Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-12-10

IBy Morning journal special Leased Wire
Briceyille Tenn, Dec 9.-Two
hundred and seven men, living or
dead, are entombed here tonight, as
they have been all day, in the Great
Cross Mountain coal mine OF the
Knoxville Iron company, according to
the count made this afternoon by an
official OF the United Mine Workers
oi Alncrlca
They had entered to begin the days
work when a terrific explosion wreck
Ell the workings Three only have
come out alive. They had entered
lateral off the main shaft, and sue
ceeded in getting into the open before
the flames and smoke caught them.
The body Of Lee Polsen, operator
Of the mines fan plant, was found
buried and mangled under the cave
in in the main shaft
Rescue workers are making scarce
" any headway. The governments
rescue car and force is here as are
many rescuers and engineers from
all over the district
The shafts extend more than two
mites into the bowels OF the noun
tain According to President Steph-
enson of the iron company the men,
If they had reached their posts, were
in laterals when the explosion occur
red This encourages those on the
surface to hope that many may yet
be living
Late today there was little prospect
Of an early rescue. Workers have en-
countered dense and compact deposits
gN r1s
main shaft of the mine and also IN
an abandoned entry used for an ar
shaft.
About the mouth Of a vertical ven
tilator, leading to the top of the
mountain, fires have been built to
create a circulation of air from with
In the mine, If possible.
II is not yet possible to determine
whether the blocking Of the entry is
extensive. Wood posts and trusses III
the shaft have been blown outward
and this. miners state, is indicative
Of 4 serious explosion beyond. Brat
lces are now being constructed py
means of which air is being forceu
INTO the channel as fast as It IS pos
slble to remove the debris.
There are three theories IT'S to the
cause OF the explosion. one is that
powder or dust exploded, the second Is
that an electric wire came in contact
with explosives, and the third is that
The explosion was caused by poor
lamping of drill.
The mine was thoroughly Inspected
week ago by j. Il. Hatmaker' VINO
has been inspector for eight years.
"A uut i rnG
nine, The mine was also recently IN
speeted by an inspector under George
u. Sylvester, state mine Inspector ana
a representative of a casualty COM
pany, which carries insurance on w
employees of the company also ~
said to have reported that 1t was III
excellent condition.
Hugh Larue, a miner employed III
me Inflated mine owes his life TO a
qrean, his wife had last night. W hen
ne arose this morning and prepared
70 90 to work, Mrs Larus refused 10
Prepare his lunch for him to carry 70
We mines. She did not want hinl 10
Work today.
She then recited cream sne had'
III ner dream she saw scores ol inlh-
YRS with their heads blown off be-
nlg carried out of the mine entrance
as she and her little children stood
al The mines mouth.
Larue had not missed day FROM
w work for many months, but ne
was prevailed upon today to remain
Vul OF the mine.
II was only d short time after Mrs.
Larue told her dream that the eN-
Woslon occurred
ihe large majority Of the men
eaployed in the mine were Tennes-
sgahs or kentuekians, not a single
pte'gner, SO far as known, being on
we eompany's books. The mine was
fa m open shop having been such fol
@eh'y years past. Some Of the men
%no met death had been in the en-
s'os OF the company for a quarter Of
S,eentHry' the Coal Creek and Jelieo
e,aIlct mines being manned almost
S"'Heiy by natives OF that section.