The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-07-02
SEVENTEEN COAL
MINERS ARE KILLED
Open Lamp Causes In Explosion
Of Gas.
Disaster In Lackawanna Coal Com
pany's Mine At Wehrum, Pa
Women Volunteer For Rescue
Work In Face OF Deadly Blast
From The Mines Mouth - The
Rescuers Were Overcome BY The
Fumes And Gas.

Il ~ ts
Wehrum. Pa. Especially - AS the
result of an explosion of gas in mine
No. 4, of the LackawanLa Coal and
Coke Company shortly after
o'clock A. NJ, IL miners were killed
and 16 injured. With the exception
of one, those killed were foreigners.
| With few exceptions those injured
were Americans
| Twelve of the more seriously in
jured were taken to SpangIer Hospi-
tai. 1t was stated that all would
probably recover.
Inspector Joseph Williams, of
Altoona, with party, entered the
mine shortly after 8 o'clock P. M,
for the purpose of ascertaining
whether anyone was yet entombed
| Superintendent. A. M. Johnson sta
| ted that while the mine has always
| been regarded as nongaseous. the
explosion was due to the ignition of
pocket of gas by the open lamp Of
miner.
THE mine has been so free from
gas for the past six years." said the
superintendent, that the State in
/ spectors have permitted the use of
open lamps. With II dead and liz
| injured, am of the opinion that
everyone has been accounted for who
entered the NINE
Getting Family Supply.
The mine has only been operating
! two days each week-Tuesday and
! Friday. Those in the mine had en-
tered the shaft for their daily al
| lowance of coal for family use.
| Grouped about the slope entrance
of the mine before the explosion
were several Italians. When the ter
rifle subterranean upheaval of rock
and deadly gas spouted skyward
these Italians were caught. Terribly
burned and MANNED they rushed
about the settlement crying for aid.
The cries and sound of kissing mine
gas at the entrance of the mine
brought the entire town to the scene.
Superintendent A. M. johnson,
backed by the Office force of the
company, stood at the mine entrance
| and held back the frantic women
whose relatives were entombed.
The first man to reach the surface
was A. l.. Johnson, son of the SUI
perintendent Young Johnson had
been in lower heading. There Were
burns on his arms, body and neck,
and it was stated he had inhaled
flames. He is one of the few very
seriously injured.
Following the superintendent
son came two Italians, their faces
burned to a crisp. They were at
tended by the mine physician.
Women Are Brave.
Superintendent johnson called for
volunteers to enter the mine. In
women. These were ordered back.
With wet handkerchiefs tied over
their faces the first squad of the
relief party started down the shaft.
OF the eight who started, four CAME
back with their senses. The others,
overcome with black damp, were
pulled to the surface with ropes.
A second and a third party en-
tered only to be driven back by the
deadly gases, kissing and spouting in
the lower levels.
Oxygen, sent by the Cambria
Steel Works, aided the searchers, and
with safety helmets a fourth rescue
party succeeded in bringing IL bod
les to the surface. Late in the aft
ernoon FIVE more bodies were recov-
cred. They were found huddled to-
gether in the lower left heading,
where they had died in an evident
effort to reach the main shaft.
In twos and three the injured were
found and lifted to the mouth of the
mine and these hastily taken to the
temporary hospital established at the
company store. They were later re-
moved to the Spangler Hospital, rs
miles from Wehrum.