Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-06-24
Calamity is Caused by Usual Explo-
sion of Mine Gas.
BLACK DAMP BLOCKS RESCUE
1t Pours in Mouth of Shaft and Pre-
vents Entrance.
SCENES WITNESSED
AgOnised Relatives Crowd Around
Mouth of Mine and Retard Work
of Relief - Explosion
Starts Fire.

WEHRUM, Pa June 23.-As the result
of an explosion of gas in mine No. 4, OF
the Lackawanna Coal and Coke company,
shortly after o'clock this morning, seven
teen miners were killed and sixteen in
jured. with the exception of one, those
killed were foreigners. with few excep-
tions those injured were Americans.
Twelve of the more seriously were taken
to spangler hospital. 1t was stated all
would probably recover.
Inspector Joseph Williams of Altoona,
with a party, entered the mine shortly
after s o'clock for the purpose of ascertain
ing IL any one was yet entombed. Super
that while the mine has been regarded as
nongaseous the explosion was due to the
intendent a. NJ. Johnson stated tonight
ignition of a pocket of gas by the open
lamp of a miner.
Free of Gas Hitherto.
The mine has been so free of gas for
the last six years." said the superintendent
that the state inspectors have permitted
the use of open lamps. With seventeen
dead and sixteen injured 1 am of the
opinion that everyone has been accounted
for who entered the mine today"
The mine has only been operating two
days each week, Tuesday and Friday.
Those in the mine today had entered the
shaft for their daily allowance of coal for
family use. Grouped about the slope en-
trance OF the mine just before the explo-
sion 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. Fhe
cries and sound of kissing mine gas at the
entrance of the mine brought the entire
town to the scene.
Frantic Crowd Gathers.
superintendent W. N Johnson, backed
by the office force of the company, stood
at the mine entrance and held back the
frantic women,> whose relatives were en-
tombed.
The first man to reach the surface was
A. L. Johnson, son of the superintendent.
Young Johnson had been in a lower head
ing. There were burns on his arms, body
and neck, and tonight It was stated he
had inhaled flame. He is one of the few
very seriously injured.
Following the superntendent's son came
two Italians, their faces burned 20 a
crisp They were attended by the mine
physician.
Women Volunteer as RescuerH.
Superintendent johnson called for volun
teers to enter the mine In the volunteer
ranks stood several women. These were
ordered back. With wet handkerchiefs tied
over their face, the first squad of the re-
lief party started down the shaft. or the
eight who started, four came back an
aided. The others, overcome with black
damp. were pulled to the surface will
ropes. A second and a third party entered
only to be driven back by deadly gases.
Oxygen. sent by the Cambria Steel works
aided the searchers and with safety hel
NETS, a fourth rescue party succeeded II
bringing twelve bodies to the surface. Lat
in the afternoon five more bodies were re
, covered.
In twos and threes the injured wer
found and lifted TO the mouth OF the mine
and then hastily taken to the temporar,
> hospital established at the company store
They were later removed to the Spangle
hospital, twenty-six miles from Wehrum.
Late tonight all but two rooms OF tn
mine had been thoroughly searched, and
n was announced that It was thought n
= more bodies-were in the mine.