New-York tribune., 1907-12-07
gIINDREDS BURIED
In MINE EXPLOSION.
Nr4RLY EVERY ONE OF
THE VICTIMS DEAD.
Hest Virginia Disaster Most DIP,
palIing in History of 4mer-
can Coal Mining.

,,o,onsah W. Va, Dec Six charred
.,s hIackened bodies lying in the improvised
-,-v,,e nrepared near the entrance TO the mine.
.,a men lowering between life and death from
..o awful bruises sustained and the deadly
eases inhaled, in a temporary hospital into
r.s,cb one Of the company buildings has been
.-a,sfo-rned and $50 imprisoned by
.,,s of coal rock and mine debris in the
sentb Of the hills surrounding this mining
,ovn. with the chances all against single one
., ,bera being alive, is the most accurate sum-
mary obtainable tonight of the results of
rhine explosion to-day which in all probability
mas attended by greater loss OF life than any
xo-,,a- disaster in the history Of the coal min
,nr industry OF America
The explosion occurred shortly after 10 o'clock
,o-dav. after the force Of nearly five hundred
ma, had gone TO work in the two mines affected
These mines are Nos. 8 and of the Consoli-
ao.e5 Coal Company, situated on opposite sides
g .be West Fork River. at this place. but
merged in their underground workings by
heading and on the surface by great steel
tipple and bridge.
The finding of the six bodies and the five
sa5lv injured men is the only reward for siren
lang and uninterrupted work by large resculng
.,rcas which Immediately set to work at every
possible point
SURVIVORS, CAN TELL LITTLE
7,,o sva living men are unable to give any
detailed report of the disaster or even TO e1-
plain how they reached the surface Ihey say
,bs. Immediately back of them, when they pe
can their frantic struggle for liberty. there was
large number of men engaged in similar
struggle while still further back in the work
,nrs there was large number Of whom they
know nothing
i, is the opinion of the mine officials and
stbers familiar with mining that these nine
men had not penetrated the mine as far as
had the majority OF the day shift when the eH-
plosion occurred and that they headed for and
reached the main entry before the heavy cave
in that now blockades the entrance more than
a few hundred feet beyond the main opening OF
mine No 6.
A. ta the miners referred to by the rescued
men as having been alive when last seen. it is
believed that they were caught back or a heavy
cave-in OF coal and mine roof and that they
could not have survived more than few MIN
uies in the deadly gases with which the entry
was filled IS soon as the ventilating system was
interrupted There is more hope for those in
more remote parts of the mine, as they may
have reached workings where fresh air is sup
piled by other openings: but at best only the
most slender hope is entertained for the sur
rivaI Of any enc Of the men in the mine until
the debris can be cleared away and communica-
ton with the outside re-estabiished-
There is much speculation as to the cause OF
the explosion fs,lt tte most generally accepted
theory is that it resulted from black damp
scientifically known nlethane- II is believed
that miner attempted 70 set off blast which
blew out and ignited accumulation OF this
deadly gas and that this in turn ignited the coal
dust q highly infiammable substance found IN
greater or less quantities in all West Virginia
mines. However all explanations of the cause
up to this time are necessarily speculative. Only
e thorough investigation after the mine is re
opened will disclose the cause. if it is ever
ascertained.
The explosion affected both mines, and so far
as is now known appears 20 have done about
much damage in one as in the other. 1t has not
been established in which mine it originated
Evidencing the terrific force OF the concussion,
rrcps in the entry OF No. s mine supporting the
roof were not only shattered and torn from their
positions but We're blown out of the entry and
TO the opposite side of the river. Other evidence
Of the awful force is shown IN every section OF
the mines that has been reached by the rescuers
Huge quantities Of coal and rock have been loos-
ened and hurled into every opening and all Of
the underground structure is wrecked beyond
senblance Of its original shape.
ENTRY PILED WITH wRECKAGE-
The entry Of No. g mine, three hundred feet
from the mouth is piled high with the wreck
age Of two strings OF cars and two electric
motors. Some OF the rescuers have climbed
over this and found dead bodies beyond, but
have made no attempt to remove them to the
Surface, partly because il would be almost inn
possible TO carry the bodies over the debris
and particularly because they do not want
TO lose any time in reaching other parts of the
mine, where ii is possible men still living may
be imprisoned The cars are being righted as
fast as possible and removed from the ehtry
together with all other Instructions
Ali OF the headings leading off from the main
entry are being cut off by canvas and barri-
caded as fast they are reached by the relleI
workers so that the innermost workings of the
mine may get the benefit of the ventilatng sys-
ten 70 sustain any who may be yet living and
make possible an early exploration Of these
workings
The American miners in the town have been
Placed in charge of the relief work but the
Italians and other foreigners working
under them faithfully. II is impossible for
man TO remain long in the depths OF the
mine, and the rescue forces are divided to Work
IN relays with frequent reliefs. Many in the
1ehef party have already become exhausted and
HaSe been TO the surface.
OWNERS OF THE MINES.
TIE mines are owned and operated 10y TIE