The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1909-01-21
AN Inflated Mine
SECOND DISASTER nv TWO WEEKS
IN A WEST VIRGINIA
coLLlERY.
MORE TRAN lCU MINERS DEAD
Explosion Of a Again Causes havie
In Lick Branch Mlne-had
Been Declared Safe
BY Experts.

Blueheld, w. va, Jan. lS.-An e.
plosion of gas in the Lick Branch col
llery Tuesday smiled out more than
100 lives. In this same mine two
weeks ago Tuesday 80 miners were
killed by a similar explosion.
A sound like thunder r~everbrated
along the miles Of corridors and air
passages crowded with those who
work there in the mine. Above the
tons OF earth and stone that lay
between the workings and the mOun-
tains. giant trees Quivered from the
force OF the conclusion, and from the
mine mouth belchcd forth a cloud OF
flame. SCOT. dust and debris. heavy
timbcrs, broken mine cars and ven q
massive motor.
Scarcely had the defamation died
away before a throng OF terroTized
women and children rushed to the
mine mouth and lmplored 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
safety as also did Robert Smith a
miner. A rescuo party. organized on
the moment. rushed into the smoking
mine and tried 20 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 we're compelled to leave
him to his fate.
a train was rushed from this city
10 the scene. carrying other material
to be used In the work Of exploration
and rescue. The debris from the ex-
~plOsioR OF two weeks ago had not been
cleared away and 20 men were en-
gagged in this work. Nineteen contract
miners with their crews were al work
I'm a new entry aud IL is feared all
these were lost.
The explosion was ia Q different
part Of the mine from tha - two
weeks ago. Since that catastiJlA ne
the mine has beef Inspected By GOV.
eminent officials, and By the most ex.
p]erienced mine men IN the region.
and all. Il Is said. expressed the opin.
ion that e was safe.
None OF the bodies has been reCoy-
cred. One rescue party came In sight
of six bodies hut was forced back. A
late estimate u the number Of men
eniombed Is more than 100. That all
OF them are dead there can be no
doubt. The fire In the mine and tho
/ hnuAlg raaaa 80 100 r.NhHrE 80 HHE
force Of the explosion, precludes any
chance Of rescuing any OF the men
alive.
The main entry OF the mine is four
miles long, Debris was blown from
both entries. Il Is reasonably certain
that all OF the bodies will never be
recovered. The fans which furnish
the fresh air for the workings as Ia
the former explosion. we're not dis.
abled and are forcing fresh air in the
mines.
Two brothers named Sufratt. Of
~Speedwell. va. who went 70 the mine
at the time Of the other explosion
through curiosity. are in the mine.
State Mine Inspectors Philips and
NICHOLSON are AZ the mine and are d.
recting the work OF rescue.
People who were near the mine at
the time Of the explosion say immense
clouds Of SCOT and smoke gushed from
the mine almost simultaneously with
the defamation. on the Tug river side
four miles rom The main entrance,
the smoke and flames gushed from the
entry, burning the twigs and small
limbs from the trees that grew near.
The explosion was the worst that
ever has occurred In this region. with
the exception OF one In 1854 az the
South West Virginia Improvement
company's milne. where 300 were
killed. The mine Is owned by the
PocOhontas Consolidated Galleries
company.