The bee., 1909-01-14
SECOND EXPLOSION IN WEST
VIRGINIA coLLlERY IN
TWO WEEKS.
ALL MAY NEVER Be RECOVERED
Debris From Former Accident Had
Not Been Cleared Away And
Twenty Were Engaged In
This Work.

Blueneld, w. Va. Jan. 1S.-An ex
plosion of gas in the Lick branch col
liery Tuesday snuffed out more than
100 lives. In the same mines two
weeks ago to a day, fifty miners were
killed by a similar explosion.
A sound like thunder reverberated
along the miles of corridors and air
passages crowded with those who
work in the mine.
Above the tons Of earth and stone
that lay between the workings and the
surface giant trees quivered from
the force Of the conclusion and from
the mine mouth belched forth a cloud
of flame, SCOT, dust and debris, heavy
timberS. broken mine cars and even
q massive motor.
Relatives Rush to Scene.
Scarcely had the defamation died
away before q throng of terrorized
women and children rushed to the
mine mouth, and implored those there
to ALLOW them to aid in the effort to
save some of their loved ones who
might still be alive within.
Mine foreman Bowers who was near
the entrance, was blown from his feet,
but managed to crawl out safely as
did also Robert Smith a miner.
A rescue party organized on the
moment rushed into the smoking
mines and tried to rescue a miner
named Halliday who was hurled back
by the blast. They were driven back
by the deadly fumes of the after gases
and were compelled to leave him to his
fate.
A train from this city, was rushed
to the scene to carry material to be
used in relief and rescue.
From sixty to eighty men were
thought to be in the section Of the
mine affected. The debris from the
explosion of two weeks ago had not
been cleared away, and twenty men
were engaged in this work Ninteen
contract miners with their crews were
at work in a new entry and it Is fear
ed all these were lost
The explosion was In a different |
part of the mine from that of two |
weeks ago.
Mine Was Declared Safe.
SiRce that catastrophe, the mine has |
been inspected by government officials
and by the most experienced mine
men In the region, and all, 1t is said.
the opinion that it was safe.
Iafe. "a
None OF the bodies has been re-
covered. One rescue party came in
light of six bodies but was forced
,ack. A late estimate Of the number Of
men entombed is more than 100. That
II Of them are dead there can be no
Ioubt The fire in the mine and the
Ieadly gases, to say nothing Of the
orce of the explosion preeludes any
nance OF any of them being alive. The
nain entry OF the mine is four miles
eng. Debris was blown from both
ntries.
May Never Recover All.
II is reasonably certain that all Of
nc BOQlCn VIII ncNCa bC ACSONChCA- |
he fans which furnish the fresh air
DR. the workings as in the former ex-
losion, were net disabled and are
Drcing fresh air in the Names.
Two brothers named Surratt. Of
peedville, Va, who went TO the mine,
{ the time OF the other explosion
trough curiosity, are in the mine.
tate Mine Inspectors Phillips and
Iicholason are at the mine and are
Erecting the work Of rescue.
POpls who were near the mine at
ne time Of the explosion say immense
tempting to bribe former City
le mine almost simultaneously with
he dstonation.
On the Tug river side. four milss
-om the main entrance, the smoke
nd flame gushed from the entry,
urRlAg the twigs and small limbs
'om trees that grew near.
The explosion was the worst that
yer has occurred in this region, with
DO exception OF one in 1884 at the
Outh West Virginia Improvement
mine. where $50 were kill
q. The mine is owned by the
ocahontas Consolidated Galleries