The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-01-13
MANY PERISH IN MINE EXPLOSION Over a Hundred Lose
 Lives. THREE HUNDRED AT WORK Second 'Disastrous Explosion Wit in a Short Time. It is Thought That 'FoIiewias Explosion The Mine csssht AI- though Little smoke Is Conn
 inG ost.
 
THREE HUNDRED AT WORK

the earth trembled today and that ui known gaseous substance in whie there is more deadly energy and iaI ger to the atom than In tons of q. namite. let go in the mines of Il Lick Branch colliery. and snuffed Q, over one hundred lives. Abo' 300 men were at work in the mine. was in the same mines whare, tv weeks ago to a day. fifty miners we killed by similar explosion.
 In the quiet of the early mornii there came. like the sound of thunds a mighty rumbling in the earth whi reverberated along the miles of corri- dors and air passages crowded with those who worked there. Above ths tons of earth and stone that lay bee tween the workings. the mountaina crown giant trees Quivered from the force of the concussion. and from tho mines mouth the forces of the earth, set free. belched forth a cloud of flame. soot. dust and debris. heavy timbers. broken mine cars and even massive motor. used to haul the heavy laden ears from the depths.
 Scarcely had the detonation dieo away before a throng of terroraxeS women and children rushed to tho nllns mouth and impiored those there to al. low them to aid in the effort to save some of their loved ones-who might stiii be alive within. Mine Foreman Bow. CTS. who was near the entrance, wal blown from his feet, ,but managed to crawl out safely. as did also Robert Smith. a miner. With the foreman was a miner named Holiday, and he too, was blown over. A rescue party organized on the moment, rushed ii the smoking mines and tried to ress him. They were driven back by fumes of the after gases and were co pelled to leave him to his fate.
 A train was rushed from this to the scene of the disaster, 30 twenty-five miles away. cafrying hr ticing and other material to be used the work 01 eMpsornkion and rescue
 Thsras afe snRppn@a to h6 tram ss to eighty fnen In the Dectt0n Of mine affected The debris from explosion of two weeks ago had been cleared away and twenty I were engaged in this work. Ninet contract miners with their crews V at work in a new entry and 1t feared that all. of these men were
 The explosion was in a diner part of the mine from that of weeks ago. Since that catastroi the mine has been Inspected bye ernment officials. and by the most perienced mine men in the region, all, 1t Is said. expressed the opif that 1t was. safe.
 estimate of the number that may met death. but at the pit mouth now believed that over 100 have pet ed. Fresh air Is being forced into shaft by way of the fan. which not damaged.
 Intense excitement reigns about the mine, and everything possible iB belng done to carry assistance to the entomb- ed men. The cause of the accident has not yet been determined.
 The West Virginia State Mine fn- spector. Phillips, is on the ground and ts leading the rescue work.
 Nine of the bodies have been recov- cred.
 It is expected that part of the mine in which eight men were at work, will be reached before morning.
 One rescue party came in sight of six bodies, but was forced back. The late est estimate of the number of men nfl. tombed is more than 100. That all ok them are dead, there can be no doubt. The fire in the mine and the deadly gases, to say nothing of the awful force of the explosion, precludes any chance of rescuing any of the men alive.
 --.Tne main entry OL tnS uiluC Ae toHE miles long. running from one side oF the mountain to the other. Debris was blown from both entries. which givea some Idea of the tremendous force of the explosion.
 It is reasonably certain that all of the bodies will never be recovered. Some of them were blown to pieces. and others incinerated, no doubt. The fans which furnish the fresh air for the workings, as in the former explosion. were not disabled. and are forcing fresb air into the mines.
 The brothers named Surratt, ok Speedwell, Va, who went to the nina as the time of the other explosion through curiosity. accepted positions. and both are fin the mine.
 State Mine Inspectors Phillips and Nicholson are at the mine and are d. recting the work of rescue. Crews have been formed. and are venturing In as far as the air Is pure enough to breathe in their efforts to reach those entombed.
 On the Tug River side. four miles from the main entrance. the smoke and flames gushed from the entry. burning the twigs and small limbs from trees that grew near. The damage to the mine cannot be estimated.
 The explosion was the most terrific that has ever occurred in this region In 1884 at the Southwest Virginia Im- provement Company's mine. 3e0 men were killed In an explosion. Today'a horror is the most disastrous that has occurred since,
 The mine is owned by the Pocahontns Company.