The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1911-04-14
11s ENToMBED IN
ALABAMA MINE
subterranean Passages Afame
Negro Gonviots smothered
BY Poisonous Fumes

| OF them negro cOnVlclS, arc Nh
tombed tonight in the Banner
coal mine near here following
terrific explosion early today.
The accident is the worst in the
history of the South for twelve
years. Only a miracle can save
the unfortunate blacks and their
few white companions, say men
familiar with the causes and ef-
fects Of mine explosions.
After Damp Holds Back Res
cuers.
But three bodies have been
brought to the surface. These
were found not fifty feet from the
entrance of the main shaft, indi-
eating that the men were fully
aware of their danger and had
made a desperate effort to reach
a point where human endeavor
might save their lives. The fatal
after damp has so far kept the
rescuing parties from penetrating
in to the mine, although they
have been far enough to see grue-
some piles of human bodies hud-
died near the shaft.
Hope Practically Abandoned
Officials of the mine who have
taken leading part in the rescue
work, have practically abandoned
all hope of saving the entombed
men. Fire was raging under
ground and if the victims have
not persisted from poisonous gas
es the flames are believed to have
completed the horrid work. At
tempts will be made throughout
the night, however, to effect en-
trance.
Tappings Heard, Then Silence
This afternoon knocks on iron
pipes leading to the surface could
be distinctly heard. This was
taken to mean that the entombed
men were notifying those above
the ground that they were still
alive. Tonight there is an omi-
nous silence, indicating thai all
are dead.
175 Trapped by Fire
Birmingham, Ala, April s.
One hundred and seventy-five con
victs were trapped by fire in the
Banner mines near Littleton ear
ly today. Flames followed a ter
rife explosion of gases. 1t is
feared most of them will perish
Out of the one hundred and nine.
ty who went to work this morn
ing twenty had come out alive
shortly before noon. Many Of the
Survivors received frightful burns
and are suffering agonies from
having breathed in poisonous gas
es.
Convicts Hired From State
The Banner mines are in the
western part of this county and
are owned by the Pratt Consoli-
dated Company, with offices here.
The convicts are hired from va
rious counties throughout the
state. II has long been the use of
the Consolidated Company to hire
convict labor.
Early Information is Meager
Early information from the
mine. regarding the cause of the
cause of the explosion, is very
meager. Special trains carrying
relief and a mine inspector left
here today at nine o'clock. Cause
of the explosion had not been as
certained at one o'clock this af-
ternOOn.
Rescue Work Made Difficult
Rescue work was made diff
cult by the destruction of a fan
in shaft No. 2, il being nearly inn
possible to penetrate the poison
Gus gases and live. The explosion
occurred far underground. II
came between a shift of crews
and probably reduced the loss of
life. Had the disaster occurred
while either crew had been at
work the death list might have
amounted 10 more than one hun
dred and fifty.
Fifty Taken From Mine Alive
Shortly before two O'Clock this
afternoon a party of rescue work
ers, blackened with SCOT and gasp
ing for breath, pOked their heads
out of the main shaft carrying
five victims, alive but badly in
jured.
GIVE us men" they shouted
hoarsely, more are below, and
rescue workers standing about
the entrance Of the shaft pushed
forward. At three O'Clock the
rescue work was in full progress,
at which time fifty men, many of