Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-12-20
fBy Associated Press)

"HoCDo CitClIN, IA, DEC lg.-An
explosion of gns in the Darr mine
OF the Pittsburg Coal Company, To-
Gated here, today entombed between
200 and $50 miners, and there is
scarcely ray of hope that single
one of them VIII be taken from the
mine alive.
Partially wrecked buildings in the
vicinity of the mine and the condition
OF The few bodies found early In the
rescue work indicate an explosion of
such terrific force that 1t seems i'm
possible that anyone could have sur
vived it. All OF the thirteen bodies
taken out up to this time are terribly
mutiiated and three of them are head
less.
This is the third mine disaster since
the first Of the month in the veins of
Dituminous coal underlying Western
pennsylvania and West Virginia, for
the Naomi mine, near Fayette City.
and the two mines at Monongah w.
va, In which the earlier explosions
happened. are In the same belt as
the local workings.
That today's disaster does not eoua,
or even surpass in loss of life and at
tendant horrors the one in West Vir
ginia, Is due to the devotion to church
duties of a considerable number of
the miners.
In observance of church festival
many of the four hundred or more men
located at the mine did not go to work
tiiis morning Those who escaped
through this reason are members OF
me Greek Catholic church and they
suspended work to celebrate ST Mich
olas day.
AS was the case at Monongah. the
explosion followed Lrief shut down.
the Darr mine having been closed
Tuesday and Wednesday. 1t was at
1880 o'clock when the tenth trim of
loaded cars had been brouht ont to
the upple and then there came an
awful rumbling sound. followed imme-
diately by loud report and n con-
cussion that shook nearby buildings
and was felt within a radius of sever
nj miles
AT the same time there came out of
the mouth of the mine an immense
cloud of dense smoke and dust that
fioated across the Youghiogheny riy-
err.
All Started for the Mine
lntuitively everyone in the vicinity
knew what had happened and all
started for the one place, the mouth
OF the mine. The river separates the
mine and the homes of many of the
miners, so that only n portion of those
VINO started for the scene We're able
to reach ii, there being scant facilities
FOR crossing the stream.
To those whn cOuId MT ,,,r,, -
water. the smoke and dust pouring out
from the mines mouth told n story of
seething flames back i'm the WORKINGS
and filom this source came reports
mat We're persistent until late in the
day that the mine was burning.
The ventilating fms were kent IN
operation almost without interruntron
however. the power plant having with
stood the force of the explosion and
up to this time the rescuers have
round no fire In any place in the mine
AS far as known only one man. who
went 10 work this morning. escaped.
Joseph Mapleton, pumper, emerg-
ed from one ct the side entries short
after the explosion. He had left
me part of the mine where most of
the men We're working and was on his
" tHc enSlle rom Tor Oil.
was near entry 81" he salu
when ! heard an awful rumtlng. I
started toward the entry, but the next
instant was blinded and for a little
time didn't know anything. Then
got to the side entry and worked
my way out"
Mapleton was Somewhat cut and
bruised, but later returned to the
mine and joined the rescuing marty
Rescuing Parties Quickly oroanlzed
William Kelyingston, superintendent
of the mine, was not In the mine when
the explosion occurred and he quick.
ly organized rescue parties, starting
one force of 25 men with reliefs at
short intervals in the main entry and
a similar force at side entry. It is
hoped to reach the greater part of