The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-09
MORE THAN HUNDRED CONNECTS KILLED IN
 DISASTER AT BANNER
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 removed from the explosion and could not hear the report They were un- scathed and not bothered bv the explo- sion or black damn.
 Nearest the Explosion
 The men who were nearest the explo- sion were Will Garth. Columbus Mays and Ernest Knight. They are all ne- gro convicts and had been in prison for some time. They were killed in stantly but not a hair upon their heads had been scorched This fact, coupled with the prevailing theory that the men first found were nearer the scene than anyone else, was a unique fea- lure. The other dead bodies which
 were taken out late vesterday after noon were also unburned and evidently perished from black damp. and nothing more.
 The recovery of the three bodies was communicated instantly to Birmingham. which caused the officials to discount the wild reports which flew with the wings of the wind that hundreds had perished
 Later in the afternoon. as the time passed. and as night settled upon the doomed miners the opinion changed and II discounting was thing of the past Officials were hurried from Birmingham in automobiles and by special trains and they confirmed, in measure, the an nouncements that scores had been killed Ramsay Goes to Scene
 Erskine Ramsay. vice president and chief engineer of the Pratt Consolidated Coal company: Robert A. Brown and w. A. Gibson, manager of convicts, went to the scene shortly after noon. They reached there late yesterday afternoon. Mir. Ramsay gave instructions that ever, effort be made to reacn the 11S men who were imprisoned underneath the earth
 Brattices were built Of wood sent to the scene on special trains from Mineral Springs and other points. With these | the rescuers edged slowly toward the mine air shaft, where it is believed the great est number of men were killed. The i rescuers. however. cannot proceed ratpid- ly because of the after damp btn<g very prevalent and of sufficient strength to be deadly at this hour.
 It was stated early last night that 11S men are now imprisoned. Of these 10 are white men, but convicts. two are free white men, and 106 of them are | negro convicts. These men, it is stated, are scattered over wide area and some may be alive at this time. The res cuers and the officials of he company are exerting every effort to reach the men before their supply of good air Is | mixed with the deadly fumes
 Early reports of the disaster yester day morning were conflicting. In New York extras on the streets proclaimed | to the world that almost simultaneously | with the Scranton horor was one in Bir- minghann.
 Rescue Cars Busy The Tennessee Coal. Iron and Railroad company immediately offered the Pratt company it's rescue car. fully equipped, and it's crew of trained rescuers. How ever, telephonic information from the mine was to the effect that the car would be of little avail. It was stated that the men were probably dead and the rescuers would have little work to do in saving lives. However, the United States gov ernment car was telegraphed for in Chat tanooga It arrived at 9 o'clock last night. Dr. J. J. Rutledge was in charge He consulted here with officials of the com-