Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1907-12-12
400 LIVES lost
in! IN Mine DISASTER D.
EXPLOSION OF BLACK DAMP
CAUSES AWFUL cATAsTRo-
PIE IN COAL MINES.
~ I
Entry. i: PILED HIGH With DEAD
REscuERs WORK TILL EXHAUST
ED-No HOPE THAT ANY WILL
BE FOUND ALIVE.
ENTRY PILED HIGH WITH DEAD.

Monongah, w. Va, Dec. S.-That no
less than 400 miners were killed by an
explosion of black damp, known to,
scientists as methane, in mines Nos.
6 and of the Consolidation Coal COM
pany of Baltimore at this place yester-
day is now conceded by those who
take the most hopeful and most con-
sentative view of the disaster.
Many Bodies Found.
OF these victims six dead bodies
had been taken from Mine No. at
midnight last night and 65 others
were piled up in the entry awaiting
completion of facilities for bringing
them to the surface. From Mine No.
8 at the same hour fourteen bodies
had been removed and a number of
others are ready to be brought out as
soon as arrangements can be COM
pleted,
Five rescuing parties, with ten men
to each party, are working at different
parts Of the two mines.
400 Lives Lost.
Clarence W. Watson of Baltimore,
president Of the Consolidation Coal
company, after comforting with the
mine superintndent and other local
representatives Of the company, said
there was no doubt but that 400 lives
had been lost ss = z,
While nothing definite is known at
! this time" said President Watson, ITO
Judge from the small volume of smoke
it is evident that the diaster was
caused by the explosion of dust, which,
was probably ignited by pocket OF
gas or blowout shot"
Explosion Was Terrific.
The explosion occurred shortly after
10 O'Clock yesterday, after the force OF
over 400 men had gone to work in the
two mines affected. These mines are
located on opposite sides of the West
Fork river at this place, but merged
in their undergrounds workings by
a heading and on the surface by big
steel tipple and bridge.
Evidence of the awful force of the
explosion is shown in every section
of the mines that has been reached
by the rescuers. Huge quantities Of
coal and rock have beeen loosened
and hurled into every opening and
all of the underground structure is
completely wrecked.
Work Until Exhausted.
The American miners of, the town
were placed in charge Of the relief
work and the Italians and other for
eigners are working under them most
faithfully. The rescue forces are di-
vided to work in relays with frequent
reliefs. Many relief parties have al
ready become exhausted and sent to
the surface.
The scenes about the entry to the
mines and about the town are pathetic
and heartrending.
Overwhelmed With Grief.
Wives and mothers and sweethearts,
together with children and members
of the stronger sex move from place
to place, vainly seeking information
and making no attempt to conceal the
grief that overwhelms them. None
is encouraged to hope that any one in
the mine has survived the explosion
and the suffocating gas that 1mmedi-
ately thereafter filed the mine.
Will Be Investigated.
Wheeling, W. Va. Dec. s. Gov.
Dawson of West Virginia, who is in
Washington attending the rivers and
harbors congress, left for Charleston
last night and announced that he
would at once institute rigid investi-