The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-01-01
HUGE DEATH LIST p
IN MINE DISASTER.
Fire in West Virginia coliiery De-
lays Work Of Rescue.
SAD SCENES At PITS MOUTH
Revised Figures by Superintendent
Show That About Four Hundred
Were Caught-Over Hundred
Bodies Found. ,sa j..

| DtlCW IuaL ADOuI rOur f1uuurCu
Were Caught-Over Hundred
Bodies Found.
Monongah, w. Va. While it is
impossible to determine the exact
oumber Of lives lost by the explosion
in Mines Nos. 6 and of the Fair
mount Coal Company, the worst fears
are likely to be confirmed. One estf-
nate, said to be based on the best
information now obtainable, places
the number of lives probably lost at
s64. The least grievous figures In
iicate the death of over 400. III, - ::
At dark on the day following the
tragedy only ffty-three bodies had
been recovered from Mines 6 and g.
FFifty-six hours had elapsed since the
explosion, and the bodies were in
! Iuch condition as to necessi' ate inn
| mediate burial. %e#..A
It is now believed that the num-
.ber Of dead will not be over 400. 1t
| transpiredN that many miners who
we're believed to have been entombed
lid not go to work on the day Of the
accident.
T. The fire broke out again in Mine 8
and the rescuers were ordered to the
yurface The fire is still burning.
Members Of the rescuing party say
that oyer! 100 bodies have been lo-3
sated in, the two mines, - = =
( Clarence Hall, a Government mine
expert, arrived, and he and Chief
Mine Inspector Paul spent the re-
ynainder Fof the day at the mines.
Hall will make thorough investiga-.
ton.
In statement President Watson,
Of the Coal Company, said: There
have been numerous reports that the
families of the dead men are desti.
tute. These reports are wrong. The
Fairmonth Coal Company Is taking
.are of all these families. In addition
the ladies of Monongah, FairmGnt
and other places have organized re-
lief measures and are rendering eff
lective assistance. .ztyg
The condition Of the. bodies thus
far recovered Is horrible, Many are
dismembered, some are fearfully
crushed, and the rest are blackeneG
Ind burned beyond recognition. Tie
body Of j. N. McGraw, pit boss, and
5ne Of the best known mining men In
West Virginia, was discovered in Mine
No. 8. 1t was headless and other
wise disfgured,, Identification being
made by the clothing and shoes he
wore. -s.El
. Five carloads of collins were de,l
liyered here and unloaded in prepare.
ton to receive the bodies Of the dead.
At the mines six undertakers are
working with, a number of assistants
end the temporary morgue in the par
TALLY completed bank building at
Monongah Is rapidly filling.
A score or more of men of the res
cuing parties are in critical condi-
ton from inhaling black damp. Sew
eral of them are expected to die. One
of these men, John Gabbert, was car
ried from the mine almost ravins
maniac. : His lungs were filed with:
black damp, which produced condi-
tion similar to one insane, and the
services of four men were necessary
to hold him while doctors attended
him. -.1. .s - a'
The accident, the greatest in the
| history of American mining, has
dazed the people of this vicinity. The
streets of both this town and Fair.
mont are crowded with people, while
thousands line the hills in the Yicin.
ity of the mines. Every barroona in
Fairmont and Monongah is closed.
So far the company's police have been
able to preserve order about the
mines, although it has been difficult
problem to handle the large crowds
Of men, women and children. ,is:.