The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-11

vailed about the mouth OF the mine
whcre thousands were ccngregated
come standing for hours and others
moving momentarily from one poin,
OF vantage 10 another. News from the
anterior OF tho mine still is awaited
with intense Interest The cars OF
debris also are nnSiously awaited ty
bercaved relatives. hoping against
hope that their loved ones may be
nlive. The om!nous silence only was
I broken to-day when Rev. B. NJ. Ritchtc,
pastor OF Methodist Episcopal Church,
South. at Coal Creek, eXhorted those
within the hearing of his powerful
voice to accept tho disaster of Satur-
day as warning and prepare to meet
death. Tho minister appealed to his
hearers In behalf of their souls SAL
walton, and declared again and again
that God had sent this visitation Of
Ills providence upon the community as
n demonstration of the certainty Of
death and the ever uncertainty of life.
The minister suspended his discourse
at intervals and burst In song In
which hundreds joined, Praycrfui sup
plications also characterized the i'm
promptu services.
Morning Trnins Taxed.
Briceville was the Mecca OF in
Vulnerable visitors from Knoxville
Sunday The carly morning trains
were taxed TO their utmost capacity
In addition, the pike road thirty-hye
miles from Knoxville to Brlceville, was
alive throughout the day with auto
mobiles and other vehicles. 1t is es.
ttnntel that not less than 10000 pco-
pic have visited the scene of the dis
aster. The fact that to-day is Sunday
made IL possible for many 10 visit the
scene who otherwise would not have
been there, hence 1t is anticipated that
tomorrow the throng OF strangers
about the mine and the town will be
materially lessened.
AS the visitors passed through the
rugged roads OF the village leading
TO the mine. none could fail to be I'M
pressed with the scenes of sorrow. evil
dences OF grief on all sides. Almost
every shanty home had its quota of
little ones. many of whom were
iatherlcss, though unable to realize
their loss. Pinched- faced women ap-
peared as If they. too, had not awaken
ed to complete understanding II
the consequences of the awful catas-
trophc.
Steps have been taken to establish
the work of the American Red Cross
; ciety. John Logan. of Atlanta,
representative Of the society reached
she lie tonight. In the meantime.
the Red Cross flag had been con-
El'cuously suspended from the Fed
eral mine rescue car and It's attendants
Were prepared to administer relief OF
medical or surgical nature If called
upon. Tho work OF Mr. Logan prob
ably Will be first to investigate as
10 the need OF necessities of life
among the women and children and |
take steps to supply these. Lnrders /,
nre empty and stores have exhausted |
their supplies of provisions. The lack |
OF sufficient foodstufTs to supply the |
demand was emphasized when thou !
s27d went hungry because OF inability |
to buy or beg food. Knoxville Is send
sng assistance, and other cities are
expected to do likewise.
Up TO o'clock tonight. no officials !
or SEMI official opinion had been given |
out as to the cause OF the disaster |
President r. l. Stephenson, OF the |
Knoxville Iron Company. and others
Interested had nothing to Hny in an
ever to this inquiry. 1t Is generally
believed however. that the disaster
Tal due to dust explosion" which,
IL is claimed was caused by the pres.
ence of an excess OF fine coal and mine |
dust upon the floor of the mine The
mine had passed official inspections !
within the past few weeks. and was
thou IT to DO perfectly safe Inves-
tigations are now being made with a |
view 10 determining definitely the |
cause OF the accident, If such Is pos.
sihle.
Mine officials also continue to decline
to give out any positive informat ton |
as to the number Of men who went
TO work in the mine yesterday morn
lng, but 1t is thought that ;he mum.
Der was between 100 and 200.