New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-12-01
RECOVER 124 BODIES
ONLY FEW MORE IN NINE.
President Jones in the Worhings-
Smriuor Tells of Explosion.

Pittsburg Dec 1-One hundred and twenty four
bodies of victims of the mine disaster at Mariana
had been recovered at so o'clock this morning
and the searchers expect to find only few others
John H Jones. president of the company. who
has been work almost without rest since the
explosion IL st Saturday morning, was al that hour
down in the nnine. AMI sent word 30 the surface
that he believed there only two more bodies
in the debris. and that work would not cease untl
these found.
David G. Jones, general superintendent OF the
company. said the mine is now entirely free from
gas that the company would provide additional
safeguards for workmen, and that they expected
to resume work within ten days
James E RcGerick head of the State Depart
nent of Mining reached the mine this afternoon.
but after receiving reports from deputies necio7e
not 10 enter the workings until the rescuers nave
completed their work He came to Pittsours To-
night and will return TO Mariana tomorrow
When rescue work is finished he will take charse
of the mine and make investigation as 10 Tue
cause of the disaster and fix responsibility thereiof
if possible.
Mt Roderfck said this disaster. together win
the series of last winter would form the text OF
communication TO the Legislature next January III
which sweeping changes in the state mining laws
would be urged
Many Of the rescuers profess TO have reacheu q
satisfactory explanation of the explosion IheY
assert that while the hydraulic drill was at work
it opened pocket OF gas. and while the gas was
escaping into the mine the drill struck plece Oh
rock. caused g spark and the explosion foio"eo'
Fred Eiinger. thrty-nine years old, the only man
VINO escaped alive is rapidly recovering from ms
injuries He was able to-day TO talk little ana
narrate his experiences Elinger is at the Me-
mortal Hospital at Monongahela He said:
Il was employed at the Mariana mine as a
brick mason. and with all other masons entered
the mine at 6:45 O'Clock on Saturday morning
For four months ! had been at work in the NINE
and have been IN this country for about fve years
most of that time having been spent in or about
mines.
When the explosion happened. after II O'Clock.
Saturday forenoon. I did not see the beginning OF
it. and for that reason. 1 cannot assign cause.
as and the others were work near the Rachel
shaft furthest removed from where the explo-
sion is supposed to have happened. ] did hear
however kissing sound and instincttvely con-
cluded that something wrong. This was the
burning Of the gas preceding the perot of the
explosion. I Immediately ducked. buried my face
and head in the dirt sand mud and pulled my
coat over my head. The explosion came along.
It struck me ard threw with terrific force
agap5t one Of the mine walls For about ten
minutes as far as I can judge, I was unable 20
move,
Il never actually lost consciousness. although
was badly stunned. but I unable 50 move
Every part of my body ached AS hour after hour
passed 1 heard my comrades grooming all around
me- but gradually the grooming grew less and
less and 1 knew that they were ali dead.
i was in the mine for about twelve hours after
the explosion and was ultimately rescued by Fire
Boss William Underwood. When he found
could not speak. only groan. He caught me in his
arms. hurried with me from underground ana on
reaching the surface took at once to his home
Just close the shaft. where was revived. Later
| was taken to the hospital in a special train.
am badly burned about the face, hands and left
leg but the doctors tell l going 10 get
better I have a wife and four children in Ger
many and they will be glad that I have escaped