The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-12-17
Gas Explosion in VIfgiui, Coal Mine
Enlombs Many W.rAmeu.
TWELVE WERE Killed
Greene Mine, on Norfolk and West
ern Railway, Scene of Horrible
Disaster = Report of Explosion
Heard Miles Around-Rescue Par.
ty Enters Shaft and Bodies Recovs.

|
cred.
AS a result OF an explosion In the
mines of the Bond Coal Company, at
Greene, six miles east CT Norton,
i Va, Wednesday morning, twelve men
have lost their lives. Thirteen were
in the mines at Inc time Of the ex-,
plosion and only two escaped, one OK
whom died shortly after being taken
out.
On account OF atmosphere and 9TH
er conditions the rescue work had
to be stopped after nine bodies had
been recovered and the other two
bodies will not be brought out be-
fore morning. The dead were iden-
titled as follows: ..,
James Barrowr,an, superintend-.
ent: William Ritchie, mine fore
man; Lee Rowland, Charles Will
; i!ams, Jessie Ritcaie. Charles Whit
aker, John Rodan, Arch Leslie and
John Ritchie.
The last named and Charles Ros-
enhaum were rescued alive, but
Ritchie succumbed to his injuries. J,
The explosion came without mo-
ment's warning, and 1t is believed
Ito have been caused by an accumn-
lation of gas set off by blowing
coal. The air shaft was thought to
be In good condition and nothing Of
! the kind was expected. The same
mine, however, had similar e1.-
plosion three years ago. In which sm
men were killed. -,
AS soon as tie news of the ey.
plosion had spread to. other nearby
mining operations, of which there
are number In the vicinity, rescue
parties were formed and conveyed TO
the scene by special trains and -prir
vate conveyances, but nothing could
be done, except bring out the dead
bodies. Only slight damage wan
done to the mine. i.
The Greene mine employees about
35 men.
The wives and children and other
relatives Of the missing men were
attracted to the scene OF death by
the loud report of the explosion,
and, weeping and praying they have
kept up ceaseless begging for help to
save their loved ones.
When Superintendent Barrowman
and his party entered the mine an
hour after the explosion they gained
some distance within the main open
ing before they si2nalley the engi-
neer to stop. Those outside w:lted
for further signals, but mono came.
Hours passed, and not . sign came
OF the superintendent and his COM
panions, and It vas concluded that
they had been caught suddenly In O.
storm of hea;ed air and suffocated.
| BY O'Clock in the afternoon four
Unidentified bodies had been taken
out. They were recovered by miners
who entered the shaft with helmets
that furnished fresh air.
Later in the day r. E. Roam, "
the Clinchfield Coal Corporation, as
sumed direction OF the rescue work.
He has only a limited number IT
helmets, and is making every posi-
BILE use Of them.
Near dark SIX more bodies were
recovered, along with one man who
is yet alive, but whose condition la
precarious. He is fearfully burned
and bruised, and Is unconscious.
When the explosion occurred tho
whistle at the mine was sounded
continuously, giving alarm all over
the surrounding country. 1t was
heard In the small villages several
miles away and Immediately there
was a rush OF people 20 the scene.
A young lady in charge of the tele-
phone office at Coeburn, three miles