The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-12-20
THIRD HORROR
IN THREE WEEKS
From 200 to ESQ Miners
Killed in Gas Explosion in
Pennsylvania Mine.
HALF OF FORCE AT CHURCH
OTHERWISE THE DEATH LIST
WOULD BE DOUBLED.


today entombed between 200 and 25O
miners, and there is scarcely a ray of
hope that a single one of them will be
taken from the mines 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 it seems impossible that
anyone could have survived it. All of
the thirteen bodies taken out up to this
time are terribly mutilated. and three
of them are headless.
This is the third mine disaster since
the first of the month in the veins of
bituminOus coal underlying western
Pennsylvania and West Virginia, for
the Naomi mine near Fayette City,
and the two mines at Monongah, w.
Va, are in the same belt as the local
workings. TOdays catastrophe swells
the number of victims of deadly mine
gas for the nineteen days to between
$50 and 500.
Attended Church and Escaped.
That today's disaster does not equal
or even surpass in loss of life and at
tendant horrors the one in West Vir-
ginia, is due to the devotion to church
of a considerable number of the min
ers. In observance of the church fes-
tival, many of the 400 or more men reg
ularly employed at the mine did not go
to work this morning. Those who es-
capped through this reason are members
of the Greek Catholic church, and they
suspended work to celebrate st. Mich
Olas' day.
As was the case at Monongah, the
explosion followed a brief shutdown
the Darr mine having been closed
Tuesday and Wednesday. 1t was just
II 80 when the tenth trip of loaded
cars had been brought out to the tipple
and there came an awful rumbling
sound, followed Immediately by a loud
report and d cOncussion that shook
nearby buildings. and was felt within
a radius Of several 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 river.
Rush for Mouth of the Pit.
Intuitively everyone in the vicinity
knew what had happened, and al
started for the one place-the mouth
of the mine. The river separates the
mines and the homes of many of the
miners, so that only a portion of those
who started for the scene were able
to reach it, there being scant facilities
for crossing the stream. To those who
could not cross the water, the SNAKE
and dust pouring from the mines
mouth told a story of seething flames
| back in the workings, and from this
source came reports that were persist
ent until late in the day that the mine
was burning.
The veTtilating fans were kept in
operation almost without interruption
however, the power plant having with
stood the force of the explosion, and
up to this time the rescuers have found
no fire at any place in the mine. AS
far as known, only one man who went
to work this morning escaped. Joseph
Mapleton, a pumper. emerged from
one of the side entrances shortly after
the explosion. He had left the part OF
the mine where most of the men were
working and was on the way to the
engine room for oil.
Story of Lone Survivor.
Il was in entry No. .21," said he,
when l heard an awful rumbling. ]
started toward the entry, but the next
instant [ was blinded and for a little
tine / did not know anything. Then
SNN " NAAN olhN VIII anu WI hEu lily
way OUT
Napoleon was somewhat cut and
bruised, but after going home and hav-
ing his injuries dressed, he returned To
the mine and Joined the rescuers.
William Remington, superintendent
of the mine, was not in the mine when
the explosion occurred. and he quickly
organized Tescuing parties, starting one
force of twenty-five men with reliefs
at short intervals in the main entry
and a similar force at a side entry. II
is hoped to reach the greater part OF
the victims through the latter. So far
little trouble has been encountered on
account of gas or lack of air by the
TesCuers. While the officials and the
rescuers have only the faintest hope
that any of the men may be living, all
work is being carried on upon the the
DRY that some may have found places
of safety, and every point of the work
ings will be explored at the earliest
moment.
The main office of the company is in
Pittsburg, and Immediately on receipt
of news of the accident the officers hur-
ried to the mine and are leading and
directing the rescue work. Among the
officers OH the scene are J. NJ. Arm
strong, manager of the Pittsburg COM
pany; Lee Gluck, assistant to the pres
ident; John B. Byers, livestock man.
ager; II. o. Randolph, assistant to the
general manager; Benjamin Faraday
inspector
About 1,5OO feet from the mouth of
the mine a heavy fall of roof was en-
cOuntered by the rescuers. It is be-
lieved that most of the men will be
found nearly a mile and a half beyond
this point.
The blacksmith shop has been fitted
up as a temporary morgue, and a num-
Der of physicians are in waiting to rem
der any services that may be required
Of them.
Many American Victims.
\ considerable number OF the miners
were Americans. some Of ne officer.
tonight estimating that probably more
than half of the victims are Anleri-
cans. as the majority of the foreigners
did not work today.
Continued on Page 2.