The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-09

pany and others interested and left fm- mediately on special train for the scene. He would not make any statement here, but said he would lend evary energy to assist in getting some of the men from the mine safely. There Is little likelihood of such a feat, however.
 The officials here ordered 100 collins late yesterday afternoon from a local funeral director. This cargo of corr;ns was sent to the mines. The Louisville and Nashville railroad got in readiness a funeral special'' and sent the collins to the scene, as fast as possible Auto mobiles and hearses were used to carry the piles of collins 10 the awaiting special
 The special went to Mineral Springs and there picked up a carload of lumber with which brattices will be made. The lumber was turned over to the reseuers and carpenters are busy getting the brat tices into shape.
 IL is stated that if the brattices can be erected and put into place before morn, ing there is a possibility of saving a rew lives. It is believed that few of the 11S imprisoned men are alive. If this is true fresh air, turned into them by the brat tiees, will give them strength to overcome the deadly fumes.
 White Man Caught
 Among the white men who were caught in the mine and who are believed to be dead are John White, whose home was about three miles from the mines; Ed Causey of Calhoun county, c. w. Sprad ling, convict foreman, and Lee Jones.
 Charley Brown. one of the negro con- victs, was among the first to reach the outside after the blast but he immediately turned back and penetrated the mine again as far as the black damp in an effort to rescue his fellow workers. SIX teen men reached safety through his as- sistance and score more got as far as the main shaft before they were over come by the gases.
 Worked For Several Years
 The scene of yesterdays terrible death toll is located on the Louisville and Nash sille railroad about A miles from 2ir- raingham. The mines are several years old and are worked by convict labor a most exclusively. The property is owned by the Pratt Consolidated Coal company, of which G. B. Mccormack is president; Erskine Ramsay, senior vice president and chief engineer; Ellis Mccormack, vice president; w A. Gibson, manager of eonviets; J. A. Rosemond, general sup crintendent: K E. Conville, traffic man ager, and R. A. Shook secretary and treasurer.
 The mines are equipped with the most modern machinery and only recently sSOo6 was expended in placing a new and modern fan in place. The mine was formerly operated as slope but recently the company has operated it through a shaft constructed at a point about one mile from the original opening. This point is where the explosion is said to have occurred.
 The number of men employed at the mine varies, but it is stated about 26O were there when the explosion took place. This number included two shifts, one day and one night. The day shift was entering the mine when the explosion oc- cured.
 The company has always carefully looked after the accumulation of gas. The mine is sprinkled by the most i'm proved process every day to keep down dust
 Capacity of Mine
 The capacity of Banner mine has been varying for several years however last year 305, ,127 tons of coal were mined. ,'he mine was considered one of the best, so it has been called Banner The com pany could book orders with the positive assurance that they would be filled be- cause of the dependablity of the con vict labor working. The management has always cared for the men in She best of style. Every holiday the conyicts were given a special repast, while at fre- Guent intervalss the Jefferson county Board of Revenue visited the mines and looked over things.
 The property damage is very slight It was given out by the company that the mine would be resumed just as soon as the mine can be cleared It is said the explosion being so small did not tear the i. interior any to speak of
 John Hollis Rankhead, $, IT., general counsel for the Pratt Consolidated Coal company of Jasper, arrived here late last night to look after the company, at which many suits will no doubt be aimed. He lad nothing to say last night about the