The Mena weekly star., 1907-12-12
ANOTHER MINI DISASTER
Five Hundred Men Entombed as Result of an Explosion in
 West Virginia.
WORST IN MINING HISTORY OF COUNTRY
Superintendent of Mine Believes None Could Escape Alive From Force of Explosion-Property is Owned and Operated by Consolidation Coal Company of Baltimore.

Pittsburg, Dec. "A terrific and disastrous explosion occurred Friday in mines No. 6 and 8 of the Con solidation Coal company at Monogah, w. Va. Mine Superintendent Malone says at least 300 men are entombed. It Is believed majority of the en- tombed men were killed.
 The bodies of three miners have been recovered near the mouth of mine No. 6. Mine No. Is located on the east side of the West Fork river and mine No. on the west side. How the explosions occurred simultaneous ly in both mines cannot be ex- plained at this time. All Is confusion at the scene of the disaster and defi- mite information is meagre. The ex- plosion was heard for eight miles.
 Immediately after receipt of the news physicians and special cars were dispatched from Fairmont to the scene. The mine was too full of gas and smoke for rescuers to enter.
 It is said the explosion started in No. and spread to No. mine, the two being connected. Another report says the first explosion was followed by the blowing up of the boiler house in No. 8. The gravest fears are felt for the safety of the great number of men in the workings.
 The earth seemed to be rent at the moment of the shock. Some idea of the force of the explosion may be gained from the fact that props from the mine were not only blown out of the entry but were hurled by the force of it, clear across the west fork of the Monongahela river. Wires are down.
 It Is feared that the accident will turn out to be the worst in the history of mining in this country.
 Superintendent Malone telephoned that of the 300 men who were in the mine at the time he does not think any could escape alive from the force of the explosion.
 The fans were started to clear out the foul air and the rescuers were expected to reach the men by 2 o'clock Friday afternoon.
 The mine management declare they do not know the cause but expert enced miners declare that it must have been dust.
 The town of Monongah has a popu. lation of about 5000 and while for the most part the miners are of for eign birth, there are still many Amer ican workmen. Possibly the largest steel tipple in the state is located at Monongah. The mines are beth shaft and slope mines. being worked by the rope and haulage system. They lie on both sides of the West Fork river and are connected by steel bier bridge owned and operated by the coal company. Until about ten years ago only American miners were employed. At that time the miners of Pennsyl. vania, Indiana, Illinois and Ohio were on strike.
 The coal company is one of the largest companies of the kind in the country and is capitalized at about S20,0OO,000.
 They have upwards of 100 produc. ing properties. Clarence w. Watson is the president with headquarters in Baltimore. Superintendent Malone ,a said to be one of the most competent and practical superintendents in the mining industry.
 Later it was said that the relief party would not reach the imprisoned men lefore o'clock. The rescurers include nine carpenters and superin. tendents headed by Superintendent J, c. Gasklll.
 Special trains are ready to bring ina wounded 10 the miners hospltals hara as fast as possible. A hospital was arranged at the opening of the nina where the wounded will receive at. ten jon.
 Several men were practically blown out of mine No. through an air hole Their escape was miraculous.
 Twenty physicians from Farmont are now on the grounds and every a, tention Is being given the men. Tha