The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1911-04-12
OVER HUNDRED
MINERS PERISH
In Alabama and 70 in
Pennsylvania.
CREPE ON EVERY OTHER HOUSE
Two Mine Disasters of Awful
Proportions Many Wild.
OWS and Orphans.
FIGHT FOR THE DEAD BODIES

Littleton, Ala, April S.-Of 121
miners, most of them negro con-
victs, believed to have met death in
the explosion at the Banner mines
of the Pratt Consolidated Coal COM
pany, near here this morning, less
than half a dozen bodies had been
recovered when work of rescue was
temporarily suspended at nightfuall
because of the forming of the dead
ly blackdamp.
Late this afternoon those familiar
with the mine said poisonous black
damp had spread throughout the
mine and all hope that any persons
yet in the mine might be alive was
given uD.
Though no official statement was
made, it is believed the explosion
was caused by safety powder ignit-
ed by a lamp and also followed by
dust explosion. OF the 10 men
in the mine at the time, only five
we're free laborers, the others being
convicts, mostly negroes.
Charley Brown, negro convict,
who reached safety at the mouth Of
the shaft Immediately after the eX-
plosion, turned back and assisted
sixteen fellow workmen to safety.
In all forty-tive in the mine reached
the ground in safety.
State mine inspectors and Gov
eminent rescuers will enter the
mine as soon as possible to recover
the bodies. Just when the wrecked
ventilators can be put in operation
again is problematical. but until
then it is believed all bodies cannot
be recovered.
Cndertakers Fight For Bodies.
Scranton, Pa, April S.-Seventy-
six lives is the revised total of the
toll of the mine fire at the Pancoast
colliery in Throop yesterday. A
canvass of the families of the vic
tins shows forty-five widows and
1877 orphans.
1t was authoritatively stated to-
night that everq corner of the work
ings which the fleeing victims might
have reached in frenzy for pure air,
has been searched and that every
body has been removed. The last
group of dead, numbering seven,
was removed at noon.
AS fast as the bodies were identi-
fed they were tagged, and if rela-
tives did not come to claim them,
they were turned over to the under
taker for burial. The undertakers
fairly fought for bodies, believing
the company would stand for a good
round charge. and scenes that were
disgraceful resulted until the police
interfered.
Throop has crepe on the door. Most
of the funerals will occur Monday.
In the number of victims, this is
the worst mine horror that ever oc-
Cured in the Lackawafna Valley
and the worst in the whole anthra-
cite fields since the Avondale disas-
ter in September, 1869 when 10
lost their lives.
No explanation for yesterdays
disaster has yet been given.
Tale of Disaster in Brief.
IN ALABAMA.-One hundred and
twenty-one convicts, working in the
Banner Colliery, at Littleton, near
Birmingham, Ala, were killed by
black damp, following an explosion.
Majority of victims negroes,
though several are free men, and
about thirty white.
Few of the bodies could be re-
covered last NIGHT, owing to power
full gases which spread through
the mine corridors.
Forty-fve were saved by a wild
dash for the opening.
Explosion thought to have been
caused by the ignition of powder,
setting fire to coal dust.
IN PENNSYLVANIA. = Total
number OF those killed by fire in
mine at Throop. three miles from
Scranton, Pa. seventy-six.
All bodies recovered.
or the vfcttma fortv-fiva wara