The Washington herald., 1907-12-20

OollAeiiSN4lles iessb DtSs iJ.-h luulucO
detonation. an ominous shiver OF the
earth. followed by great black cloud OF
dust and smoke that sent thrill through
the hearts of the residents Of Jacobs
Creek village, to-day told Of "a big mine
disaster.
The scene was at the Darr Mine Of the
Pittsburg Coal Company. seventeen miles
west of Connellsville, and in the neigh
borhood of two previous mine explosions
that claimed upward Of one hundred lives.
When night settled down over the
stricken mining village it was almost
certain that 175 miners had perished in
the Darr Mine. officials and miners dis
agree upon the number of men in the
mine. The former claim that they had
145 men in the working on checks, and
upward OF So or 10 working as day labor
ers. haulers. and trackmen. The miners
say that there are at least 80 men in
the pit.
Five Bodies Found.
After working all day the rescuing
parties We're able TO locate only five
bodies. and these have not been removed.
They will be brought to the surface early
tomorrow morning
The explosion is one of the most re-
markable in the history Of this region,
for it is absolutely devoid Of any Of the
usual scenes witnessed after such a dis
aster. Women have been sitting all day
about the mine mouth. and with stolid
faces listen 70 the comment OF the miners
and the spectators.
The women sat watching, waiting. and
hoping as rescue party after rescue party
came TO the surface for breath of air
Mrs. w. II. Campbell wife OF the Iline
foreman. relates with vividness her ex-
peric.ce.
Woman Tells story.
Dinner was ready. the ia Twas set
and I was waiting for my husband 10
come home sne said. He always comes
through the manway at 11:3O o'clock. just
I'm the rear OF the house. / was looking
and watching for him when suddenly
there burst from the pit terrific cloud
OF dust an6 smoke. and with it 1 heard
the deaf g roar and felt the shivering
of the ca - The windows Of the house
were broken, the dishes knocked from
the table, and / knew that my husband
had been caught in the manway, and
there the rescuing parties will find him
dead"
Mrs Campbell says there are not more
than 175 men in the mine. but she is con-
fident that all are dead
The smoke and dust emitted by the
mine after the explosion was so intense
that it settled over the valley and made
it almost dark as night The officials OF
the Pittsburg Coal Company were quickly
notified. and J. VI. Armstrong. manager Of
the company; H. X. Randolph. assistant
manager. and Leo Gluck. assistant to the
president. arrived on special train from
Pittsburg at o'clock Superintendent
William Kelvington had already started
the rescue work. but the officials started
in and headed the rescue parties.
Rescuers Driven Back.
While the fan was not destroyed by the
explosion, he ventilation was seriously
affected, and the parties were unable 10
penetrate the mine for any considerable
distance.
At O'Clock tonight they had reached A
point at No q heading. and the explosion
is supposed to have occurred between
Nos. 26 and q entry. This is the point at
which the men were ordered to work. and
is a distance Of three miles from the pit
mouth.
The bodies of the men found in the main
heading We're horribly mangled. and this
is the reason given for not Immediately
bringing them TO the surface.
Directly in front of the rescuing. party
which penetrated TO No. p heading is
an iPnense fall. and it is believed to be
two hundred feet in length. This viii
have C be removed before further prog
ress viii be made in reaching the en-
tOmbed men. At least two hundred
brattices will have TO be erected before
the men can be reached. and this is
slow, tedious, and dangerous work.
Little Hope Given.
The only hope given out for the lives
Of the men is that the force of the air
current may penetrate to them and thus
keep tlose who were not killed by the
explosion alive until the great fall can
be removed.
Chief Engineer z. J. Taylor. OF the
company. said tonight that he could not
assign any cause for the explosion. The
mine was known 10 be gaseous. and both
saCety and open lights were used in it.
Electricity was also used in its operation.
The regular list of men when the mine
is running fun is in the neighbOrhood of
800. but yesterday being a Greek holi-
day. men laid off and did not return TO
work this morning. The greatest number
Of men entombed are -Slavs and Italians.
but the fact that American miners did
not participate in yesterdays festivities
and were at work will make the Ameri-
can list Of deaths high.