Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-12-07
(HN AsaooIateo rreso.l

Gig Associated Preso.)
MONANGAH, w. VA. Doc. G.
Three charred and blackcnod bodies
lying inzthe improvised morguo pre-
pared near the entrance OF the mine.
-FOUR men hovoring between life Snu
death from the awiu! bruises sustain
I'D and the Adaadiv .us,,. q. -
Gro in temporary hospitals into which
one OF the camp buildings has been
transferred, and -. men imprisoned
by tons OF coal. rock and mine ue-
hris In the depths OF the hills sur
rounding this mining town with MI
chances against a single ono of tncnl
being alive is the most accurate sum
mary obtainable tonight OF the result
OF anime explosion today which n
AL probability was followed by greau-
" loss OF ITO than any former dis
aktars iR.the history OF tho bituminous
coal mining industry In America.
Tho explosion occurred shortly at
ter 10 O'clock today, after tho full
forcessnt 500 men had gone to wo-R
in the two mines affected. Tho o
mines are numbered and S of me
Constellation Coal Company. located
on opposite sides OF tho West !. ork
rlvcr,4a at this place, but merged in
<snnderground work by head
Ing and on tho surface by great
stesi tippie and bridge.
The finding of three corpses an.
tho four badly injured men ls tho
Official record for reward of strenu-
GUS and uninterrupted work on ths
part of large rescuing forces that
Immediately act TO work Mt every
possible point.
Tho four living mon are unable 10
givo any detailed report of the dis-
aster or to even explain how they
reached the surface
They state that Immediately back OF
Them when they began their frantic
struggle for liberty, there was largo
number of men engaged lu Il similar
struggle, while still further back n
tleworNng there was large mum
ber,@cf whom they know nothing.
1t. Is the opinion of the mine Of
flclafa and others familiar with miu
Ing that &c seven men had not pene
tratra tho mine as far as had tho ma
joritya OF the day shift when the OK
pIoALon occurred, and that they heard
cd Tor and reache... tho main entry
before the cave that now block
adSB the entrance moro than n few
hundred feet beyond the main open
Ing OF miro Number 6.
4hsst TO the miners referred to by ths
rescued mon as having been alive wher
last scon. ft ~ believed that they
were caught back OF tho heavy cav,
In OF Goa. and mine rocks and that
they could not have survived mort
than & few minute; in the deadly
gases with which the entry filled n:
soon AZ tho rentilat.ng system wa;
interrupted. There Is moro nope FOL
chose in moro remote sections OF III,
mine. rs they may have reached
workings where fresh air is suppliet
by other openings. But 81 hes. only
the most slender nope Is entertainat
fortthe survival OF any ono of thu
men In the nline until the debris CAT
DO Cleared away and communication
with the outside re-established. Th'
two mines regularly employ LOO
men. working In two shifts, 500 dur
ingsthe. day and 500 during the night
ard tho best information obtainabl,
at!ghie time is that the entire ia.
force had Gona to work this mornln!
aDd that all were caught. 1t wa.
shuhily after 10. o'clock when the OK
pifssiol iAesrrred, and st that hou
oven the latest of the struggling fore