The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-10


 are plenty of miners on the scene and the shifts in the mine will be changed about every two hours and half. The work is progressing very well under the cir | cumstances, says Chief Hillhouse, and others who are in charge
 Spectators Not Numerous On the first day of the explosion-yes- terday-there were scarcely 60 spectators | on the scene A party of 20 came rom Mineral Springs, but with the exception of a few from the outlying districts around Banner none others came. A heavy rainfall yesterday morning greatly hin dered the work at the mine, and those who had started for Banner over the roads with automobiles were almost III every case stalled. At one time last night the,-e were 22 automobiles stuck in the mud between Banner and Gintown. Prae- tically all of them llimped in this morn ing, serving to swell the crowd of spec tators that poured into Banner on the first train today from Birmingham Today it is estimated that there are 15oo people on the scene which falls far short of the crowds at previous disasters. The crowds are being kept away from the en- frances to the mines by watchmen, sta toned by the company. Ropes have been stretched around the entrances, and none but the miners are allowed to pass. Al the slope entrance of the mine, or the manway as it is called, Deputy Sheriff Dave Kennybrook is stationed, and is do- ing good work in handling the crowd of morbid spectators who flock around the entrance to the mine. Deputies Brent and Reeves are within call, and the sner- frs olive in Birmingham is prepared to rush deputies to the scene should they be needed. It is not thought that this will be necessary, as Deputy Kennybrook and the prison guards are entirely competent to handle the crowds. No visitors what ever are allowed in the stockade.
 Treatment of Visitors
 The Pratt company has affairs well in hand. Extra feedstuffs for the numbers of men who will be at work in the mines have been ordered. There are accommo- dations for every man who is on the scene in an official capacity, and the of ticials of the company are exceedingly courteous to visitors.
 The bodies will be prepared for burial in an empty cell at the stockade. They will all be prepared for shipping, although 1t is thought that the greater part Of them will be buried in Banner. force of 20 convicts under two prison guards were put to work this morning digging
 
 number of them finished. The graves will be. completed in the morning. The Johns Undertaking company of Birmingham is furnishing the collins and the Echols x Angwin company of Ensley is doing the embalming.
 The entire board of state convict in spectors is in Banner, arriving at 12O o'clock this morning on the government rescue car James Oakley. president Of afafo r1. Il,. N A Hugh NJ. Wilson complete the state of ficials. Dr. Burns will be in Banner sev- era days, and will look after the con- victs should any of them be alive. MT Oakley will be asked by the Pratt of ficials to make complete and thorough in- vestigation of the explosion and report to the governor. He has been furnished every facility so far, but can do little until parties can go down in the mine freely.
 Ramsay's Statement
 Erskine Ramsay, vice president ana chief engineer of the Pratt company is here. and will probably remain through the night. Mr. Ramsay feels keen regret over the explosion, and worked so ardu- ously last night that he was forced to re- tire early. He was a tireless worker and director of the work today. MT. Ramsay made the following statement to a repre- sentative of The Age Herald this after noon:
 "It is useless to say that I regret very much the disaster that has occurred here. I was deeply stricken when 1 heard 't the news. We have given up all hope of the 12s men entombed in the mine, ana are seeking now to establish enough air to take out the bodies.
 ''I'he cause of the explosion is unknown at present, and until the mine is more thoroughly penetrated will remain so. Ac- cording to the best information that 1 have it seems that it was in the seventh entry left. Here the track Is torn up slightly, and the men near there are man gled which did not happen in the case Of the others.
 eWhether the explosion was caused by powder or the damp 1 am unable to say However, l believe that the greater num- Der of the men were killed by the after damp. rather than by the explosion itself.
 .'rhe damage to the mine itself will not be great and I expect 5000 will cover it fully. The fan at the new shaft was dam- aged to the extent of $500, and the dam age to the mine will amount to about that"
 Coroner B. l.. Brasher arrived in Banner late this afternon and after preparing for the certificates of the men taken out of the mines returned to Birmingham. In the opinion of the coroner this explosion is the worst that has ever occurred in Alabama. and will be much worse than tine explosion at Palos last year. Tt is even worse than the Virginia mines dis aster," says the coroner.
 But there is one feature about the ex- plosion that lessens the horror. There is no circle of moaning, waiing women sur rounding the entrance of the mine. Fewer families will be without fathers or broth CTS than at other explosions. Practically all of the convicts in the mines are short term men sent up from Jefferson county. Few have longer terms than two years and a half.
 Death of Spradling
 However, there is one especially pa thetic incident that came to light early this morning when rescue party return ing brought the news that they had seen the dead body of O. W. Sprading near the entrance. MT Spradllng was sitting on a rock with his head in his hands.
 Had he fallen 6rward on his face he would have been on the steam pipes and would probably have received enough air to have saved his life.
 Mr. Spradling died in an effort to save the men who worked under him. and be- ing unsuccessful in his efforts died or sui location within short distance of the open air. When the first explosion came yesterday morning he came to the sur face in time to escape. Understanding the danger or needless of 1t in the effort to save his men he returned to tho uiue