Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-04-10
Most Of the Victims Conyicis,
Largely CoIored Persons.
Deadly Black Damp Follows
Terrific Powder Explosion.
Forty five widows and l37 Orphans
Around Throop, Pa, Mine.

Little, Ala, April 9.-With the pre-
cision of clock work tonight trained
corps of rescuers brought steady
stream of bodies from the Banner mine
of the Pratt Consolidated Coal Co., in
which yesterdays disastrous explosion
occurred. 1t is believed tonight that
12S is the exact number of victims.
This figure was obtained after care
full check of all the men who entered
the mine yesterday morning. There Is
no longer any hope of finding men
alive under ground. OF the 12S dead,
only IA We're whites. This afternoon the
rescuers were able to establish work
ing conditions in the mine and the Hrst
bodies We're brought to the surface.
State Mine Inspector James Hillhousa
thought tonight the mine would be
cleared tomorrow
The general belief tonight - that
powder caused the disaster and that the
damage was heaviest near the days
supply of explosives.
When the rescuers asked FOR assist
ance company officials called for vol
unteers among the convicts, saying
that no man need go il he was afraid.
Sixteen of the NEGROES in stripes
stepped forward and accompanied In
spector Hillhouse and six white men
underground.
There are practically no mourners at
Banner. None of tie eonvicts had rela-
tives near but few curious Negro
women stood around the opening ind
moaned as the bodies we're brought up.
Twenty convicts dug long trench
in the convict cemetery for the burial
of those convicts whose bodies are rot
claimed by relatives. One hundred cof-
fins We're sent to Banner today from
Nashville, TeuI., and undertakers are
preparing the bodies for burial as fast
as they are taken from the mine.
Or. }. \. Holmes, chief OF the gov
ernment bureau of mines, who has
been at the Scranton disaster, left
Washington today to assist in the in
vesti,yation of tho Banner disaster.
The first party of 10 government
rescuers headed hy DR.. J. ]. Rutledge
who entered the mine at 3 o'clock this
morning had a narrow escape from
death. An accident occurred to. the
boiler used for the fans and the air
was stopped for few minutes. with
in few seconds after a faint cry
for help was heard from below and
down. The entire party was over
come by the afterdamp and when
brought to the surface physicians
fore they were able to be moved to
the rescue car
Members Of the first party told a
narrowing story.
We were going along all right
until we got to the fourth entry"
said Dr. H. H. Hamilton, "and in
few seconds nearly every man in the
party was down. attempted to carry
one man over the lift but failed and
fell myself. That is the last re-
member until the surface was reach
ed
DR.. Caraway staggered to the bot
tom of the shaft and cried: Get us
out, we are dying" Then the second
party. headed by DR.. Wright, was sent
down.
The cause of the explosion is still
mystery.
While the loss Of life at Banner is
the most disastrous in the history Of
Alabama mining. the damage to the
mine itself is slight. Mr.. Ramsey esti-
mates that $1,000 will cover 1t fully.
The entire State Board of Convict
Inspectors is on the scene OF the 1873
men in the mines before the rescue
work started five were free, two whites
and three Negroes, I23 were convicts.
Il of whom were white. Practically
all Of them were short term men sent
from Jefferson county. One of the
most pathetic incidents was the death
of o. w. Spradling, of Leeds. Ala. one
of the mine foremen. He escaped with
others and then returned to the mine
to render aid. He was found sitting
today on a rock with his head in his
hands. He was only short distance
from the open air. He leaves a widow
and one child.
= 'ttstr fs'
While no official statement has been
made it is believed the explosion was