The Washington herald., 1911-04-09
WILL PROBE DEATH
OF THROOP MINERS
AllSeyenty-six Bodies Found.
Relief Fund Started.
CRIMINAL NEGLECT H1NTED AT
National, State. and County Officials
Fix Blame for Worst Disaster in
tives Cannot Get Damages from
Government-The Prominent Dead.

Scranton. Pa, April S.-Seventy-six s.
bodies have been taken from the Pan
coast mine at Throop. There are no
more bodies in the mine. the colliery
officials say.
There was every indication in the To-
cation and condition of the bodies of the
men having fought desperately to stave
OFF fast approaching death and OF their
clinging closely to one another as the
smoke and white damp began the snuff
fing out OF their lives. Death was due
to suffocation in almost every instance.
The bodies were found in groups of
every group the hands of the men were
iRterlocked or their arms were clinging
TO the shoulders of companions In one
group were three brothers and cousin
Emil, John. and Victor Wasthenick
and L. Poseva. Their arms were thrown
over each others shoulders as they lay
in a row far in the tunnel.
Three of the men were found in an
air course and ten others were discov-
cred wrapped in canvas.
will Fix Responsibility.
The disaster. which ranks as one OF
the worss1n the history of the anthra-
cite region. is to be investigated by ma
tonal. State. and county officials. That
there was criminal neglect on the part
of some one seems to be the opinion of
every one. Superintendent of the State
Bureau of Mines James Roderick de-
Clared to-day that had care been used
the accident could not have occurred
He declared the loss OF life was due to
the erection OF an engine house at the
head OF the mine, which was built Of
infiammable material. and would give
his personal time and attention to fer
retinS out the causes and fixing the
blame.
The United States government is repre-
sented BY DR. James 4. Holmes, of
Washington. head of the National Bu-
rcau of Mines. who was on the scene
few hours after the first report of the
disaster. He. too. has gone into the
mine. and declares that he will cause a
minute investigation OF the causes lead
ing up to the loss OF life
James F. Salty, coroner of I-acka-
wanna County. with County Detective
Nj. 4. Rafter, representing the district
attorneys office. also entered the mine
to-day and began an investigation that
may lead to criminal prosecution in the
local courts.
DR.. Holmes visited the morSue shortly
after O'Clock, following an examination
Of the interior of the mine. He spoke
feelinGly of the death Cf First Aid As
sIstant Joseph Evans. He was a mar
tyr to the cause" declared Dr. Holmes
Evans was d son Of Evan Evans. su-
perintendent Of the Lackawanna Com
rany. and recently resigned mine fore
manship to head crew of the rescue
car.
The Prominent Dead.
Among the prominent dead are Walter
Knight, inside foreman: John Bray. as
sistant driver boss: James Wallace. fore
man; Isaac Dawes. fire boss. and John
Perry, councilman of Scranton engaged
in rescue work. who was suffocated The
others were largely men OF foreign birth.
some of whom were known only by
numbers.
Mayor Won Bergen. of Scranton, issued
aDnappeal to the public for aid and the
daily newspapers have opened subscrip-
tion lists. John HAYS Hammond wired
a contribution of 500
Prominent citizens held a meeting this
afternoon and organized to relieve in a
systematic way the needs of the stricken
families
Relatives Cannot Sue.
The failure of the Senate TO act upon
a bill that was passed by the House Of
Representatives at the regular session of
Congress will prevent the dependent rela-
tivcs of Joseph +. Evans. foreman in
the mine accidents division of the Bu-
reau of Mines, who was killed at Throop,
Pa. from recovering damages from the
Of hiS lnaf
bill amending the government employees
liability att which now covers the en-
ployes OF the Isthmian Canal and the
Reclamation Service, so that it would
apply to the employees of the Bureau of
Mines. passed the House in the last
Congress, but was not acted upon by the
Senate.