St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1911-12-16
200 BURIED
IN COAL mine.
Scene of Terror Around the
Exploded Mine.
Little Hope is Expressed fol
the Rescue of Many.
Federal Rescuers Rushed to
Aid Of Unfortunates.
Screams are Heard in the
Passages of the Mines.

Briceville, Tenn, Dec. with
fire flaming from the mouth of the
mine of the Knoxville Iron Company,
1t is estimated that the lives of from
100 to 200 men have been wiped
out as the result of c. dust explosion,
which occurred this morning.
The accident occurred at 1880 at
time when 200 men arc usually
at work 1t is admitted that at
least 100 men and boys went to
work at the time, and it is believed
that the deadly total will show that
the whole force walked into the
underground passageway, where the
explosion took place, two miles from
the outer surface.
The officials of the company are
very sanguine in their early state
nlents, minimizing the loss of life
and giving out encouraging hopes
for rescue, but those who are famii-
lar with the Tennessee mines know
of the remarkable quantities of
gases, and who have borne in mind
the number of deaths that have oc-
Cured from similar occurances, be-
lieve that the escapes will be few.
.'The mine is on fire." came the
cry from rescuers, relatives and
wives who surrounded the mine at
10:o'clock to-day That dread word
of fire" is known to these mining
people. They know that it general
ly means that all hope for the i'm
prisoned must be abandoned and
that there will be no word from them
until their charred bodies are
brought to the surface in the little
tram cars that are to come out from
the depths laden with the mostl
grewsome burdens that they ever
carried.
The explosion occurred in the
main cross mountain mine, which is
officially recorded as "class bedrift
mine. 1t is 1906 feet above the
level of the sea. The mine itself is
very large, one, penetrating the
46-inch seam Of coal that runs
through most of this section of the
Cumberland mountains. The mine
is ventilated by an electric suction
fan which spelled hope for any that
might be alive after the explosion
IL the tiny films of smoke, followed
by black clouds and then by flames
had not told the fathers and moth
ers, widows and children that all
seemed to be lost.
Shortly before noon rescuing par
ties, who had entered the Cross
Mountain mine earlier in the day
emerged from two entrances and re-
ported that they had gone in dis
tance of about one mile. They were
unable to proceed furher on account
of having encountered cave-in in
each of the entries. The caye-in was
.oe such a character, according to the
returning rescuers, as to indicate
that the explosion was caused by
dust ignition. 1t is stated that the
mine has always been free from gas,
and was also dry and this leads to
the belief that the accident must
have originated from dust ex-
plosion.
sBriceville, Tenn, Dec. 12.-Oxy-
gcn-helmeted mine rescue experts
and fearless volunteers who follow
ed them spent disheartening day
in the Cross. Mountain mine. The
wild shrieks of the demented miners
reechoed in the main channel and
cross-entries, but the mad mer
never were sighted, and not another
soul was rescued to-day
Clearing weather, and the hope
inspired by the rescue of five of the
entomed men last night, encouraged
most OF the woffmen of the village
who fingered near the mine all day
Hope fell when nightfall arrived
with no encouraging message from
the rescuers. Thirty-four bodies
some of them badly mutulated, bu
not yet beyond recognition, hav,
been brought out and several NOR
have been found.
"A ghostly chase with death" i
the description of an experience o
the rescue party. Two miners
thought to be John Duff and Johl
Smith, hav been on wild run i
the farthest recesses of the min
since IL o'clock last 'ght, and tn
rescue party have been unable t
capture them.
The men have been running fraI
tically up and down the main char
mel now and then entering entrie
that have not been batticed up, an
thus they escape the rescuers. Th
stiffness of the dark recesses is onl
broken by he wild screams of til
men, who apparently have lost the
minds and are wandering helplessl.
These are, it is thought. the me
who escaped from the party heade
by William Henderson, that was re
cued last night.
Plans have been made for gre'
care to be taken of men found ally
in the mine, so that no danger wi
result from bringing them into Il
open air after their long confln
ment. When about 200 feet fro
the mines mouth blankets are to
wrapped around the bodies of Il
men rescued and plaster masks pla
ed over their faces by physicians