The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-01-15
OYER ONE HUNDRED
DIE IN EXPLOSION
SECOND FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT
AT BLUEFIELD.
Great Volumes Of Fire and Smoke
Blown Out by Conclusion, Then
Sucked in Again.

explosion today in the mines Of the
Lick Branch eoliery snufed out more
than 100 lives. In these same mines
two weeks ago today 50 miners were
killed by a similar explosion.
In the quiet Of the early morning
there came like the sound Of thunder
a mighty rumbling in the bowels of
the earth which reverberated along
the lines Of corridors and air pas
sages. Above the tons Of earth and
stone that lay between the workings
and the mountain s crown giant trees
suivered from the great conclusion
and from the mine mouth the forces
Of earth set free belched forth cloud
Of flame, SCOT, dust and debris, heavy
timbers, broken mine cars, and even
a massive motor used to haul the
heavily laden cars from the depths.
Scarcely had the detonation died
away before a throng Of terrorized
women and children, their feet sped
by. anxiety and dread, rushed to the
mines mouth and implored those
there to allow them to aid in the eff
fort to save 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
safely, as did also Robert Smith, a
miner. With the foreman was min
er named Holiday and he, too, was
blown over. A rescue party, organiz-
ed on the moment, rushed into the
jaws Of the smoking mine and tried
to rescue him. They were driven
back by the deadly fumes Of the af-
1er-gases and were compelled to leave
him to his fate.
A train was rushed from this city
to the scene Of the disaster, some 25
naes away, carrying bratticing and
other material to be used in the work
Of exploration and rescue.
There were supposed to be 90 or 80
men in the section Of the mine affect
cd. The debris from the explosion Of
Two weeks ago had not been cleared
away and 20. men were engaged IN
this work. Nineteen contract miners
with their crews were at work in a
new entry, and it is feared that all
these men were lost.
The explosion was in different
part Of the mine from that Of two
weeks ago.. Since that catastrophe
The mine has been inspected by gov
ernnent officials and by the most ex-
perienced mine experts aid all had
expressed the opinion that it was
safe.
Ne Bodies Recovered.
None Of the bodies have been re-
covered. It is expected that part of
the mine in which eight men were at
work will be reached before morning.
One rescue party came in sight Of
six bodies, but was forced back. The
latest estimate Of the number Of men
entombed is more than 100. That all
Of them are. dead there can be no
doubt. The fire 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 blown from both entries, which
gives some idea of the tremendous
force of the explosion. It IS reason
ably certain that all Of the bodies
will never be recovered. Some Of
them were blown to pieces and others
incinerated, no doubt. 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.
Two brothers named Surratt Of
Speedwell, Va, who went to the mine
at the time Of the other explosion
through curioasity, accepted posi-
tions, and both are in the mine.
State Mine Inspector Phillips and
Tineholsen are at the mine and are
directing the work Of rescue. Crews
have been formed and are venturlng
in as far as the air is pure enough
to breathe in their efforts to reach
those entombed.
Bystanders at the time of the ex-
plesion say that immense clouds OF
SCOT and smoke gushed from the mine
almost simultaneously with the deto-
nation and immediately were sucked