The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1911-04-14

Revised Death List in Mine Dis
aster at Throop, Fenny
Gives Above Total

Scranton, Pa, April S.-SeVen-
ty-four is the revised list Of the
dead in the mine fire at Pancoast
colliery in Throop yesterday. A
canvass of the victims families
shows fifty-fve widows and one
hundred and thirty-seven or
phans. Many explanations are
offered as to how the victims
came to their death but none are
generally accepted.
Up to nine thirty o'clock this
morning seventy bodies had been
recovered from the Pancoast mine
at Throop, as result of yester-
day. fire. Indications are that
more dead will be found.
Worst in History
The accident is the worst in the
history of the coal industry in
this section. The total dead this
afternoon was estimeted at eigh-
ty-fve. It is known that few if
any suffered actual fire fortunes.
The flames were above them.
They suffered or were smothered
to death by deadly vapors. All
made a hard struggle for life,
burying their faces in their coats
and lying on the floor in a vain
attempt to save their lives.
Negligence Charged
Officials of the mine made a
close inspection Of the causes of
the disaster today and some open
ly charge that if the men in the
underworkings had been imme-
diateIy notified in the first out
leak all could have escaped. The
flames were raging in full force
before the men in the mines were
appraised of the fact, and they
persisted like rats in a trap.
Many Heroic Feats
When the emergency arises the
man always appers. City Coun-
Gilman Perry and two mine fire
men, disregarding the warning of
their friends, descended into the
mine to warn the men and were
hemmed in n lower strata, per-
ishing. -Four of the company s
officials at the risk of their lives
went into the mine and personal
~ took part in the rescue work.
They were finally driven back by
the fumes.
Where the Fire Started.
II was definitely ascertained to-
day that the fire originated in
the hosting room of the "China y
vein, so called because il was the
lowest in the mine and therefore
near to China. Some experts
think the poisonous gases ran
down the slopes of this vein so
fast that it was impossible under
any circumstances for the men to
have gotten out in time to escape
death. II is feared that a number
of bodies will he found at the
foot of the China vein. Experts
absolve the mine owners from
negligence.
Evans Among Victims
Joseph II. Evans, foreman OF
the rescue work, is the first mar
tyr of the new instruction from
| the United States Mining Bureau,
Department of Agriculture.
Evans was suffocated after com
ing to the mines from Wilkes
barre.
DR.. A. j. Holmes. director of
Mining Bureau arrived here FROM
Washington today and describ-
ing Evans death said; at is like
a man running up hill. The sup
ply of fresh air is not suff 3icnt
and the man wearing the helmet
dies from carbonic dioxidc
Evans was at the head of the re-
serve party when he died.
Wagons Remove the Dead
As the bodies of the dead min
ers were hoisted from the main
shaft a score of wagons waited
for them. So eagerly were they
driven away and placed in charge
of undertakers that the crowds
about the mines entrance raised
shouts of :"bOdy snatchers