Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-12-09

Knoxville. Tenn. Dec. "A dust ex-
plosion Imprisoned about 200 men in
the. coal mine of the Knoxville Iron
Company at Briceville, thirty-four
miles north Of Knoxville. this morning
at 1880 o'clock. The explosion was
about two miles from the entrance of
the mine and the federal mine rescue
crew was hastily summoned. At an
early hour 1t was impossible to ascer-
tain the number killed, but 1t was fear
ed that the loss Of life would be very
heavy.
The noise of the explosion brought
great crowd Of townspeople to the
mine opening. Company officials made
Immediate preparations for rescue, but
at 8 o'clock the mine had not been en-
tered.
District Has Stormy History.
Briceyille as q mining town has had
stormy history. 1t was the scene in
the early COS of rioting, when miners
rebelled against working with convicts
leased by the state. Troops were sent
there to Quell the trouble.
At Coal Creek, near there, on May 10,
1902 200 men were killed in the Frater-
vile mine explosion.
!. Special Trains 20 Scene.
There are several big mines at
Briceville known as the Cross Noun
tain system. 1t was in one Of these
thatsthe explosion occurred today. Spe-
cial trains were sent from Knoxville to
the scene OF the disaster. President
Btephenson. Of the Knoxville Iron
Company, was in charge Of train
over the Southern railway. They car
ried paraphernalia of rescue. With him
went officials Of the local mine rescue
station.
President Stephenson said he had no
specific reports Of the explosion and
knew nothing Of the extent of the life
loss.
The mine is usually manned by 200
m iners but whether all had entered the
shaft prior to the explosion had not
been determined.
Women Offer to Aid Rescuers.
Rescue preparations were inn
nediately under way and at 10 o'clock
gangs Of miners from other works In
the district had gone into the main
Cross Mountain mine by three en-
frances. At that hour none Of the
reScuerS naQ reported.
AZ news of the explosion spread
about the Briceville district throngs Of
men, women and children rushed to the
mine entrances and clamoured to be
allowed to make their way inside to aid
in the rescue.
Many of the women knew their hus-
bands had entered the mine before the
blast. Most of these wives. however.
A-&~
OF them having witnessed almost SINH
lar Scenes. One women who gathered
the others about her attempted to cheer
her weeping sisters.
Now, know my old man 'aint
thansa dust explosion to kill him."
Rsscusrs Driven Back.
At II o'clock it had almost been
definitely settled that 100 men entered
the mine before the explosion.
Rescue work was checked before II
o'clock. Great billows Of flames be-
gan to belch from the opening. Rescue
parties were held back by the flames.
Il Hope for the imprisoned miners has
now dw;ndled almost to despair.
aoseuers Advance Mile.
Members OF the rescue squad who
were driven from the mine by flames
and smoke declared they had advanced
% mile into the main shaft before they
were forced to retire and that they had
discovered no signs Of imprisoned men.
Just before they were driven out they
encountered q cave-in in each Of the
entries. It was Of such character as
to almost positively confirm the early
theory that dust had caused the explo-
sion.
Only Three Escape.
n OF all the men who went into the
.mine three have escaped. They were
By the noise they escaped before over
I.s.sss SS;;- b. flames
These men observed bad signs as
they entered the mine. They believe
tfati the exact location OF the blast is
from the mountain crest.
; vistims May Exceed 400.
& The numbers Of men entombed IL |
estimated at from 125 to 26s.
Because Of the cave-in and the
smoke and flames it is impossible for
volunteer rescuers to proceed into the
mine They must await the coming OF
the federal apparatus. which was due
II o'clock.
aaAiM waEckED FROM OUTSIDE.
O6aval 1eerd Finds Explosion Was De.
jiberatsly Planned.
a Washington. Dec. S-The Unitsdl
states battleship Maine which sank |
II Havana harbor in February 1898, [
xs the result Of an explosion, was
h,61n - fFom the outside. This wasl