The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-12-10
400 CAUGHT
IN EXPLOSION
Awful Disaster in Nine at
NOnOngah, v. Va.
HUNDREDS ARE DEAD
Believed 10 Have Been SmOttered
By Deadly Gases.
HUNDREDS ARE DEAD
RESCUERS RECOVERING THE BODIES

interior Of Mire Wrecked BY Terrific
Force Of OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Relatives Of Entombed Men Rush
From Place to Place VaInly Seeking
Informatlon-Torn and mangled
Bodies Found.
Monongah. w. Va. Dec THAT
not less than 400 miners we're Killed
by an explosion Of black damp In
mines Nos. c and OF the Consolidated
Coal company. Of Baltimore, at this
place. is now conceded by those who
take the most hopeful and most con.
servatiye view OF the disaster.
or these victims six dead bodies
have been taken from mine No. 6.
and 50 others are piled up in the en-
try. awaiting the completion Of facili-
ties for bringing them to the surface.
From mine No. Il bodies have been
removed, and a number Of others are
ready to be brought out as soon as
arrangements can be completed.
Five rescuing parties. with 10 men
to each party. are working like Tro-
JAMS at different parts Of the two
mines, to the end that every nook and
corner OF the workings may be reach
ed in the shortest possible time. There
is a large force OF experienced miners
for this work, and they are working
in relays with short turns, owing TO
the accumulation OF gas which pre-
vents the men from remaining long
within the mine.
Five men lowering between life and
death from awful bruises sustained
and the deadly gases inhaled are In a
temporary hospital.
The explosion occurred shortly af
ter the men had gone to work in the
two mines affected. These mines are
Nos. and OF the Consolidation Coal
company. located on opposite sides
Of the West Fork river. at this place,
but merged In their underground
workings by a heading and on the
surface by a great steel tipple and
bridge.
The five living men are unable to
give any detailed report OF the disas-
ter, or to even explain how they
reached the surface. They state that
Immediately back OF them when they
began their frantic struggle for lib
erty there was large number Of men
engaged in a similar struggle, while
still further back In the workings
there was larger number, OF whom
they know nothing.
All Are Probably Dead.
As to the miners referred to by
the rescued men as having been alive
when last seen, It is believed that they
we're caught back OF a heavy cave-in
OF coal and mine roof, and that they
could not have survived more than
few minutes in the deadly gases
with which the entry filled as soon
as the ventilating system was inter
rupted. But at best only the most
slender hope Is entertained for the
survival of any one of the men in the
mine until the debris can be cleared
awav and communication with the
outside re-established.
There Is much speculation as to
the cause OF the explosion, but the
most generally accepted theory is
that It resulted from black damp. II
ls believed that a miner attempted to
set off q blast which blew out and ig-
nited an accumulation of this deadly
gas. and that this In turn ignited the
coal dust, highly infammable sub
stance found in greater or less guam
tity in all the West Virginia mines.
Interior Of Mines Wrecked.
The explosion affected both mines,
and so far as now known appears to
have done about as much damage In
one as In the other. Evidencing the
terrific force of the concussion, props
in the entry of No. mine, support
ing the roof, were not only shattered
and torn from their position, but were
blown out OF the entry and to the op-
posite side OF the river. Other evi'
dence 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
loosened and hurled into every open
ing. and all of the underground struc-
ture is wrecked beyond semblance OF
it's original shape.
Dead Bodies Found.
The entry OF No. 6. mine, 300 feet
from the mouth, is piled high with the
wreckage OF two strings Of cars and
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 1t would be almost
impossible to carry the bodies over
the debris. but more particularly be-
carse they do not want TO lose any