Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-04-15
NINE HORROR
Fifty to Seventy Men Are Entombed
in Burning Mine-Have NO
Chance TO Escape.

Chance to Escape.
Scranton, Pa, April 8.--Fifty to sew.
enty-five men employed in the Pan
cost mine of the Scranton Goa Com
rany at Throop are entombed in the
inner workings with all chance or es-
CAPE cut off. Fire Is raging along an
entire vein owing to an engine house
having been set ablaze shortly before
IL o'clock yesterday morning.
The mine is equipped with two-open-
ings, but the location Of the burning
engine room Is such as to have cut
of escape by these routes.
The fire lis in the workings $50 feet
below the surface. Officials, scores Of
workmen. volunteer firemen and the
Throop fire department are working to
get to the men supposed to be in one
Iart of the mine.
The fire is reported to have started
IN an engine room at the head of the
slope from an unknown cause.
800 Men in Mines.
Three hundred men were in the
mines when the alarm was given and
on account of the great excitement it
is impossible TO learn just how many
managed TO get out. Unless the men
thought to be trapped are soon reach
&c it is feared they will all die, IL
they have not already been smothered
by smoke.
At 1870 o'clock yesterday afternoon
1t was learned that it was impossible
to reach the men fer some time owing
to the smoke and the great distance
they are below the surface. At that
hour it was admitted by one of the Of
ficials that there was fire in the
mines, but the official was unwilling
10 even venture an opinion as to how
many men were trapped.
The news OF the fire spread rapidly
and hundreds flocked to the mouth OF
the shaft. Women were frantic and
tore their hair and clothing in their
despair, and many of them had to be
taken from the scene.
Requires Two Openings.
Under the mining laws of Pennsyl-
yania a second opening in mines is re-
ouired and it was believed that the
mine workers would all be able to get
out of one of the two exits. An in
vestigation showed however, that the
Are is so located as to cut off escape
from both openings.
When the seriousness OF the situa-
ton dawned upon the mining officials
the rescue station at Wilkes-Barre
was Immediately notified and the Del
aware. Lackawanna and Western rail-
road emergency car was sent to
Throop with the crew. They carried
with them oxygen helmets and other
equipment to fight the fire.
ThroOp is about four miles north of
this city and the PancOst mine is in
the town. 1t is said that a majority
OF the men in the mine are foreign
laborers.
At 2:30 p m. the fire was still burn
ing. The mine officials cling to the
hope that the entOmbed men will be
rescued alive, but those around the
-illnt opening Jhht SlObluy Wow a-iN
say the chance of recovery is slight.
Bodies Recovered.
Sixty-two mine workers, men and
boys, are now reported to be dead.
Forty bodies have been brought to the
foot of the shaft.
The government rescue cOnps men
led by Chief Engineer Charles EnviaI
penetrated through the smoke to the
end Of the vein in which the men had
been caught and sent ont word that
positively none were alive.
Besides the imprisoned miners, JOS
eph Evans, assistant forman of Unit
ed States rescue corps. lost his life
A defective rescue helmet caused
him to suffocate. Chief Engineer En-
Wan was also overcome and may not
survive His helmet failed TO work
Evans is the first member Of the gov
eminent rescue corps to sacrifice his
his life.
Fire Boss James Vickers, whom II
is thought will prove the lone survivor
was at the head Of the slope when the
fire started and managed to make his
way out through flame and smoke
His condition is serious.