The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-17
Box of Dynamite Set Off
by Conclusion 8OOFeet
Below Ground.
OTHERS HURT, BUT
NONE FATALLY
Tunnel Contractors Men Eyi.
IDENTIFY Failed to Remove Ex-
Plosive Before Blast-One
Italian, Given Up for DEAD,
Saved by Heroic Res
cue Work.

TWO Italians Jeesf Pctrucc and
G'useppi Piccone. who came here from
Rhode Island OH Sunday with Vincent
Lasco. tunnel contractor, were In
stantly killed and five others were
burned or more or less seriously in.tg
1ured. by dynamite explosion in tho
dayton Mines yesterday afternoon ut
8 o'clock. Up to $3.50 o'clock last night
It was officially reported that three
had been killed, but the fine rescue
work by the Old Dominion Develop
ment Companys stan brought ono
man. who was supposed to be dead, to
tho surface. very much alive. Though
badly hurt 1t is expected that he Will
live So
Came With FIRST Hast.
The accident. however was nor due
10 any Hrc-damp or other troubIn
which might have been avoided. In
order to provide additional ventilation.
the company gave tho contract to
Lasco. an experienced contractor, to
cut tunnel 100 feet long, and tho
hnal connecting link was about to be
made 1t was necessary to use dyna.
mite, and Lasco was preparing to nre
the first blast yesterday. Alter tho
mole had been drilled and filled, Jameu
MCGOWAN, the mine superinl endent,
gave him orders not to explode II un.N
I'll he was there to supervise it ana
when he was certain that everybody
was out OF danger. The tunnel Is 500
feet below ground.
Fifteen minutes before the accident
superintendent MGGownn had got
nearly all OF his men out. Lasco was
Instructed to use tho utmost care. ou,
In some way his men neglected to re-
move q box OF dynamite nearby, and
when the hrst charge was rired there
was violent report II ID believed
that the box of dynamite was exploded
by the concusslon.
Relief Quickly Given.
Just as soon as It became known
above that somebody had been killed
or hurt. relief bodies went to work i'm
mediately. Superintendent MCGOWAN
was picked up unconscious, but when
he was removed he quickly revived, and
1t wac stated last night that he would
suffer no bad results.
Telephone calls we're sent at once
to the city for physicians, and Dr.
Hugh ~ Taylor was early on the scene.
The Injured were given prompt inedi-
cal attention. and while the full eX-
tent of their injuries Is not known,
1t IL not believed that any will prove
fatal.
officers of the company got into COM
municati with the county coroner
and Informed him that two men had
been killed. putting before him all the
facts In their possession. 1t is likely
that an inquest will be held to-day
Lasco Not Near at Time.
inc men who were killed were en-
ployed By Lasco on the tunnel WORK.
AS stated above. they came hero with
him this week from Rhode Island, but
did not bring their families with them.
AS lar as could be ascertained. both
were unmarried.
Lasco was not In tho mine where
his men were working when the whole
place was filled with smoke and hyinS
debris by the explosion, though hls
assistant. who was directing the lob,
was there. and escaped with minor
bruises The helpers. who were put In
the injured list. suffered most from
burns.
The rescue work was started with
such system and rapidly THAI there
was little or no excitement about the
mines, especially when IL became
known that the tompany's regular
miners were nos within reach OF oan-
ger.
Just how Lasco's men overlooked the
DON of dynamite may never be known.
The box Itself could not be found Iaat
night, which ADDS TO the belief that IL
exploded y full investiga ton has
been ordered by the Old Dominion Do
Veiopnent Company, which operates tha
property.
Inc mine itself was in no way dam
aged. and work can be resumed this
morning None of the company's regu-
Jar men was hurt. but those injured
who canno; be properly treated al The
n ,,.nI VI
To some hospital in Richmond. Mid
night reports indicated that all would
recover President Woolfolk, who was
on the ground, gave his ners NAL atten
lion 10 the injured and made q careful
examination OF the mine