The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-12-07
FOUR HUNDRED DEAD, IN
VIRGINIA MINE HORROR
Superintendent MALONE OF CONSOLIDATED COAL
COMPANY SAYS THAT 1T is POSSIBLE THAT
THERE ARE MORE THAN THIS NUMBER.

two electric motors. Some of the res
cuers have climbed over this and found
dead bodies beyond, but have made No
attempt to remove these to the sur
face, partly because it would be almost
impossible to carry the bodies over the
debris. but more particularly they do
not want to lose any time in reaching
other sections of the mine where it is
possible men still living are entombed.
Relief Band Organized.
The American miners of the town
have been placed in charge of the re-
lief work, but the Italians and other
foreigners are working under them
most faithfully. 1t is impossible for
man to remain long in the depths of
the mine and the rescue forces are di-
vided in relays with frequent reliefs.
Many in the relief party have already
become exhausted and been sent to the
surface.
Hospitals Made Ready.
The rescuers include nine carpenters
and superintendents headed by J. c.
Gaskill. a superintendent. The coal
company has it's relief arrangements
down to system and special trains
are ready to bring the wounded to the
miners hospitals in this city as fast
as possible. A hospital has been ar
ranged at the opening of the mine.
where the wounded will receive atteu-
ton.
Several men were practically blown
out of mine No. 6 through an air hole.
The mines did not work Thursday.
From best estimates, $50 men were IN
each mine Friday. The scenes about
the openings of the mines are impos-
sible to describe.
May Be Worst in History.
1t is feared that the accident will
turn out to be the worst in the history
of mining in this country.
Lee Malone. general superintendent
telephoned that five hundred men were
in the mine at the time, and the min-
ers did not think any could escape
from the force of the explosion. The
fans were started at noon to clear out
the foul air, and it was thought the
rescuers might reach the men this aft
ernOOn.
A Town Of Six Thousand.
re town of Monongah has a popu-
!. on of about 5000, and while for
the most part the miners are of foreign
birth. there are still many American
workmen. Possibly the largest steel
tipple in the state is located at Monon-
gah. The mines are both shaft and
slope mines, being worked by the rope
and haulage system. They lie on
both sides of the river and are connect
ed by steel pier bridge, owned and
operated by the coal company. Until
about ten years ago only American
miners were employed. At that time
the miners of Pennsylvania, Indiana,
Illinois and Ohio were on strike.
Capitalized at s2o,ooo,ooo
The coal company is one of the larg-
est companies of the kind in the coun-
try and is capitalized at about 10000
COO. The company has upward of 100
producing properties. Clarence w.
Watson is the president. with head
quarters at Baltimore. Lee Malone is
the general superintendent of the prop
critics. and is said to be one of the most
careful and competent and practical SUI
perintendents in the mining industry.
His position has been worked into
from trapper boy, to which he has add
ed technical education The princi-
pal offices of the company, aside from
III