The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-17
Three Others Badly In
Jured While at Work
In Shaft.
NO WITNESS LEFT
TO GIVE DETAILS
Theory Is That William Don
nelly Fired Hole Which Con
tanned Gas-Rescuing Party,
Quickly on Scene, Over
come by Fumes-To
Hold Inquest To-Day.

sax men were killed instantly and
three badly injured yesterday after
noon at 3 o'clock by dust explos-
ION two thousand feet from the en-
trance of Mine No. at the Gayton
Coal Mines. in Henrico county, sixteen
miles from Richmond.
The dead.
William Donneliy. white. thirty -avs
years old, shot fireman.
George Dolisch. Po.e, twcntv-nvc,
driver.
Henry Dnlups, colorcd. forty. mIu-
Norman cndc. coiored. forty-thrce.
nincr.
Matthew Butt.. colorcd. tveuty-sev.
en-. brnttice
silns Williams. coiored, ffty-h,c,
iuincr.
The injured:
William Litton, colored, forty-Gvc,
miner.
Isinuh Florence. colored, thirty. min
Howard Williams, coIorcd. cishtccu,
driver.
According to statement made last
night by General Superintendent =. q.
MCGOWAN. the explosion was evident
~ caused by Donnelly. when ne nred
a hole which had gas III it. This APP
pears to be the only explanation OF
the cause OF the disaster. as no open
lamps are used in that section OF the
shaft. the workmen being permltter
10 carry with them only those known
rs safeties.
Blown In All Directions.
Tho explosion occurred III the entry
OF the second-left gangway. OFT No. 5
slope. where the nine men were at
work. 1t is said to haze taken plac.
when Donneliy hred charge OF pow
der The nine men were blown in all
directions. and those who escaped
with injuries were Immediately over
come by the after damp.
y rescue party was formed BY SUI
rerintendent MCGOWAN. He led them
down the shaft more than two thou
sand feet crom the entrance ana about
eight hundred feet below the surface.
vas necessary TO use compressed air
TO Clear away the flmas This work
was SLOW. and venturims too near tho
gases. MCGOWAN was overcome. Other
members OF the party quickly brought
Him to the entrance. and he was
surgeon OF the Old Dominion Develop
ment Company. AS so5r as he re-
covered MCGOWAN fastened bacl. intI
the mine. Several OF the rescuers wera
also overcome by the afterdamp.
To Hold Inquest To-Day.
1t was quickly seen that only three
o the nine men We're alive. They wcre
treated a once and removed TO their
homes at the camp. TIE bodies were
removed almost 10 the entrance OF this
shaft, where they VIII remain until
this morning. when they Will be view
I'd by DR.. J. Fulmer bright county
coroner Coroner Bright Will summon
u jury at 10 o'ciock fcr the purpose
of conducting an inquiry into tho
case.
The explosion was said by Outside
superintendent F.. z. Gaines 10 bs
purely local and confined entirely to
the second shaft entry.
When seen last night Mr. MCGOWAN
was confined to his bed and under the
treatment OF Dr. Trice as a result of
his experience. While barely able TO
speak he said that he deeply inn
pressed with the marked willingness
displayed by all the miners in aid
ing in the rescue work which is al
ways dangerous
DonuclIy Took IL Chance.
II feel certain' he said. that tho
explosion was due TO DonneHy TAX
ing d chance in firing the hole which
contained gas. This brought on the
fatal dust explosion. we maintain
daily inspection of all parts Of the
mines. and where sas-pockets arc
found they are posted with a warning
TO the men TO keep away. and man
is stationed nearby to enforce this
warning The powder which We used
is known as a permissible explosive,
and Endorsed by the United states
Bureau Of Mines. II cannot be fired
without fusr.
we have already begun the work
OF clearing away the wreckase. OF
which there was astcnishinsiy little.
The property damage wll bo slight.
Or Bright VIII begin his investigation