Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-11-29

all dedu. Inc nuInDeI OF uedu - hOt yeN
known.
PITTSBURG, Pa, Nov. &.-From an au-
thoritative source 1t was learned late today
that 275 men were in the mine at the time
of the explosion.
The deputy coroner at Monongahela says
he does not think any Of them will get
out alive.
The first rescuing party OF sixty was
compelled to retreat on account of the in
tense heat after getting within short
distance of where the men are believed to
be entombed.
PITTSBURG, Pa, Nov. 2s.-A serious
mine explosion occurred shortly before
noon today at the mine Of the Pittsburg-
Buffalo Coal company at Mariana. WASH
ington county, and while there is nothing
definite yet as to the number OF fatalities.
it is believed many men have lost their
lives.
Rescue Party Enters.
Shortly after o'clock this afternoon
word was received from Mariana that
rescue party had succeeded in entering the
mine The rescuers have been able to adj
vance but little way, however, and are
attempting to force their way through the
debris to where the miners were caught.
II is persistently reported from Mariana
that there are 190 men entombed. The
company officials stated there are fully
100 men. 1t is believed, however. that the
number will be from $50 to 200 men.
1t is not considered likely any of the
miners will be rescued alive. The ex-
plosion was terrific and IL all were not
mangled by Its force, there seems little
doubt that they per1shed in the subsequent
fire or were suffocated by the deadly
fumes. or
According to. State Mine Inspector Lout-
tit, there were between 18O and 200 men In
the mine when the explosion occurred. In
spector Louttit had been out OF the mine
only three minutes when the accident hap
pened.
At O'Clock. an hour and half after the
accident, dense clouds OF smoke were pour
ing from the two shafts of the mine, but
not sign OF a miner had peen seen.
Rushing as fast as steam can carry them,
special trains from this city and Mononga-
hela are bound for the scene OF the dis
aster. On them are officials of the coal
company and many prominent miners who
are considered experts on the work of
rescue, The latest appliances from the
new United States laboratory in this city
| which were recently tested before foreign
and American experts for the saving OF
| life in mine explosions have been hurried
| to the scene.
| The greatest excitement prevails at the
mine. A majority of the miners are Ameri-
cans and their families are at the mouth OF
the mine in a state OF frenzy.
Mariana was built recently by the Pitts.
burg Buffalo Coal company. It necessitatec
a great outlay of money as it was the in
tention to make the mine UP to date anc
the living conditions OF the miners the
same as could be secured in a large city
The houses are OF brick and each contain
a bath room. When completed the towr
was said by foreign and American min,
officials to be the most perfect mnin,
! town In the world
Iron Cage Hurled in Air.
The heavy iron cage which carried tn
men from the surface to the workings wa
blown 300 feet away from the mouth o
the shaft. Two men who were on tn
cage at the time were killed, one of then
having his head blown off.
But little hope Is entertained for the me
who are entombed. as the fan house wa
partially demolished and the fans stoppe
for over an hour.
The explosion occurred in shaft No
and the only way TO reach the working
is through that shaft, as shaft No is no
completed. Whether or not the men in tn
mine can be reached is problematica
Some Of the officials OF the coal compan
believe It will be necessary to dig throug
800 feet OF solid coal before they can reac
the workings.
1t is said there Is large gas we'll in tn
vicinity Whether the gas from this we
communicated to the mine and becam
ignited or whether powder and dynamit
used for blasting purposes exploded cannc
now be ascertained.
John II. Jones, president OF tho Pitt:
burg Buffalo Coal company. was almost
physical wreck when he learned of tn
accident in this city today.
J. W. Paul OF the United States Minin
Testing station located here is on his wa
= to the scene I'm a special train, carryin
patented helmets that make work In IL
most dangerous mine possible. and wit
these Mr.. Paul expects TO be able to say
many lives. unless the force OF the e,
= piosion was exceptionally heavy Thrt
foreigners who were at the mouth OF II
mine when the explosion occurred are
the hospital in a critical condition fro
injuries received when the mine cage wa
blown out os the shaft