Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-04-08
Victims of Latest Horror
Are Alabama
Convicts.
NEARLY 200 IN PERIL
Death List in Pennsylvania
Accident Larger Than Had
Beer Expected.
Birmingham, Ala, April g.

Possibly ITO state convicts
were killed by an explosion in
the Banner coal mine at Little
ton, 80 miles from here, to-
day. It is stated 100 men
went to work this morning.
FIFTY TAKEN OUT.
Between 40 and so men
have been taken out of the
mine, a number of them more
or less seriously injured, and
two dead. 1t is believed that
at least half the remaining men
entombed are dead. Thirty
white are IN the mine yet.
- DEAD.
Scranton, Pa, April S.-Of1cials
of the Pancoast Coal company this
afternoon announced the total deaths
from the colliery fire were "A.
Scranton. Pa. April Sat noon 1t
was estimated the dead at the Pancoast
mine would reach So. a number of
missing worlmen not yet being ac-
counted for. These are believed TO have
been In the part of the mine where the
fire ragged
RECOVER 20 BODIES.
Scranton, Pa, April s.-Seventy
-bsSkss een-EssoveEs6y from the
Pancoast mine al Throop, where
yesterday the fearful disaster oc-
Cured. Indications are many more
still are in the mine. The fire did
not do as much damage as had been
believed The fire did not reach the
entombed men and the condition of
their bodies shows death was due
to suffocation.
Forty-four have been identified
Many victims are foreigners and
known only by number or nickname.
Heading the list of victims is Joseph
r Evans. Of West Scranton, who
was foreman of the United States
rescue car. who was leading the res
cue gang into the smOke-laden mine
filed with deadly black-damp, when
death overlook him.
HAD NO WARNING.
Scranton. Pa. April S.-Caught like
rats in a trap. without a moments
warning. so men and boys perished
yesterday in a coal mine fire In the Pan
coast colIiery at Throop. three miles
from this city. Some estimates place
the number at GO. Forty bodies have
been recovered. These were found
short distance beyond where the flames
first broke out few minutes before 10
O'Clock.
FIND THREE BODIES.
Three men. protected by helmets and
oxygen tanks. pushed past the point
where the flames were first discovered
at O'Clock in the afternoon and STUN
bIed over the bodies OF two men and
boy. who had evidently fallen while
cropping their way to safety.
Among those known to have peTished
ere Joseph Evans. who was in charge
OF the United States mine rescue car;
Isaac Dave, a fire boss, and Walter
knight, foreman
Evans death was the result Of de-
fective oxygen-charged armor. Charles
Fnzien. the noted expert in general
charge of the mine rescue work for the
federal government, was also overcome
and Is said 20 be IN a critical Condi-
tion.
A great majority Of the dead are for /
eigners.
STARTS IN ENGINE HOUSE.
The FIRE started in an engine house
at the opening OF a slope leading from 4
the diamond vein 750 feet from the
surface. There were 400 men in the
mine when the fire started. about 60 OF
them in the workings into which the 1
slope led. These so were at work in a
"blind" tunnel at the end OF the slope.
Escape was completely blocked by
fire. smoke and the generated gases. .
possibly before these men and boys re
allied their danger. The other men, 4
scattered in different workings. got out .
by various exits.