Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-07

clearing the wreckage from the
scene of the awful Monongah
mine explosion. 1t is now known
that the death list will be over
400 and may push 500. There is
no hope of finding any of the i'm
prisoned miners alive. Eighty
dead bodies have already been
found, and the rescue parties are
within 1900 feet of the end of one
pit. Working conditions are ter
rible, owing to gas, and the wreck
ing shifts can work less than an
hour at a time. The scenes at the
mouth of the mines are pitiful.
The company has done everything
possible to expedite the relief
work.
MONONGAH. W. Va. December T.
Up to 1 o'clock today but sixteen bodies
have been brought to the surface Of mines
Nos. and of the Fairmont Coal Com
pany at Monongah. Four were Ameri-
below 400 and will probably reach close
to 500. About 40 per cent. Of the en-
tombed men are Americans. All hope is
gone that any of the men are still alive
Nearly 400 coffins reached Monongah to-
day from Pittsburg and from West Vir-
ginia cities.
While only sixteen bodies have been
recovered or brought out Of the mine,
members Of the rescuing parties stated
that eighty bodies have been located.
There was a slight fire inside OF the
slope Of No. mine this morning, due to
the starting of the fan. 1t was ex-
tinguished after an hour and the fan
worked successfully, greatly facilitating
the efforts Of the rescuers to get into the
mines.
Five Rescue Parties.
With unabated energy five rescuing
parties, working from every possible point
to enter and explore mines Nos. 6 and Of
the Fairmont Coal Company, a subsidiary
of the Consolidation Coal Company Of
Baltimore, where a terrific explosion Of
black damp occurred yesterday. are this
morning putting forth every effort to
reach the men who are still in the mine,
dead or alive. although there is scarcely
hope entertained that single one of
them has survived the terrific explosion
and the poisonous gas with which the
mines filled Immediately after the death
dealing crash.
With the dawn of day there began a
heartrending march up and down the
aises along which these bodies have been
laid by sobbing wives and mothers and
sweethearts, orphaned children and strong
men, each seeking d near relative or be-
loved friend.
There are between 5000 and 5000 in
hAbitants in the mining town of Monon-
gah, and it is doubtful If in this entire
population there are a score of persons
who have not either near relative or
close friend numbered among the victims
of the disaster.
The people of the town are stunned by
the catastrophe. They had long regarded
these mines practically immune from
the dangers so common to the coal
pany was provided with every device for
the protection of life and the equipment
was considered the most modern and
complete outfit used in the production Of
btuminous coal. A mine disaster here
was considered next to impossible, and
the fact that these mines should be the
scene of the most frightful disaster that
has ever occurred in the bituminous coal
mines of America comes such a shock
to the residents of the town that they
are stupefied by it.
At the Pit Mouth.
All of last night hundreds of men have
stood about the entrance OF the two
mines. They said nothing. but when ap-
preached and asked a question they would
give way to their emotions and often
give way to tears. During the night few
women were to be seen, but all day yes
terday the women were the chief actors
in most pathetic and heartrending scenes,
They crowded the sides of the hills over
looking the Inflated mines and cried aloud.
AS the day advanced they became al
most crazed through grief and suspense
One woman pulled out her hair handfuls
at a time. Another tore all Of the skin
from both OF her cheeks with her finger
nails. Some lay down on the frozen
ground and cried themselves to sleep. In
this condition many were carried to their
homes nearby without awakening.
1t is thought that by tonight the full
extent of the horror will be known, and
It Is feared the knowledge of this will