
the little town of Monongah tonight On
account of fire in mine No. 8, and immi-
nent danger of an explosion in mine No.
8, all rescue work has been suspended for
the night.
Fifty-six hours had elapsed since the
awful explosion, and a majority of the
bodies brought to the surface were in
terrible condition, necessitating almost
immediate burial
1t is now believed the number of dead
will not be over 400.
A thorough investigation was made by
the company today, and it was discovered
that many miners believed to have been
entombed escaped because they had not
gone to work Friday, after Thursdays
holiday.
A score or more of these men nave re-
ported to the officials during the past
twenty-four hours.
Shortly after o'clock this afternoon
fire broke out again in mine No. 8, and
the rescuers were at once ordered to the
surface.
Thousands of sightseers from the sur
rounding towns had gathered about the
openings. Through megaphones the
crowds were notified of the fire and the
danger of another explosion, but they res
fused TO leave, and it was with great diff
ficulty that the special police, assisted
by miners, forced these people to seek
places of safety. Efforts were then di-
rected toward extinguishing the fire, and
it was thought that it will be subdued
within few hours.
One Hundred Bodies Located
1t was said by members of the rescuing
parties that over a hundred bodies have
been located in both mines and that they
will be brought to the surface as soon as
the fire has been extinguished. 1t is not
believed the fire will reach any of these
bodies.
Heartrending scenes and incidents
crowded fast one upon another in this
sorely afflicted mining community today
Funeral professions were in sight in all
directions during the entire day. On the
way to the cemeteries these solemn lit
tle professions were constantly going and
passing vehicles coming from the mines
laden with victims en- route to the
morgue, there to be placed in casket9 and
prepared another series of funerals.
About twenty victims were buried to-
dav in the three cemeteries near the
town. The services were simple and
brief, and except for the grief of the
which at times became almost
frantic, were without special feature.
Several of the services were interrupt
ed by women fainting, causing momen-
tary excitement, but this was soon dis
PEELED.
Many women believe their husbands or
sons will still be found alive and refuse
to leave the vicinity of the mine. When
bodies are carried from the mine these
women become almost insane, screaming
and pacing back and forth and calling
aloud the names of their loved ones.
Woman Falls Unconscious
One woman overheard man say that
most of the bodies were badly mutilated
With a piercing shrek she fell to the
ground and was carried to her home
nearby. Tonight she is still unconscious
and her condition is critical. An Ameri-
can woman who lost her husband refuses
to believe he is dead. She has put clean
linen on his bed and insists that he will
be brought to her.
'I know he is injured, and nobody can
take care of him like I can," she said.
She prepares his meals regularly, neigh
bors say, as she has done for years,
thinking he may come for them.
The stage has been reached where re-
lief for surviving dependents of the VIC
Tins is necessary, and much progress
was made in that direction today Sew
eral organizations have been incorporated
and the work is being systematized.
Churches are taking the lead in this
work. The coal company is showing a
liberal spirit and is using money freely
to relieve distress.
Great quantities of food were distrib-
uted today.
The fire which started in mine No. s
this afternoon is now under control and
is said to have done little damage. Res
cue work will be resumed as soon as the
federal and state authorities finish an
investigation they are making and pro-
nollnce conditions safe.