The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-10
STREAM OF BODIES NOW POURS STEADILY FROM
 THE MOUTH OF BANNER MINE
Total Dead Will Reach 128 Making Most Disastrous Explo sion Which Ever Occurred In Alabama-Frst Bodies Brought Up Yesterday Afternoon-Dr. Rut-
 ledge and Party Have Narrow Escape
BY JACK BETHEA


 Banner mine at 3:20 o'clock this after moon the greusome stream continued 10 pour forth and tonight the rescuing was proceeding with the precision of clock work.
 It is now practically assured that the total death list will be 12S. This figure was arrived at by checking over the men who entered for work yesterday morn ing. Of the 12s only five were free men, two whites and three negroes. Of the 123 convicts only 12 were white.
 It is now expected that the mine will be cleared some time tomorrow
 pr. J. J. Rutledge and party of ten rescuers had narrow escape from death early this morning when they were over come by afterdamp and it was thought for time that three of the men were dead
 First to Reach Surface
 At 3:20 o'clock this afternoon the first bodies to be removed from the mine were brought to the surface by a party of 26 composed of six white men and twenty convicts. Three were brought up on the first trip and in 90 minutes a second crew went down into the mine, returning two hours and half later with 20 bodies
 The men brought up' on the first trip were all negroes: George Lawson. Joe Brown and Arthur Welsh. They were found on the main slope in No entry, left. This is about 25oo feet underground and they were the first bodies, with the exception of the three removed yester'
 arr cuers
 State Superintendent Hillhouse headed the party that made the first entry and reported conditions good.
 Convicts Volunteer to Go
 Owing to the fact that it was impossible to raise the bodies at the new shaft, en- trance to the mine was made by the manway, near the stockade The officials called for volunteers among the convicts, forcing no one to go into the mine if he was afraid. Sixteen of the negroes m stripes stepped forward in response to the call and with six white men, including MT. Hlhouse. went into the mine at 2 o'clock. An l,our and 20 minutes later they returned with three bodies and two dead mules The bodies were carried to tho improvised hospital in a jail at the stockade where they were prepared for burial.
 When the word went out that the first bodies would be removed from the tnlne at 3 o'clock, a large crowd of negroes gathered just above the slope, where they could look into the cars as they brought the men to the surface. The in stant they appeared all the negro women broke into a low mournful dirge-like chant that was echoed with weird effect around the slope. They were finally quieted, but could not be persuaded to leave their posts. At each appearance peated.
 The bodies are in good condition and little difficulty is encountered by the un- 6ertakers in preparing them for burial.
 Hopes to Clear Mine Today
 Inspector Hillhouse stated that he hoped to have the mine clear of bodies by morn- ing and confidently said that he would determine what caused the explosion and make his official report tomorrow.
 It was rumored here tonight that Dr.. Holmes, head of the United States mine bureau, would arrive at Banenr tomorrow on a special train to look into the mine disaster here.
 James G. Oakley of Montgomery, presi- dent of the state convict board. was in Banner all day and was an onaooker at the rescue work. On the second trip into the mines MT. Oakley accompanied MT. Hillhouse to where they were working on the bodies. Upon his return he said that it merely looked like an ordinary mine, and a good one atsthat MT Oakley re- fused to make any comment whatever on the matter. He stated that he would in- vestigate the cause of the explosion as fully as possible under the conditions ex- isting.
 Rescue Party Overcome
 rescue party of ten men from the government mine rescue car, headed by pr. J. J. &Rutledge, made an attempt to enter the new shaft of the mines at o'clock this morning and after pene- trating short distance were overcome by the deadly black damp and it was necessary to rush second rescuing party to aid them. All of the gov ernment men were brought from the mines in a serious condition. and space around the shaft was turned into temporary hospital until the men nar recovered enough to be able to go to the rescue car half mies away. Ow- ing to an accident to the boiler that pumps the air into the mines the fans were stopped for a short time, and a few seconds afterwards a faint cry for help was heard at the bottom of the shaft.
 A party of miners without helmets were rushed down and found the gov ernment men unconscious from the black damp that had permeated the mine as aIisaftermath of the explosion. The rescuers brought all of them to the bottom of the shaft. where the air was good and sent up those in the most serious. condition at once. Doctors at the surface immediately went to work to resusciate the men and after an hours hard work all were sufficiently recovered to go to the rescue car, where | 1iey were further attended by doctors | of the porty.
 Che party was headed by pr. I. J. lutledge the government expert Tn | charge of the mine car. and he showed great heroism. Although in a fainting ] condition he refused all aid until as- N sured of the safety of the remainder of | lis men, He named each man as soon as he could talk and not until he had been assured of the safety of each did he accept assistance.
 Men from mine rescue car who made the trip were: pr. J. ]. Rutledge. United N States W. $, Bountree. Dr. Caraway. Y J. D. Weldon,sJ. ". Newby A. R. Brown, | United States; J. W. Key. United States, y William Routenlusch. United States; H. H. Hamilton, George T. Gambill Harry N McCrorie. -Ae fl Rutledge Rountree, Gambill at first