The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1909-01-14
Explosion Was Terrific.

Explosion Was Terrific.
Ia the quiet Of the early morning
there came like the sound of thunder
mighty rumbling in the bowels Of
the earth which reverberated along
the miles OF corridors and air pas
sages crowded with those who work
there. Above the tons of earth and
stone that lay between the workings
and the mountains crown giant trees
quiVered from the force of the
conclusion, and from the mine
mouth the forces of the earth
set free, belched forth cloud Of
fame, SCOT, dust and debris, heavy
timbers, broken mine cars and even
massive motor used to haul the
heayy-laden cars from the depths.
Scarcely had the defamation died
away before throng OF terrorized
women and children rushed to the
mine mouth and implored those there
to allow them to aid in the effort to
save some s,of their loved ones who
might still be alive within. Nine
Foreman Bowers, who was near the
entrance, was blown from his feet
but managed to crawl out safely, as
did also Robert Smith, a miner. With
the foreman was miner named Hol-
liday and he, too, was blown over.
rescue party, organized on the mo-
ment, rushed In and tried to rescue
him. They were driven back by the
deadly fumes of the after gases and
were compelled to leave him to his
fate.
Train Carries Rescue Material.
A train was rushed from this city
to the scene of the disaster, some
twenty-five miles away, carrying brat
ticing and other material to be used
In the work Of exploration and rescue.
There were supposed to be more
than 100 men in the section of the
mine affected. The debris from the
explosion OF two weeks ago had not
been cleared away and 90 men were,
engaged In this work. Nineteen con
tract miners with their crews were
at work in new entry and II is
feared that all Of these men were lost.
The explosion was In a different
part of the mine from that of two
weeks ago. Since that catastrophe the
mine has been inspected by govern
NEST officials, and by the most ex-
perienced mine men in the region,
and all, 1t is said. expressed the opin.
ion that It was safe.
All Believed to Be Dead.
None OF the bodies had been recov.
cred at midnight. It was expected
that part Of the mine In which eight
men were at work would be reached
before long.
One rescue party came in sight of
six bodies but was forced back. A
late estimate OF the number of men
entombed is more than 100. That all
Of them are dead there can be no
doubt. The Are in the mine and the
deadly gases, to say nothing of the
awful force of the explosion preclude
any 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. Debris
was DioWh from Dotn entries, which
gives some idea of the tremendous
force Of the explosion, The fans
which furnish the fresh air for the
workings as in the former explosion,
we're not disabled and are forcing
fresh air In the mines.
Most Disastrous Since 1894.
On the Tug river side, four miles
from the main entrance, the smoke
and flames gushed from the entry,
burning the twigs and small limbs
from trees that grew near, The dam
age to the mine cannot be estimated.
The explosion was the most ter
rife that has ever occurred in this
region. In 1884 at the Southwest
Virginia Improvement Company's
mine, $50 We're killed In an explosion.
Yesterdays horror Is the most disas-
trous that has occurred since The
mine Is owned by the Pocahontas Con.
solidatec Galleries Company.