The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1911-12-10
BAD ACCIDENT At
TENNESSEE MINE
s,7}
SCENE AMONG WIVES AND Chill
DREN AROUND SHAFT
BEGGARS DESCRIPTION.
United States Mine Rescue Troops are
Rushed to Aid of Imprisoned Men.
Explosion, Caused by Dust, Two
Miles from Entrance.

Knoxville, Tenn, Dec. 9.-Between
140 and 200 men are entombed and
probably dead in the Cross Mountain
mine of the Knoxville Iron Company
at Briceville, near here, as the result
of what is thought to have been a
dust explosion far under ground at
7.20 o'clock this morning.
The work of their rescue is thwart-
ed by cave-in encountered by par
ty which proceeded into the mine a
distance of about one mile.
Until the arrival of federal experts
with oxygen helmets and other mine
rescue apparatus, which are expected
1t may not be possible to effect an
entrance into what it is feared will
prove a chamber of horrors.
Gases and emanating from the main
entrances gave rise to early reports
of fire raging in the mine, but this
was subsequently denied.
Three men in one of the shafts es-
capped just after the explosion and re-
ported that they had observed no un-
usual conditions previous to the blast.
1t is thought that if the 1escuers
are unable to reach the imprisoned
Ediihers through the two main shafts
they may be reached by an abandon
ed entry on an opposite side of the
mountain.
The town of Briceville is in a cha
otic state as a result of the explosion.
At 10 o'clock it had been almost
definitely determined that at least 100
men and boys had entered the mine
prior to the blast Mine officials were
hopeful of rescuing the majority Of
these workers, but as the minutes
dragged on and no report came from
any of the rescue parties, doubt grew
among the throng that had congregat-
ed at the mine entrance.
The rumble of the explosion
brought great crowds of townspeople
to the mine opening. Company Off
cials made immediate preparations to
organize rescue operations.
Briceville is in the grip of confus-
ion, and it is expected another half
hour or even more would pass before
a crew would be able to attempt the
rescue of the entombed miners.
President Stephenson Talks.
T. I. Stephenson, president of the
Knoxville Iron company, which owns
and operates the Cross Mountain
mines at Briceville, in one of which
the explosions occurred this morning,
left Knoxville for Briceyille at 1890
aboard a special train operated over
the Southern railway for the scene of
the explosion Accompanying Presi-
dent Stephenson We're George Chand-
Ter and w. H. Storrs and E. B. SUIT
ton, in charge of the local mine res
cue station, and E. M. Owens, helmet
operator The party expected to reach
the scene of the explosion in several
hours. The rescue workers have four
helmets, a resuscitating apparatus,
three oxygen bottles, lamps and other
apparatus This is Mr.. Sutton's first
call to an explosion since he has been
in charge of the local station.
Concerning the explosion Of this
morning, President Stephenson said
just before leaving: 81 know little
about the explosion. received tele-
phone message this morning about s
o'clock to the effect that there was a
slight explosion at the Cross Mountain
mine. I have not the slightest idea OF
the cause of the explosion, as every
thing was in first-class condition.
Late Train Saves Miners.
2 'My foreman stated in his telephone
message that the explosion occurred
back in the mines some distance, but
how far he did not know. The first
that anyone knew of the explosion, he
said. was from slight conclusion and
smoke was seen coming out Of an all
shaft. / think there were few meI
in the mine at the time of the ex-
plosion. A large number of the en-
ployes, who totaled about 200, come
from other sections around Briceville
and 1 understand that several Of the
work trains that bring them in were
late this morning. I don't believe the
explosion was serious from the fac
that there was no disturbance what
q. ever at the mouth of the mine. Hac
the explosion been very serious thF
mouth of the mine would have beer
shaken up. About 200 miners are EN-