Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-11-25

covered from the ST Paul mine. today
efforts 20 carry them to the surface
were temporarily abandoned while an
effort was made to check the fire
which has threatened the main shaft.
If the efforts to control the fire are
not successful tomorrow ii is prob.
able the mine will be sealed and re-
main closed for a week
No man survives in the mine now.
The only part of mine yet unexplored
and In which men possibly could be
found is the east workings of the
second vein, at the entrance of which
the fire is burning fiercely.
An accurate account of the victims
has not been made
The bodies recovered today were
about 500 feet from the main shaft
on an elevated surface where they
had retreated before the advance of
the water and fatal black damp. They
died after struggle which they had
continued fer two days.
All Here to Die Together"
Messages scrawled on wood and the
natural slate taken from the walls.
placed the number of deaths at $50
or 16S One message read: We are
al mere 10 ule lcSetucl
This is accepted by mine officials
as indicating that many men whose
escape from the second vein had
net been cut of by fire had descended
to the lower level and less than
dozen bodies will be found in another
section >Of the mine
Today a party of four headed by
Anton Lodyiycieni, were in the gallery
for mere than an hour before the bodies
were found. They had waded in water
waist deep, through the circular tun-
mel making their way toward the ele-
walton of the shaft or ridge where
lney expected to find the men living or
dead
When We climbed up on the ridge
said Lodyiycieni. I'VE almost stepped
upon the bodies piled upon each
other.
Some had their heads resting on
folded arms as If sleeping. Others
were wing across each other. and
some we're sitting as If resting against
the wall
Died 1T the Fan.
Nailed against the wall were two
fans made OF timbering tied about
pick handles Under the fans the
largest groups Of bodies were found
One man had his hand upholdiRg the
fan, think he died as he was turn
ing il. Another had bucket in his
hand, he was flat on his back and
must have died as he climbed up on
the ridge. The bucket was half filled
with black water. which he must have
gone some distance 70 get The
black damp must have killed them
long before the water reached them.
We had been in the shaft mere than
an hourthen and though the air was
fairy good We knew it was time for
us to get out We did not step to
examine any cf the bodies or attempt
to identity them. although probably
we could have IL we had had more
time
Reversal Of Fans Fatal
No evidence that the men had at
tempted TO barricade themselves from
the black damp was seen. Many Of
the former worknen Of the mine pro
tested angriiy after they had discov-
cred .bat the men would have been
saved from the deadly gas had not
the ventiIatiug fans OF the mine been
reversed shortly after the discovery
Of the ere. The assert that the men
had rctreaicd 10 the ridge where under
ordinary conditions the noxisus gas
would not have reached them and be-
ueving themselves in no danger near
" had fortified themselves aghnst
munger. fhirs; and the supposedly les
ser danger Ct gas that naturally would
b. generated after a few days q i'm
yTisonmcui.
Fatal Checked on Slate.
Robert shaw. another member Of
the exploring party thai found the
bodies told Of reading On piece 81
slate on which ore 81 the victims had
checked or the totals Of the groups