The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1911-12-14
MINERS BURIED IN
GREAT EXPLOSION;
MANY MAY PERISH
More Than 100 Employees Of
Tennessee Colliery Are
Entombed

Knoxville, Tenn, Dec. iS-A aus *
ploston In the Main Cross Mountain
mine near Briceyiile early today ems
torabed q large number Of workers who
had just entered for the days toll.
Rescue preparations were immediate
ly under way and at 10 o'clock gangs
OF miners from other "works' In the
district had gone into the mine by the
three entrances. AT that hour none
OF h rescuer had reported.
The mine is owned and operated by
the Knoxville Iron company and Ia
about So miles from Knoxville.
Women In Agony.
AS new OF the explosion spread about
the Briceyille district throngs OF wom-
en- and children rushed to the mine
entrances and clamored to be allowed
to make their way inside to aid In the
escue Many of the women knew their
husbands had entered the mine before
the blast. Most of these wives, however,
maintained brave hearts. The major
ity OF them had witnessed almost SINH
lar scenes. One woman who gathered
others about her. attempted to cheer
her weeping sisters.
Now, i know my old man amt
dead" she inserted. It'll AXE more
than q dust explosion to kill him."
At IL o'clock 1t had almost been def
initely settled that 100 men had en-
tered the mine before the explosion.
Has Tragic History.
BrtcevilIe. as q mining town. has had
a stormy history. 1t was the scene in
the early sos of rioting when the min
ers rebelled against working with con-
victs LEASED by the state. Troops were
sent there to quell the trouble.
At Coal Creek. near there on May 10.
1902, 200 incl We're killed in the Frater-
vile mine explosion. There are sew
eral big mines at Brlceyille known as
the Cross Mountain system. 1t was in
of these that the explosion occurred
today.
from Knoxville to the scene of the dis
aster. President Stevenson, of the
Knoxville Iron company, was In charge
of q train oyer the Southern railway.
With him wen officials of the local
mine rescue station. They carried
paraphernalia for rescue.
Driven Out BY Fire.
Members of rescue squade who were
driven from the mine by flames and
smoke, declared they had advanced q
mile into the main Shaft before they
were forced to retire. and that they
had discovered no signs OF the i'm
prisoned men.
driven out, they encountered a caveir
IN each of the entries. 1t was of such
character as to almost positively con-
firm the early theory that dust" ha6
caused the explosion.
or all the men who wen into thu
mine three have escaped. They were
John Lang, Sam Farmer and Bert Hat.
maker. They We're in one of the later
al shafts. Warned by the noise they
escaped before overtaken by flames.
These men observed bad signs a,
they entered the mine. They believ,
the exact location OF the blast is a
last two miles in the interior and so
feet from the mountain crest. TIL
number of entombed is now v%ariousl.
estimated at 125 to 268.
Rescuers Can't Work.
Because of the cavein and the smok,
and flames, it is impossible for volun
tesr rescuers to proceed into the mine
They must await the coming of tn
federal rescuing apparatus, due her
about ! o'clock. President Stephenson
said the casualties would not be a
large as at first reported from Brice
Vile. He did not believe there wer
many men IN the mine at the time o
the explosion. He said the mine 1
usually manned by about 200 workers
They lived about Briceville and eac'
morning were brought to the mine o
early trains. He understood several o
the trains were late today, which woul
have delayed the miners in getting int
the shaft.