The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-08
ONLY TWENTY-FIVE BODIES
 HAVE BEEN RECOVERED
Rescuers Inhale Deadly Gas and
 May Die.
Hundreds Of Families Have Been Rem dered Destitute And scenes at Mines Are Heart Rendins- Ministers To Raise Relief
 Funds.

Mononagh. W. Va, Dec, 7--At 3 o'clock tonight, total of twenty-five bodies had been recovered from Mines No. and s. of the Fairmont Coal com pany at Mononagh. Scores or otner victims were in sight of the rescueIs ? and It was estimated that at least loo s.dead would be brought to the surIace before daylight tomorrow.
 However the number of bodies re- covered tonight and early sunday oe bends entirely upon the condition os the, mine. it Is said. Late today anu tonight. the deadly black damp became more pronounced as the further re ceeses of inc mines were approached. It was a physical impossibility 10 soo ? faster than the air, which traveieu slowly on account of men having to sbrattice many oud entries as they worked forward It was stated tonisht by General Manager Leo L. Malone of the mines that ATS actual miners were checked off as entering the mines yes terday morning
 This number, 1t was further stated. did not include fully 100 trappers, mule drivers, bumpers and boys who are not under the check system. should these figures he correct the death nst will he over $50 persons. The condi- lion of the bodies thus far recovered Is horrible Many are dismembered, some are fearfully crushed and the rest Ire blackened and burned beyond recognition. The body of J. M. Mc- Graw, pit boss and one of the best known mining men in West Virginia was recovered tonight In Mine No 5. It was headless and otherwise dis figured. ~ Identification having been made by the clothing and shoes
 Biggest AAcident Yet.
 The accident, the greatest in the his- tory of American mining, has dazed the people of this vicinity.
 Tonight the streets of both this town and Fairmont are crowded with people while thousands line the hills in the vicinity of the mines. Every bar room in Fairmont ond Mononagh is closed. There is both precaution and respect in the closing of the saloons. Through : out the territory over sixty mines have suspended operations temporarily and about 6,0D0 miners are visiting here and in Fairmont.
 Starting tomorrow morning a new system of rescue work will be inaugu- rated at both miness the intention be- ing to dipense with the services Of the miners who have been employed in either of the mines, In their places there will be about 20 0expert mining men from Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, all of whom have volunteered. These men under the direction of Chief Mine Inspector w. Paul. of West Vir- RfHla WHO ATIlNcu IOUdy AAOfl SlAdAAD6- ton, will be more fitted to render ef- ]. fective servive in recovering of the dead.
 The reason for this is that conditions now existing in the mines are extreme iy dangerous and 1t Is feared should inexperienced men make an incorrect move, a second explosion would occur which would completely wreck the mines. It is estimated that 250 families are destitute. In many places relief funds have already been started for the widows and children. Tomorrow in all the churches of Fairmont, Clarksburg and Mononagah, special services will be held and 1t is probable collections will be taken.
 Relief Fund.
 It is the purpose of the ministers to establish permanent relief fund. A score or more of the rescuing party are In critical condition tonight from inhaling black damp. Several of them are expected to die. One of these men, John Gabbert, was carried from the mine tonight almost raving ma niac His lungs were filled with black damp, which produced condition of one insane and the services of four men were necessary to hold Gabbert while doctors attended him.
 Up to a late hour today, many en- tertained hopes that some of the en- tombed men would be taken from the mines alive As the bodies were brough: to the surface, horribly mangled, all hope was dfspelled and distressing scenes followed. The. e.wails of the for eign women were very psthetic and caused tears among many of the men From forty to fifty per cent of the men who have been recognized, wfu be buried tomorrow. All day long men have beeen digging graves in the Cath olic cemetery located in sight of the l taninas