The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1911-04-08
Throop, Pa, Mine Catches Fire
and Traps Men and Boys
to Wait Death.
RESCUE WORKER HERO
WHO DIES IN MINE.
twenty Bodies Recovered and Res
cue Work Is Being Pushed
at Great Risk.

oOhNN ION' Pa, April AT mid
night nearly two score Of bodies had
been piled at the bottom Of the shaft.
Reseuers are pushing Into the milne,
and u Is thought that all Of the bodies
VIII be recovered within a few hours.
temporary noreue had been
erected at the opening Of the nrIne.
and here were conoreaated hundreds
OF women and children, relatives of
the men and boys who had been 40
suddenly snatched from them.
None OF the bodies recovered VIVA
mutllated, death doubtless having
been caused by lnhaIIns flames and
gases.
SCRANTON. Pa. April 7-Throop.
a village just to the north of this city,
was the scene OF a mine disaster today
with probably sixty victims. fifty mon
and ten boys, including Walter knight.
the foreman; Isaac Dave. a freboss,
and Jos. Evans. who was in charge OF
the United States mine rescue car that
was rushed 20 the scene, and who was
sunocated by reason OF the oxygen
charged armor he wore failing 70 work.
Charles EnZian, the noted expert in
general charge OF mine rescue work
for the federal government. who was
was also overcome, and is in a serious
condition tonight.
Fire Origin Myster.
The origin OF the fire is unknown. II
started in an engine house at the
opening of a slope leading to a tup-
mel, from which opened about thirty
new chambers. There was no other
opening 20 the tunnel. and the fire
completely blocked the egress OF the
moro than half a hundred men in
these workings.
One man started to alarm them. but
the smoke became so thick that he
turned back. They were a thousand
feet beyond the fire. and $50 feet be-
low the surface.
Mine rescuers from the government
station in Wilkesbarre rushed 20 the
scene with their car and assisted in
lighting the flames. and three OF them
with helmets on their heads and oxy-
gen tanks on their backs went into the
slope. They found three dead.
Joseph Evans. head OF the govern
ment rescuers. was one OF the three
TO enter. He was seen to tug at his
helmet and tear it from his head. Il
had evidently failed 10 work. He was
carried out, but inhaled so much
smoke and gas from the burning coal
that he died in four hours. Enzian had
a similar experience few hours later.
and is In a serious condition tonight.
Twenty Bodies Found.
Twenty bodies had been recovered
at o'clock tonight, and the others
are being searched for in the more
distant workings. None OF the bodies
were taken up TO the surface. It was
thought best 10 wait for darkness and
the dwindling of the crowd.
James Vickers fire boss, who was
near the engine house when the fire
broke out. gave the alarm. and tried to
get TO the tunnel where he knew a
large body OF men we're at work. He
could 90 only a short distance before
he was forced TO turn back. and II was
with difficulty he dragged himself
through the smoke az the point OF the
fire
Gangs OF miners az the Pancoast
mine. led by Mine Superintendent JOS
eph Birtley and assisted by the Throop
fire department. carried hose into the
mine and fought the fire under great
difficulties. The United States mine
rescue car stationed in Wflkesbarrs
was summoned early I'm the afternoon,
and later on tho Lackawanna rail-
roads hospital car. the Jehigh Valley
company's mine rescue force from
Wilkesharre came on the scene.
Find Dead Bodies.
In penetrating the slope for 100 feet
the rescuers came upon the dead
bodies OF two men and n boy.
Their faces we're buried I'm the wet
culm as n they died trying to escaps
the deadly gases and intense heat
u being taken for granted now that
no one was alive in the tunnel. the
rcscuors renewed the attack on the
burning area 20 reduce the awful heat.
and when this work had proven SONG
what effective % CORPS OF expert rescDs
men. with the latest style rescue ar.
NOR. pushed on into the slope. and at
a0 tonight they came upon heap az.
ter heap of bodies strcwn along the
roadway where they fell over one an
other in thcir fronzicd fight 10 get to
the end of the slope Tho bodies we're
carried to the foot Of the shaft. and