Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1911-12-16
COAL Mine HORROR
TAKES MANY LIVES
EXPLOSION IN Big MINE In
NORTHEASTERN PART OF
TENNESSEE.
Only Three Out of 12e Miners Escaped
Cause Of Explosion Is Unknown
Mine Had Been Inspected Last Week
and Found to Be in Excellent Con-
dition-Miner Saved by Dream.

dition-Miner Saved by Dream.
Brieeville, Tenn.-Rescuers are work
ing desperately to reach the miners,
now estimated at from 1875 to 1856, who
were buried alive in lateral workings
of the Knoxville Iron company's Great
Cross Mountain mine here Saturday.
At night nearly 1000 persons were
gathered around the mouth of the mine,
frantically demanding news.
Only Three Escape.
The miners had entered to begin the
day Is work when a terrific explosion
wrecked the workings. Only three have
come out alive. They had entered
lateral off the shaft and succeeded in
getting into the open before the flames
and smoke caught them. The body of
Lee Holston, operator of the mine fan
plant, was found mangled under the
eavein in the main shaft.
Rescue workers are making scarcely
any Roadway. The government IS res
cue car and force are here, as are many
rescuers and engineers from all over
the district.
Shaft Two Miles Long
The shaft extends more than two
) miles into the bowels of the mountain.
Workers have encountered dense and
compact deposits of slate, earth, rock
~ H. . 80
and also in an abandoned entry used
for an airshaft.
About the mouth of a vertical venti-
lator leading to the top of the noun
tain fires have been built to create a
circulation of air from within the mine
t if possible. Rescuers are engaged in
/, digging the debris from the shafts, and
{ this must be removed about one mil,
e to the exit of the mine.
o 1t is not yet possible to determine
+ whether this blockading of the entry
is extensive. Wood posts and trusse'
g in the shaft have been blown outward
q and this, miners state, is indicative
l. of a serious explosion beyond.
e Theories as to Cause.
q There are three theories as to thu
cause of the explosion. One is tina
powder or dust exploded, the second i
d that an electric wire came in eontae
j. with explosives, and the third is tina
n the explosion was caused by poo
n tamping of a drill
4 The mine was thoroughly inspected
d week ago by J. F. Hatmaker, who ha
been inspector for eight years. H
said then that there were no gases i
= the NINE The mine also was recent
= inspected by an inspector under Georg
- Sylvester, state mine inspector, and
- representative of casualty compan
y which carries insurance on the en-
y ployes of the company, and is said t
have reported that it was in excellen
> condition.
- Dream Saved One Life.
"a Hugh Larue, a miner employed in tn
n. mine, owes his life to a dream his wifi
n. had the night before. When he aros
as Saturday morning and prepared to 6
90 to work Mrs. Larue refused to prepar
his lunch for him to carry to tn
mines She did not want him to wor
~ that day.
~ She then cited dream she had.
~ her dream she saw scores of minei
with their heads blown off being ca
u ried out of the mine entrance as sh
- and her little children stood at II
- mine s mouth.
Larue had not missed a day from h
work for many months, but he was pr
an vailed upon by the tears of his wife
S. remain away from the mine. 1t VIZ
as only short time after Mrs. Larue tol
~ her dream that the explosion oecurre
~ Somewhere in the depths of Gro
"a Mountain coal mine, probably 100 me
by lie dead Sunday night, while their so
DIS row-stricken families keep vigil at Il
g. mouth of the tomb, hoping against hol
lis that their loved ones may be ali'
ce when rescuers reach them. Sixte'
If bodies have been recovered.
Ii Destitution Theatens.
IN There is hardly family in the e
~ tire Coal creek valley that has not fe
~ the touch of death. The problem
caring for the widows and orphans
" great, requiring immediate solutio
Certainly Byrceville will be unable
care for her living with most of
wage earners numbered among the dea
80 Five Rescued Alive.
III Briceville, Tenn.-Five men had be-
nd brought alive from the Cross Mounta
ras mine, Monday night, and rescuers
ter that time were making strong effor
rs to reach at least three more, whom tn
zen believed still alive.