Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-06
GAS EXPLOSION THE CAUSE
Ten of the Victims Hungarians,
One an American.
OTHERS SHUT IN FOR HOURS
More Than Hundred Men Long
Prevented by Damp From Es-
caping-Fixing the Blame.

INDIANA, Pa. February h-nen
Hungarians and one American Is the death
toll of gas explosion today in the No.
slope Of the Ernest mine OF the Jefferson
and Clearfield Coal Company, Ave miles
north of this place. The explosion oc-
Cured in a heading where twelve work
men were located. and one Of these.
Andrew Krazcer. escaped by crawling
quarter of a mile on his stomach to
evade the noxious gases.
His inability to speak English prevented
lucid explanation OF the cause Of the
explosion. When he saw the lights of
the rescuers he moaned and tried to
crawl. He was slightly burned, but suf-
fered chiefly from the effects OF after
damp. He was placed in a car and taken
Immediately To daylight
Made Desperate Fight.
Some of the dead were found near the
entrance to the heading, others lay along
the track at short distances from each
other almost at the face OF the coal
Two bodies nearest the face were burned
slightly about the face and arms. The
position of the bodies showed the men
had made desperate efforts to crawl away
from the heading.
How KraZcer escaped cannot he learned
The only ineligible signs he makes are
of crawling. When he RECEIVERS from
fright and exhaustion it is thought he
may be able to tell of the accident
One hundred and ten men working in
the same slope escaped through other
headings of the mine, although they were
held back for about ten hours by the
black damp until a rescue party or Twelve
n,4 Ah1,S nv4xl
other men working in adjoining mines
within radius Of three miles who heard
the concussion paid no heed to 1t. and did
not learn of the disaster until they came
out of the mines early tonight: Four
men who were laying tracks just within
the mouth of the mine slope were knock
ed unconscious by the concussion. but
were revived later with little difficulty.
Known as Gaseous Mine.
The mine had been known as a gaseous
mine and plenty of fire bosses have been
maintained Tonight it Is reported that
no fire boss made any return of his in
spection this morning, and this has been
reported to the state mine inspector of
this district The rescue party of twelve
mine bosses went into the mine about
$50 o'clock this morning, shortly after
the accident. and when they came out,
about ) o'clock, they brought with them
the dead bodies and announced that there
was no one else in the mine. The bodies,
blackened by flames, were Immediately
sent TO the homes of the unfortunates,
and the funerals will be held tomorrow.
The inquest will be held Monday.
In the meantime State Mine Inspectors
Roger Sampson of PunXsutawney, Jo-
seph W. Williams of Altoona. Thomas
Louden of Tyrone and Thomas D. Will
Jams of Johnstown are Investigating the
cause.
Michael Harrington, the only American
among the dead, was a son of John Har-
younger man, acting as assistant to his
father, was directing the work on the
heading when the explosion occurred.
Hurled From Their Feet.
The first report of the explosion was
made by seven track repair men who
had been working at the back of the
main entry They were hurled from
their feet. although 125 feet away. AS
soon as they came out of the drift a
rescue party was headed by Foreman
John Harrington. Some Of those We're
overcome and were found by a second
rescue party but all revived shortly
after being taken out.
Two hours after the explosion Father
Amulio Farri an Italian priest, with
Michael Sullivan, .one of the mine fore
men. went into the mine slope to ad.
minister the last rites of the church to
any victim he might be able to reach.
Hardly had the priest got we'll into the
mine when he was overcome and with
difficulty was brought back to fresh air.
Coroner James NJ. Hammer. who ar
rived about noon, was not permitted to
go into the mine because OF the preva-
lence of gas, and when Clarence Hall. w.
c. Smelling and A. c. .RamSey arrived
from the government geological station
at Pittsburg with oxygen helmets and
apparatus he was advised to defer any
attempt until tomorrow.