Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-04-22
Cages, Lowered for Rescue,
Are Sprung in Passages, and
Crews are Delayed in Reach
ing Men
HOSPITAL CREWS SENT
TO AID MULGA MINERS
Fifteen White Miners and
From Twenty to twenty
Five Negroes Are Believed
to Have Perished in Flames
rBv Associated Press.>

of the Al men imprisoned last night In
Mulga mine is alive.
This was the word brought to the sur
face this morning to the waiting ard
weeping families of the victims when.
unconscious from the deadly gases OF the
shaft. Superintendent Johns, of the mine,
and a man named Bonds, an unknown
who risked his life, were draw to fresh
air ~.
The condition of the rescuers told the
story long before the men had been re-
vived. The watchers knew if the rescuers.
halmeltted and protected, had so narrow
ly escaped death, there was no hope for
the workers, who without a seconds
warning had been entombed by an ex-
plusion of gas. M
When Johns and Bonds, after heroic
treatment. finally regained consciousness.
they confirmed the gravest anticipation
of those, who had for hours waited at the
mouth of the shaft to hear word of their
loved ones.
''DEAD-ALL DEAD"
'Dead-all dead" was the statement OF
the superintendent as his brain began to
clear from the effects of the poisonous
gases. Before they had lost conscious
ness, the rescuers had reached the first
gallery. Even that near the shaft they
saw things that made them know that
only a miracle could save the men en-
tombed
TWO CORPSES FOUND.
Two corpses lay at the foot of the
shaft To remove them was impossible.
n ceiling unconsciousness stealing upon
him, Johns gave the signal and the cage
was jerked to the surface.
All the rescue work is being conducted
from shaft No 2, SHAFT No. being >rac-
tically dismantled. The two mines are
connected underground
Twelve white men and 81 negroes we're
in No. l at the time of the explosion al
9:15 o'clock last night. The white ,rnen
who are known to have been in the mine
and who, experts declare, Undoubtedly
are dead, are.
LIST Or .LTIMS.
MORGAN JOHNS, mine foreman, VINO
mas a family.
JOHN LIsK, machinist. survived by
a widow.
JOHN 4dEHAFFET. ming contractor.
unmarried.
jim BISHOP. motorman. wife.
LUTHER STEPHENSON, motorman.
wife.
T. DEFcoRE. wife.
TOM WASHINGTON, Family
JOHN HEBRON AND WILL RIVERS,
single.
THREE ITALIANS.
At tie present rate of rescu ework It Is
not believed that any of the bodies will
be recovered before night. Fresh air Is
being pumped into both shafts, but the
black damp continues to form, and one
party after another is driven back to
the surface.
VOLUNTEERS READY
From every nearby mining camp, men
are fiocking to the scene of the disaster
and there is no lack of volunteers for the
perilous work ot relief
The Mulga mines are the property of the
Birmingham Coal and Iron company.
Which is closely allied TO the Atlanta,
Birmingham and Atlantic railroad. The
mines have been in operation little more
than a year. They represent an invest
ment of about $2,0o0,0O0 and have been
pronounced models of modern mining en-
cheering. The property loss will be laxge
but an estimate at this time is Impossible
HOSPITAL CAR RUSHED
Shortly after midnight the hospital car
of the Tennessee company was rushed
to the scene, equipped with gas helmets
end all other necessary paraphernalia Tor
entering a gaseous mine. Hospital anabu-
lancek also were rushed from Ensley
and Birmingham to the scene. which 10
about II miles southwest of Birmng-
ham.
The only list of names of the miners
at work at the time of the explosion
was held by the foreman of the gang at
work, who is among the entombed. 1t Is
telieyed. however. there are about Is
white men and 20 to Is negroes.
The mine has been in operation about
two wears. and was considered a model
of its kind. The shaft is $50 feet deep and
the fact that flames shot from the mouth
of the shaft to height of 100 feet leads
to the belief that the explosion occurred
near the bottom of the main shaft, cut
ting off any means of escape for the
miners.
GASES CAUSED BLAST.
So far there has been no explanation Of
the cause of the accident. but It Is be-
lieved that it resulted from an accumu-
lation Of gas.
Around the shaft pathetic scenes were
witnessed in the early hours Of the morn
ing, weeping women and children gather
ing there and imploring the rescuers to
speed the work Of relief.
Oficials Of the Birmingham Coal and
Iron company, owner of the mine, from
Birmingham, and experts from other sec
lions of the district hurried to Mulga last
night, and are assisting in the efforts
to bring out the entombed miners.
SHAFTS ARE WRECKED.
An attempt was first made to enter
shaft No. 1, the scene of the disaster,
from shaft No 2, the entrance of which
is about 300 feet from No. 1. This was
found impracticable, as No. 2 was wreck
al hN- the force of the explosion In No l.