The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-11
DAYS MAY ELAPSE BEFORE
 MINE IS CLEARED OF ITS
 DEBRIS AND HUMAN MASS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE n

NCONIIN U FLU fhOM PAGE D
  trains and automobiles brought men, women and children to Briceville from points many miles distant and it seemed that everyone was eager and anxious to contribute his or her mite of effort to- ward such relief or rescue work as was possible. MT. Chandler marshalled the volunteers and arranged them in squads of about 50 men each These squads are being sent into the mine In shifts. work ing two hours each. The atmospheric and debris conditions in the mine pre- clude the possibility of continuous work ing without fear of some of the men be- ing overcome. In fact, Sunday after noon it was necessary to resuscitate two or three of the rescuers who had suf- fered exhaustion in the mine.
 The electric haulage apparatus has been put out of commission and mule drawn dump cars are bringing the mass of rock, earth and other debris from the mine.
 Hoping Against Hope
 As the rumble of the car and the slow approach of the mule is heard by the thousands gathered at the mouth of the mine, necks are craned and the throngs stand speechless, and, it seems, almost breathless, in anticipation of some bit of material evidence of life being discovered in the mine But as each car has emerged from the yawn- ing entry, it has been found to contain debris or the mangled and lifeless form of victim of the disaster. The bodies have been brought out as fast as found. Each has been tenderly placed upon dump car and covered with a blanket and drawn to the tip house, where 1t has been prepared for burial and trans ferred to a coffin to await the consign- ment to earth.
 terrible pail of silence hung about the mouth of the mine, as thousands eongregated, some standing for hours and others moving momentarily from one point of vantage to another.
 The single disturbance of this silent scene was during more than two hours Sunday service when the Rev. D. M Ritchie, pastor of the M E. church, South, at Coal Creek, exhorted those within hearing to accept the disa st ar or Saturday as warning and prepare to meet death. The minister declared again and again that God has sent this visitation of His providence upon the community as a demonstration of the certainty of death and the ever uncer- tainty of life. The minister suspended his discourse at intervals and burst into song, in which hundreds joined. The minister had chosen a commanding eminence, high above the main entrance to the mine, as the point from which te spoke, and his powerful voice car Tied hls message to the ears of the many thousands who were within the vide range of his speech.
 Thousands Flock to Scene
 Briceville was the mecca of innumer- able visitors from Knoxville Sunday The early morning trains were taxed to their capacity, one local train, which ordinarily runs as two coaches and a baggage car, was made up of r. coaches, so great was the throng In addition. the pike road, 35 miles from Knoxville to Bricevlle, was alive throughout the day with autoists going to and from the mine. Many of the leading citizens were among tue Briceville visitors, and they went among the lowly and sufferers, seeing Tor themselves the conditions ard learning at first hand of the wants and dire necessities for relief and succor. It is estimated that not less than 10,- 900 people came from a distance and every form of transportation. from walking to the automobile and the rail- road coach, was resorted to. The few level places adjacent to the mine re- sembled the conventional country meet Ing house premises where teams of every character were hitched and auto mobiles were parked These con tfnued to come and go even after the shadows of night had fallen. The fact that 1t was Sunday made it possible for many to visit the scene who other wise would not have been there hence IL IS anticipated that Monday the throng of strangers about the mine and the town will be materially lessened.
 Scenes of Sorrow
 As visitors passed through the rugged roads of the village leading to the mine, none could fail to be impressed with the scenes or sorrow among the women and children especially. Almost every scanty home of the type of box house common in mining districts and arranged in rows of unbroken design had its quota of littie ones, many of whom were fatherless, though perhaps they did not realize it. Pinched faced women, whose lives have been confined to the mining zone and who have known little save their daily rou- tine about their isolated homes, appeared as If they too had not awakened to q meaning of the consequences of the awful catastrophe. It seemed a sec ond tragedy awaited them, when they should come into the complete experience of what 1t means for the father or the brother or the husband or the sweet heart to have been snatched from life into eternity. and without moments S 
 Steps have been taken to establish the work of the American Red Cross society
 John Logan of Atlanta, representative of the society, reached here tonight. In the meantime, the Red Cross flag had been conspicuously suspended from the federal mine rescue car and its attend ants were prepared to administer relief of medical or surgical nature Mir. To- gan probably will be the first to investi- gate as to the need of necessities of life among the women and children and take steps to supply these. Larders are empty and stores have exhausted their suppies of provisions, so that if food is not re- ceived soon much suffering may result.
 The lack of sufficient foodstuffs to sup