Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-21
.DARR MINE A WRECK
Rescue Work Is Slow and Very
Hazardous.
BLACK DAMP INCREASING
Few Bodies Have Yet Been Brought
to the Surface.
ALL ARE TERRIBLY MUTILATED
Conditions in the Pit Are So Bad
That Volunteers Are I'm
usually Scarce.
Special Dispatch to The Star.


JACOBS CREEK, Pa. December 21.-
Three more bodies were brought out of
the Darr mine at : O'Clock this morning.
The horror of the accident seems to be
intensifyins the farther in the rescuers
get Every foot seems to show greater
havoc
The last boules are in very bad condi-
tier. being frighteully burned and man
gled. Only the b.ackened trunk of one
poor wretch remains. the head being miss
ing and both arms and legs blown or
twisted off Near this trunk three feet
were picked up.
All the bodies SO far recovered have been
lying in the main entry or haulage way
No attempt has been made to explore the
side entries, nor the butt entries or rooms.
and large number of bodies are thought
to be scattered among them.
The greatest number, however, is
thought to be in the swamp entries, about
three miles back of the entrance to the
mine.
The difficulty of the rescue work is
hourly increasing. as black damp is being
found in even greater quantity than be-
fore.
Dead Are Down Deep.
William Hardin. one of the most daring
of those who have been striving to reach
the bodies of their friends and neighbors.
of
o'clock this morning. and his life was
saved only by the prompt and vigorous
efforts of DR.. Lake of the, Pittsburg Coal
Company
No additional bodies have been recoy-
cred from the Darr mine up to noon to-
day. A total of twelve was reached early
this morning.
Rescue work is necessarily slow, but it
is believed a number of victims will be
brought to the surface before night. Res
cuers have penetrated the mine 5000 feet.
but a majority of the dead are expected
10 be found distance of three miles back
IN the pit.
From the canvass made by various per-
NON
Will number close to 800.
The Pittsburg Coal Company is arrang-
ing for the purchase of a burial ground
at Snithton about a mile below hare,
for the purpose OF interring undermined
dead.
Funerals of the men recovered will
take place tomorrow afternoon.
Volunteers Are Scarce.
In the short distance rescuers were able
iyht fa ha nnr mil
scene Thursdays awful explosion half
a dozen bodies were found and brought
10 the surface.
The DANCE, of another explosion is i'm
minent and the rescuing forces dare not
venture lar ahead of the forces erecting
the temporary brattices. Vast quantities
of gas have been encountered and the
volume seems to be STEADILY increasing
due possibly to the opening of new fis-
sures in the earth resultant from the ter
rife explosion. There is also a strong
suspicion. prompted by the waves of hot
air that are said to come from the direc-
ton, that a fire is raging far back in the
workings. and If the flames should reach
the deposits of coal in the rooms, the
would-be rescuers would be endangered.
Company officials have ordered that ex-
ploring parties shall advance only as fast
as the passageway can be cleared of gas,
ventilated and otherwise made safe.
So bad are the conditions in the mine
that. contrary to all precedents in mine
disasters, there are few who volunteer
for the rescue work.
May Be 800 Dead.
While what appears to be the most re-
liable estimates on the number of victims
are near 100 there are many who insist
that the final list of dead will contain
many more names Michael Hallahy, ma
tional organizer for the United Mine
Workers of merica. who has assumed
charge here for>the organization, says:
'I have made a house-to-house canvass
among the families here, and am certain
that there are 300 dead men l. the Darr
mine
Much suffering and distress among
those dependent upon the victims have
already been disclosed. and steps have
been taken to organize relief committees.
The Connellsville Board of Trade mas
called a meeting for today to orE@n.ze a
permanent relief committee. New Haven
took similar steps. Mckeesport also has
started a relief movement, while in Pitts
burg funds are being raised to be distrib-
uted among the sufferers from the three
recent disasters.
One Wealthy Victim.
james E. Roderick. chief of the state de-
partment of mining, has ordered the nine
mine inspectors of the state 40 meet him
here today to assist in rescue work and to
investigate the cause of the explosion.
Clark Adams. said to be the son of
wealthy parents living in New York. a
young man just out of his teens. is said
to have met death in the mine. Three
months ago Adams sought employment
at the mines with the intention of earning
money to buy himself new outfit OF
wearing apparel and return to his home.
He intended to leave for the east next
Sunday His body has not vet been re-
covered, but summons has been sent
to his parents.
More Monongah Victims.
FAIRMONT, W. Va. December 81
Bodies are gradually being recovered from
the mines of the Fairmont Coal Company
at Monongah. the scene of the great dis
aster December g. and today the total
number recovered had reached $40.
| II is the general opinion here that 400
men, IL not more, met death in the mines
Short Session Of Senate.
After being in session forty-five minutes
today the Senate adjourned until Janu-
4 n