The Detroit times., 1911-04-10
rs GIVEN UP FOR
DEAD IN MINE; rs
DIE IN ANOTHER
Disasters From Explosion and FIRE
in Alabama and Pennsylvania
Coal Workings Cause Fright
full Loss of Lite.
Rescue Parties Rush To Littleton,
Ala, To Try To Save Men Trap
ped in Inky Depths

SCRANTON, Pa, April S.-Seyenty
bodies had been taken from the
Price Pancoast mine at Throop, up u
noon today and officials OF the com
pany declare that there are still siS
more bodies in the mine, making the
total death list 76
The catastrophe is the greatest tha'
has ever occurred in mine IN me
Lackawanna district and ranks Win
the AyondaIe disaster in 1863, IN
which l26 lives were lost and the
Twin Shaft at Pittston In 1896 when
81 were killed.
OF the force OF workmen in the Dun
more vein, commonly called the China
vein, 600 feet below the surface, who
were at work behind the engine house
NJ the north slope when the fire broke
out in the engine house, only one es-
capped. He was fire boss Joseph
vickers, who was working close TO
the engine house when the alarm
was sounded.
The real horror of the disaster came
with the finding of the bodies. There
was every indication in the location
having fought desperately TO stave on
fast approaching death and OF their
clinging closely 10 one another as the
smoke and the white damp began the
snufing out OF their lives.
The bodies were found in groups OF
from three 10 seven men. And in al
most each group the hands OF the men
were interlocked or their arms were
clinging to the shoulders OF compan-
ions. In one group were three broth.
ers and a cousin, Emil, John and Vic.
tor Wasthenick and l.. Poseya. Their
arms were over one another's shout.
ders as they lay in row far in the
tunnel.
One OF the bodies recovered this
morning was that OF John Gray. who
also goes down on the list OF the days
heroes. He was a rope cleaner and
received word of the fire in time 10
reach the shaft. He forfeited his life
by rushing 10 spread the alarm among
his fellow workers In the lower vein.
Several women had TO be carried
away when the shroud was lifted and
the features Of Gray were revealed.
In the death OF Joseph Z. Evans,
the government mine rescue foreman,
who died in the attempt to save
others from the fate he himself met.
there IL a touch of martyrdom as well
as patriotism. Mr.. Evans started in
life as a chairman in the engineers
corps on the Lackawanna and finally
became foreman of the Continental
mine. Six weeks ago. Mr.. Evans was
rendered the appointment as foreman
OF the mine rescue car, stationed az
Kingston, which position he accepted
though it meant financial sacrifice.
He was the son of Evan j. Evans,
district superintendent OF the d. l.. *
w. He is a brother of Mine Inspec-
tor Llewellyn NJ. Evans, OF the sec
ond district.
John r. Perry, the other member
of the rescuing party, who died as the
result of inhaling the dangerous gases
and fumes, was 40 years old, repre-
scented the first ward in common coun.
Gil.
There is TO be an immediate inves-
tigation made OF the disaster Mine
Inspector David j Williams, in whose
district the workings are located, said
this morning, that there would be al
Investigation conducted by him
Coroner j. +. Saltey and County Dc
tective NJ. A. Rafter went to Throop,
this morning, and there will be CON-
plete investigation made by them as
county authorities. The United States
mine bureau is also TO conduct an III.
vestigation.