The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-08
Fire Traps Men and
Boys in Blind"
Tunnel.
FORTY BODIES
ARE RECOVERED
One Of Victims Was in Charge
Of United States Rescue Car,
While Noted Expert in
Rescue Work Is Lying
at Point of
Death.

Scranton. Pa, April 7.--One of the
most serious mine disasters which
ever has visited this section of the
mining country occurred to-day at the
little village Of Throop, short dis
tance from this city, when the lives
OF between fifty and sixty men and
boys were snuned out Among those
known to have persisted are Joseph
Evans, who was in charge Of Tho
ohiteo states mine rescue car; Isaac
cave ire boss. and Walter knight
| Il foreman
EVans's death was the result of a
uelectlVe oxygen charged armor
narles Enzian. the noted expert, in
seherai charge OF mine rescue work
ior the Federal governments was also
overcome. and is said to be in 2 CRIT
! zeal condition tonight
As feScuers entered the mine they
stumbled over three bodies ono of
these was Joseph Evans. He was seen
10 wrench his helmet from his head.
1t evidently had failed 10 work
Evans was carried to the open air as
quickly as possible. bu, he had Inhaled
SO much smoke and gas from the
burning coal that he died within a few
hours EnZian's experience was simi
;ar 10 That of Evans.
Two Score bodies Found.
op 20 late hour tonight nearly two
score Of bodies had been piled at the
bottom of the shaft, but il was thourht
ADVISABLE not to bring them 10 the sur
race until the crowd had dwindIed A
temporary morgue had been erected al
the opening to the mine and here were
consreEated hundreds Of women and
chiidTen. relatives of the men and
In f1d l,raa F,
from them. Their grief was pitiful.
ehildren of tender years clinging 70
the skirts OF their mothers while older
members of the family sought 10 soften
, the anguish OF the distracted mothers
and sisters of the unfortunate fathers
and brothers.
None OF the bodies was mutilated.
oeath doubtless having been caused by
inhaling flames and gases. The rescu-
e.s are pushing Into the mine, and it is
thought that all Of the bodies viii
be recovered within a few hours
The fire was In the Pancoast Col
llery. three miles from. this city
Inree men, protected by helmets and
oxygen tanks. this afternoon pushed
past the point where the flames were
first discovered and stumbled over the
pooies OF two men and n boy, who evi-
IDENTITY had fallen while cropping their
way TO safety. To those familiar with
the conditions in the Pancoast Colliery.
! he finding Of these bodies indicated
mat there was practically no hope for
the other imprisoned miners.
me fire started a few minutes before
10 o'clock this morning in an engine
mouse at tho opening of a slope, $50
feet from the surface. There were
4oo men in the mine when the fire
started. About sixty Of them were at
work in blind" tunnel at the end of
the slope. for whom escape was com
pletely blocked by fire. smoke and the
generated gases.
Gangs of miners a the Pancoast led
by Mine superintendent Joseph Birtley.
and assisted by the Throop fire depart
nent, carried hose into the mine and
fought the fire.
Rescue Car Summoned.
The United States mine rescue car.
stationed III Wilkes barre, was summon
ed early In the afternoon. Three men,
! with the oxygen tanks and helmets on.
| succeeded in penetrating the slope for
! a hundred feet after the blaze at the
engine house had been subdued, ana
they came upon the bodies of the two
men and boy Their faces were
buried In the wet culm, as If they
haG died trying to escape the deadly
| gases and intense heat
a corps OF the rescue men later cana
upon several bodies strewn along the
| roadway where the men had fallen
over one another in their frenzied
| fight to get to the end Of the slope.
The bodies were carried to the foot
OF the shaft and stacked up in piles In
the narrow space to be taken out after
nightfaii. This was done TO mollitv
the horror consequent upon the sight
| of the distracted wives, children and
! other relatives Of the victims who
thronged the mouth of the shaft
| Borough officials. deputy patrolmen
and squad OF State constabulary
were summoned from Pottsville, three
miles away. to take care Of the crowds;
There was no violence. although 1t
was feared there might be some dis
orderly demonstrat ton on the part Of
| the friends OF the foreigners among
the victims.
The colliery is owned and operated
by the Price Pancoast Coal Company.
at the head Of which Is John r. Bry-
den, general manager Of the Ontario
and Western Galleries in this region.
II Is one OF the largest and most up
to-date collieries in the region.