Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1909-01-15
WORST mine
DISASTER since "a
Explosion on Tuesday Killed
Nearly 100 Men in Coal Mines
at Switchback, w. Va.

AhC WOtob III tAC COdl
mines in the Flat Top Coal Fields
since 1884 occurred at Switcbback,
the new operation of the Pocahontas
Collieries Co., on last Tuesday, in
which between seventy-five and one
hundred men were killed. Exactly
two weeks ago last Tuesday a similar
explosion occurred in the same mines
killing even fifty persons. The mine
in question is said to be the best re-
guated mine in the coal fields, and
the cause of the explosion is pro-
found mystery. The Associated Press
contained the following account of
the explosion:
In the qui et of the early informing
there came like the sound of thunder
mighty rumbling in the bowels of
the earth, which reverberated along
the mines of corridors and air pas
sages crowded with those who work
there. Above the tons of earth and
stone that lay between the workings
and the mountains crown giant trees
quivered from the force of the cDnces-
sion, and from the mine mouth the
forces of the earth set free, belched
forth a cloud of flame, SCOT, dutt and
debris, heavy timbers, broken mine
cars, and even n massive motoi used
TO haul the heavy laden cars from
the depths.
RUSH TO THE MINES MOUTH.
Scarcely had the detonation died
away before throng of terrorized
women and children, their feet sped
by anxiety and dread, rushed to the
mines mouth and implored those
there to allow them TO aid in the
effort to save some of their bved
ones who might still be alive With
in.
Mine Foreman Bowers, who was
near the entrance, was blown from
his feet, but n anaged TO crawl out
safely, as did also Robert Smith,
miner. With the foreman was
miner named Holiday and he 100;
was blown over. A rescue patty,
oragnized on the moment, rushed in
the jaws of the smoking mine and
tried To rescue him. They were driven
back uy the deadly fumes of the
after gases and were compelled to
leave him TO his fate.
There were supposed to be sixty Or
eighty men in the section Of the
mine affected. The debris from the
explosion of two weeks ago had MT
been cleared away and twenty mtn
were engaged in this work. Nineteen
contract miners with their crews
were at work in newentry and it is
feared that all these men were los.
The explosion was in differeIt
part of them mine from that of two
weeks ago. Since the catastrophe the
mine has been inspected by govern
ment officials and by the most ex-
perienced mine men in the region
aud all, it is said, expressed the
opinion that it was safe.
NO BODIES RECOVERED.
None of the bodies have been re
covered.
One rescue party came in sight o
six bodies but was forced back. Th,
latest estimate of the number of meI
entombed is more than one hundred
That all of them are dead there car
be no doubt. The fire in the min
and the deadly gases, to say nothing
OF the awful force of the explosion
brceludes any chance of rescuing an,
of the men alive.
The main entry of the mine i
four miles long, running from on
side of the mountain to the other
Debris was blown from both entries
which gives some idea of tn
tremedous force of the explosion.
1t is reasonably certain that al
OF the bodies will never be recovered
Some of them were blown to piece
and others incinerated, no doubt
The fans which furnishes the fres
air for the workings, as in the form,
explosion, were not disabled and a
forcing fresh air in the mines.
Two brothers named Surratt,
Speedwell, Va, who went TO I'll
mine at the time of the other expl
sion through curosity accepted pos
tions, and both are in the mine.
LATER.-Up to yesterday thirt,
five bodies had been taken from II
mines, and the rescue work is beir
gradually pushed. The rescue part
has come upon some of the mo
CHASTITY sights that have ever be,
known in coal mine explosio
From some bodies legs are gon
from others arms and heads are mi
sing.