The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1911-07-17
q die
IN Mine
Explosion in Sykesville, Pa. Mine
Fatal to Every Man Work.
ing in Heading.
BELIEVED GAS POCKET
WAS TAPPED BY MEN.
After Damp Filled Mine .<F..isf,-
ing WOrk-All the Eodies
Are RecOS I'd.

DUBOIS, Pa. July Twerty-one
miners were killed l.. an Npl9sion in
the shaft of the Cas- ade Coal a. Coke
Companys mine at :: kesville, nine
miles from here last niGht The ex.
plosion occurred az $50. but II was
after midnight before the extent OF
the disaster was hauwn. All of the
dead but three are foreigners. The
explosion was slight. as evidenced by
the small damage done IN the mine.
but the deadly after damp is responsi.
BILE for most of the deaths. The dead
are:
George Heck. aged -. single.
John Heck. 20. single.
S. GRASS, IS. single.
Ralph Marian. %. single
Con Chikel. 30. married.
Marietta Gillia. -. married
h Frank S. Pateavich. %. single.
Nick PaVeIick, -. married
Andy Pavelick, Is. son of Nick.
Ike Stuff, motorman. %. single.
p Missiseck. 80. single.
Sandy. 80. married
9e Sheesley, 20. single.
bVer kunrad. "a. single.
Tex Casper. -. single.
Rock Casper. -. married
Joe kufta, 40. married.
William Spencer. -. single
John Mesla. married.
Andrew Krirak, married
Unknown SIaV.
Families in Mine.
Three sets OF brothers. and a father
and son are numbered among the
dead. George and John Heck. and
Nick Pavelick and his 1j-year-old son
were found BY the rescuers locked in
each others arms. as though they en-
braced each other in their dying None
OF the bodies were mutilated and but
several that showed any burns.
Eleven Of the men in one heading had
apparently made ready TO escape for
they carried their dinner pals and
were headed for the opening.
The first intimation Of the explo-
sion at the surface was when the
safety door on the fan blew open and
the machinery began TO run wild. II
was surmised there was trouble below.
but II was almost midnight when res
cuers could enter the mine IN took
some time 70 get 10 the scene OF tho
accident, a mile and a half from the
opening. because the rescuers we're
Obliged to carry oxygen with them.
All but four OF the bodies wero
brought to the foot OF the shaft early
to-day. but were kept there until all
were recovered -Four bodies were
buried beneath a cave-in. in q head
Ing and were not recovered until late
10 day The state police. from PUNK
sutaNney. were called to police the
vicinity OF the shaft and when the
bodies were brought out. there was
little distress or eNCitemcn'.
Were No Survivors.
Neither mine officials nor mine in
spectOrs are able 10 assign a cause
'or the explosion as there are no sur
.ivors from which to gain an explana-
ion. but n Is the general belief that
some OF the men drilled into q pocket
of gas The shaft Is known as "A non
gaseous one and Fire Boss John Brown
reports he was through tho heading.
where the explosion occurred. but an
hour before and found no trace Of gas.
Six men working in another heading
OF The mine az the time ~ tho acct
dent lkneW nothing of he explosion
until the compressed air stopped tho>
drills and one man was knocked from
his rock drill. They realized some.
thing had happened but did not know
the nature o. if. until they mot n party
Of rcscuers coming for them
When the rescue car of the bureau
Of mines arrived here. the services
were not needed. Fs all tho men we're
dead and tho air in the mine had been
cleared
WASHGNGTON. july f6-TpOn
learning of the mine accident a. Du
Pois Pa. the bureau OF mines immodi.
afriy ordered ont rescue car SO z.
from Pittsburg -Four trained rcscucrs
and the necessary apparatus were
aboard