Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-12-15
ONLY TWO IN THE PIT
ESCAPE With LIVES
Superintendent and Three Bosses En-
ter Shaft to Lend Aid to Victims
and They Also Perish--Ninc Dead
Bodies Are Observation-Disclosures
Swarm About place and Pray.
CBg Associated p, -s,,

NORTON. VA, Dec. li.-As the
the Bond Coal Company. at NGreeno,
six miles east of here. this morning
at $50 O'Clock. twelve men lost their
lives. Thirteen men were in the
mine at the time OF the explosion and
only two escaped. che of whom died
shortly after being taken out. on ac-
count Of atmosphere and other condi-
tions, the rescue work had to be
stopped tonight and the other two
bodies will not be brought out before
morning
The names of nine of the dead. all
taken out, are:
James Barrowman. superinte ndent;
William Richie, mine foreman. and
Lee Rowland. Charles williams. Jes-
sic Richie. Charles Whitaker, John
Rodn, Arch Leslie and John Richie.
Jonn Richie and Charles Rosen-
baum were rescued alive, but Richie
succumhed later to his INJURIES. Ros-
enbaum's injuries are slight.
Happens Without Warning.
The explosion came without q mo-
ment's warning. and 1t is believed TO
have been caused by an accumulation
of gas set off by blowing ccal. The
AFR shaft was thought 10 be in good
condition. A similar explosion &C.
Cured in the mine three years ago,
in which six men were killed.
AS soon as the news of the explo-
sion had spread to other nearby
by mining operations, rescue parties
were formed and conveyed to the
scene by special trains and private
conveyances. but nothing could be
done except bring out the dead bodies.
Only slight damage was done to the
mine
Later in the day Mine Superin-
tendent James Barrowman and three
Bosses entered the shaft as a rescue
party. Up to Z O'Clock tonight nine
bodies had been taken out and one
man, still alive. had been recovered.
Ii is believed all the others are dead.
Relatives Beg For Help.
The Greene mine. which is owned
and operated by Bond & Bruce, is a
small operation employing about
thifty-flve men. The wives and chill
dren and other relatives OF the en-
scene by the explosion. and weeping
and praying. 4 lev have kept up cease
less begging Cor 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 signailed the engineer
10 stop. Those outside waited for fur
ther signals, bit none GENE. Hours
passed and not sign or whisper
came from the superintendent and his
companions and II is believed they
had been carght in storm of heated
air md suffccated.
One Rescsed Alive.
BY ? O'Clock in the afternoon four
unidentified bodies had been taken
out nj the mine BY daring miners who
entered the shaft with helmets. Later
in he day T. r. Roar of the CIinch-
held Coal Corporation. assumed direc-
ticn Q. the rescue owrkezJ Just he
fore C3rk six mere bodies uSrov-
cred. along with one man. whose con-
diiion is precaricus. He was fright
fully burned end bruised.
Alarm Is Given.
W6ea the explosion occurred the
whistle N the mine was sounded con-
tina-1sly. giving alarm In all tho SIR
rounding country. u was heard in The
snail villages several miles away and
Immediately there wss a rush Of pso-
pie 10 the scene.
Greene mine produces soft Goa;
containing a large amount Of gas.
Mines in the field have been sinru-
larry fee from serious accidents.