Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-12-07
Six Charred Bodies Brought
to Surface by Heroic Res
cuers; Heartrending Scenes
at Pit Mouth.
LOSS OF LIFE NOW
ESTIMATED AT 400
Sixty-Five Mangled CorpSeS
Piled Up At Bottom of Shaft
Awaiting Facilities to Bring
Them Above Ground.
tsy Morning Journal special Leased wire.l

rsy Morning Journal Special Leased Wire
Monongah, w. Va, Dec 6.-That
not less than four hundfed miners
were killed by an explosion Of black
damp in mines Nos. II OF TN, the
Consolidated Coal combaF of Baiti-
more. at this place today Is now con-
ceded by those who take the most
hopeful and most conservative view of
the disaster.
OF these victims six dead bodies
have been taken from mine No. al
midnight and sixty-five others were
piled up in the entry awaiting COM
peltion of facilities for bringing them
to the surface.
From mine No. at the same hour
four bodies had been removed, ana a
number OF others are ready 10 DC
brought ont as soon as arrangements
can be completed.
Five rescuing parties, with ten men
to each party. are working Ike tro-
JAMS at different parts OF the TWO
mines to the end that every nook ana
corner of the workings may be reach
ed i'm the shortest possible time lhere
is a large force of experienced MIN
ers employed in the task, and they
are working In relays with short turns
owing to the accumulation OF gas
which prevents the men from remain
ing long in the mine.
President Oscar Murray and othef
officials of the Baltimore ana ONO
railroad were In New MartlnsDurs
w. Va. eighty-five miles from here,
on an inspection trip when they heard
OF the disaster, They Immediately or
dered their special train run to Mo-
nongah. arriving there tonight. Presl-
dent Murray upon his arrival, con-
ferred with the officers of the mining
company and offered on behalf OF
himself and the company any assist
ance that Il was possible To render.
Clarence w. Watson, of Baltimore.
president OF the Consolidated Coal
company, was at Fortburg. Md. tnot
at Parkersburg. as at first reported),
and Immediately chartered special
train to bring him here.
After comforting with the mine SUI
perintendent and othr local represent
atives OF the company, he said there
was no doubt that four hundred lives
had been lost.
The explosion occurred shortly after
10 o'clock today. after the full force
Of 500 men had gone To work In the
two mines affected. These mines arr
Nos. 8 and Of the Consolidated Coal
company. located on opposite sides OF
the west fork of the river at this
place. but merged in their under
ground workings by heading. ana
on the surface by a great steel upple
and bridge.
The finding Of the six bodies
and the four dying men Is the only
reward for strenuous and uninterrupi-
ed work on the part of the large res
culng forces that immediately set to|
work at every possible point.
The three living men, while unable
10 give any detailed report OF the dis
aster. state that Immediately back Of
them, when they began their frantic
struggle for liberty there WAS large
Of men engaged in similar
struggle. while siill further back in
workings there was larger num-
Der Of whom they knew nothing.
II Is the opinion Of the mine off
cials and others familiar with minng
that these ssven men had not pene-
trated the mine as far as had the ma
jority OF the day SHIFT when the OK
piosion occurred. and that they head
ed for and reached the main entrance
before the heavy cave-in that now
blOckades the entrance more than
few hundred feet beyond the main
opening Of mine No. 3.
As 10 the miners referred 10 by the
rescued men .as having been alive
when last seen it Is believed that they
were caught back ~ a heavy caVe-in
and could not have survived more
than q few mluutes iu the deadly
gases with which the entry filled ~
soon ~ the vcntilatng system was in
terrupled. There b more hope for
those in more remote scCti0ns - the
mine. as they may have reached
where fresh air u supplied
by other openings. But al best only
49, /
(ContInued on Page ?. Column 10