The Washington herald., 1907-12-02
Explosion Near Fayette City
Proves Disastrous.
HOPE TO RESCUE SOME
Not One Of the Imprisoned Men
Found at | O'clock.
Thousands Flock to Mouth and
Every Effort Is Being Made TO
Reach Unfortunate Men-ExpIOsiOn
Caused by Miner Going Into Old
Entry with Lighted Lamp-TNvo
Hundred Men Employed There.

Fayette City, Pa. Dec. Fifty to sixty
coal miners are entombed in the Naomi
Mine of the United Coal Company, three
miles west of this city, following a ter
rife explosion about O'Clock last niglG
Probably half the imprisoned men were
killed outright. Hundreds of volunteer
rescuers have been working for hours
trying to save the others.
At 1 o'clock this morning not one i'm
prisoned man had Sbeen rescued.
Threatening TO be the worst OF all the
coal mine tragedies with which the Pitts
burg district has been visited. this latest
one has aroused the people for miles
around. Thousands are docking 20 the
mine mouth. where every means known
TO mine operation is being exerted TO
reach the men.
Aid has been secured from Monongahela
City and other nearby towns. All the
officials of the coal company have hirr-
ried TO the spot, while every available
miner in this section OF the State has
been pressed into service.
Tho explosion was caused. il is said. bv
miner going into an old entry with =
lighted lamp.
Employs Two Hundred Men
The mine employs 200 men. seventv-five
o. whom were at work. and these had
Just gone 90 work on the night sbirt
when binding Fash Illuminated the
mine There was a roar as tons of rosr
and slate crashed down into the entries
crowded with men. Then utter darkness
followed. the explosion putting out the
lights
II was several minutes before the eDor.
NIFTY OF what had happened dawped uror
nose VINO had escaped. The mine immo.
"idteiy hlled with deadly gases. and sew
eral not hurt by the explosion perished.
one entire section Of the mine WIS
found 10 be cut Off from the outside. An
back there are dead or dying. The great
Quantities Of gas usually found In r,ine.,
l this territory means quick death for
these men unless rescued Immediately
The report of the explosion shook buiId-
ings i'm this city. and was heard for
miles Instantly cries of Another min.
ulsaster came simultaneously from
thousands of lips
In the homes Of miners the evnIoeio,,
feil Ike q death signal. The occ,,,,-r,ts
ui these, men, women. and children form,
tne saddest picture in the scenes about
me mine tonight. The women and cbiI.
dren arc CRYING continually vbfo no,
staring hopelessly at those carrying ~,
the work of rescue.
Impossible TO Get Figures.
flgures estimating the number of mer
entombed vary, and il is impossible =,
get correct estimate from the copf,,sa5
officials That there were over frtv roar
IN the entries. uninjured miners assert
While those entombed number man,
fewer
because of the wrecked interior of tbe
mlne, 1t was announced at I o'cIocl, tb,-
the loss OF life would not be know, ,,Dtf
roundup was made. There are fve
rescue parties at work. and they are an
ieet from where the entombed victims aro
Inc Naomi mine is shaft mine. and
one Of the Oldest operated by the Irn,tad
Coal Company. 1t is one of the bippes.
mines IN the soft coal region. The Dro,-
erty loss will be enormous. as the min
was equipped with all the up-to-date min
apparatus 'i''''
Inc explosion completely wrecked IN.
ar system ana that In itself means that
no human being can live ver,- Tor,- j., - -
mine III ''ie
since the work of rescue began few
minutes after the explosion last night m,
rescuers have been hampered by lacJ, nj
hght Torches were pressed into service
ana TINS morning hundreds of vorInon
carrying these 10 and fro. present a grey.
some picture that adds 20 the awful con.
ditonS '' 'o'''