The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1907-12-20
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT IN PENN
sYLvANIA COAL MINING
DISTRICT.
ONLY ONE ESCAPES
Explosion Of Such Terrible Force
That II Would Be Almost lmpossi-
BILE for Any Miner to Live Through
It-Tfirteen Bodies Recovered-Re-
ligon Saves Many Greeks.

Connelsville, Pa, Dec. 19.-An ex-
plosion of gas in the Darr mine of the
Pittsburg Coal company occurred
here today, entombing between 200
and $50 miners, and there is scarcely
any hope that single one OF them
will be taken from the mines alive.
Partially wrecked buildings in the
vicinity Of the mine and the condition
of the few bodies found early in the
rescue work indicate an explosion Of
such terrific force that it seems i'm
possible that any one could have sur
vived 1t. All Of the 13 bodies taken
out UP to this time are terribly mutt
lated and three of them are headless.
This Is the third mine disaster
since the first Of the month In the
veins of bituminous coal underlying
western Pennsylvania and West Vir-
ginia, for the mines near Naomi City
and Fairmont are in the same belt as
the local workings. Todays catastro-
phe sWells the number Of victims Of
deadly mine explosions for the 10
days between $50 and 600.
That today's disaster does not sur
pass in loss Of life the one in West
Virginia is due to the devotion to
E
church duties Of considerable num-
her Of the miners. In observance OF
the church festival, many of the 400
or more men regularly employed at
the mine did not go to work this morn
ing. Those who escaped through
this reason are members Of the Greek
Catholic church and they suspended
work to go to church.
Crowd Gathers.
Intuitively every one in the vicinity
knew what had happened and all
started for the same place-the mouth
of the mine. The river separates the
mine and the homes Of many of the
miners, SO that only a portion Of
those who started for the scene were
able to reach it, there being scant IA
cilities for crossing the stream.
To those who could not cross the
water the smoke and dust pouring
from the mine's mouth told the story
of seething flames back in the
workings and from this source came
reports that were persistent until
late in the day that the mine was
burning.
The yentilating fans were kept in
operation almost without interrup.
ton, however, the power plant having
withstood the force Of the explosion,
and up to this time the rescuers have
found no fire at any place In the
mine. AS far as known only one man
who went to work this morning es-
capped. Joseph Mapleton, q pumper,
emerged from one OF the side en-
frances shortly after the explosion.
He had left the part OF the mine where
most Of the men we're working and
was on the way to the engine room
for oil.
How Mapleton Escaped. Y
II was in entry No. 21," he said,
when heard an awful rumbling. I
started toward the entry, but dn an
instant was blinded and for a little
time did not know anything Then
/ got to the side entry and worked my
way outs
Mapleton was somewhat cut and
bruised, but after going home he re-
turned to the mine and Joined the
rescuers.
William Kelvington, superintendent
Of the mine, was not in the mine when
the explosion occurred and he quick
" organized rescuing parties, start
ing one force Of Is men with reliefs
at short intervals, in the main entry,
and a similar force at side entry
It is hoped to reach the greater
Iart of the victims through the lat.
ter. So far little difnculty has been
encountered on account Of gas or lack
OF air by the rescuers. While the Of
ficials and the rescuers have only the
faintest hope that any Of the men may
be living, all work is being carried
out upon the theory that some may
have found places Of safety and ev.
cry point OF the workings win be ex.
plored at the earliest moment.
The main ONCE OF the company ID