The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-01-13
OVER 100 LIVES ARE.
LOST IN EXPLOSION
IN COAL MINE
CLOUD OF FLAME, SCOT, DUST
AND DEBRIS 6ELCHES FROM
MOUTH OF MiNE-TWo sRoTA-
ERS VICTIMS.

BLUEFIELD. w. Va. Jan. lS.-Over
one hundred lives We're lost in IN
Lick Branch colliery as the result ~
IN explosion In the mine yesterday. Al
~ O'Clock last night ten bodies mad
ueen taken from the mine. None O;
them had been identified. An Old ear
penter shop Was turned into morSue
and the bodies were placed there with
the expectation that identification
could be accomplished today.
There was d mighty rumbing In the
mine yesterday morning. IL reverber-
ated along the miles OF corridors and
air passages. From the mouth Of III"
mine there belched forth a clouG OF
flame. SCOT, dust and debris, heavy
timbers. broken mine cars and even
a massive motor used to haul the
heavy laden cars from the depths.
Scarcely had the defamation died
away before a ihrong OF terroriZed wo-
men and children rushed TO the minc
mouth and implored those there to d.
low them TO aid In the effort to save
some OF their loved ones who might
still be alive within.
Mine Foreman Bowers. who was
rear the entrance, was blown IRON
his feet. but managed TO crawl out
safely as did also Robert Smith, a
miner. With the foreman was miner
named Holiday and he, TOO. was
blown over. rescue party. organ
lied on The moment rushed into ;he
Jaws OF me smoking mines and trie
10 rescue him They were driven back
By the deadly fumes of the aftereaSes
and were compelled to leave him 70
his fate.
4 train was rushed from this cit. &c
away, carrying bratticing and other
material TO be used in the work or
exploration and rescue.
Explosion Two Weeks Ago.
There were supposed to be over 100
men in the section OF the mine NJ
tected The debris from the explosion
of two weeks ago had not been cleared
away and 20 men were engaged III
this work. Nineteen contract miners
with their crews were al work IL
new entry and II is feared that al! ri
these men were lost.
The explosion was in different
part OF the mine from that oil TWO
weeks ago. Since that catastrophe
the mine has been inspected by gov
eminent officials and by the most
experienced mine men in the region,
and all. IL is said expressed the opih'
ion that II was safe.
One rescue party came in sight or
six bodies but was forced back
late estimate Of the number Of mon
10,
nj them were dead there was no doubt
The fire in the mine and the deadly
gases. to say nothing OF the awful
force OF the explosion preluded AIRY
chance OF rescuing any OF the men
alive.
The main entry OF the mine is four
miles long, running from one side OF
the mountain TO the other DeDrls
was blown from both entries. which
gives some idea of the tremendous
force Of the explosion.
II Is reasonably certain that all the
bodies will never be recovered. Some
uf them were blown to pieces and
others incinerated. The fans which
furnish the fresh air for the workings,
as I'm the former explosion. were not
disabled and are forcing fresh air in
the mines.
Two Brothers Victims.
Two brothers named Surratt. OF
Speedwell. Va, who went TO the mine
AT the time OF the other explosion
through curiosity, accepted positions,
and both are in the mine.
State Mine Inspectors Phillips and
Nicholson are at the mine directing
the work OF rescue Crews have been
formed and are venturing in as far as
the air Is pure enough to breathe I'm
their efforts to reach those entombed.
Bystanders at the time OF the eX-
plosion say that immense clouds g.
SCOT and smoke gushed from the mire
almost simultaneously with the de.
tonation. and Immediately were sucked
back in enormous volumes into the
mine.
On the Tug river side, four miles
from the main entrance. the smoke
and flame gushed from the entry.
burning the twigs and small limbs
from trees that grew near. The lam