The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1901-1982, 1912-03-28
FNTOMbED MINERS
DOOMED TO DEATH
TERRIFIC Mine EXPLOSION
HORRIBLE DISASTER AT NC
CURTAIN, OKLA.-ONE HUN
DRIED ARE DEAD.

Fort Smith, March 21.-With a
mass of wreckage defying their eff
forts, a half hundred men are work
ing in relays to rescue from 60 to 100
miners imprisoned since early yester-
day morning by an explosion in mine
No. 2, of the Sans Bots Coal Com
pany, at McCurtain, Okla, 81 miles
west of Fort Smith. Thirteen men
have escaped alive from the mine, five
bodies have been recovered and Is
more have been located. All hope for
the entombed men has been abandon
ed and rs collins have been ordered
shipped to the grief-stricken mining
camp.
The Sans Bots Coal Company is
sued statement to the effect that 80
men were at work at the time of the
explosion. Other reports say more
than 100 were at work at the time.
"The condition of the mine cannot be
determined for several hours read
the statement. Last night officials in
tcharge of the governments mine res
cue car, which arrived from McAle
ter, stated there was no hope for the
entombed men.
| Eight men at mork in the mule sta
bles escaped through the passage used
by the cars. A slight jar, followed by
a cloud of smoke, told them of the
disaster. Rescuers found five other
miners badly injured lying in a
wrecked entry. Three of these proba-
IDLY will die. What caused the explo-
sion is not knokn. Either gas or coal
dust, say the government mine ex-
perts, is responsible. The body of
John Golwas, aged II years, trap
per boy, was first recovered. 1t was
found two hours after the explosion,
frightfully burned. The first rescue
party entered the mine at noon. 1t
was composed of A. Brown, superin-
tendent of the mine; George Hutchin-
son and Ben Fairimond. This party
was able to reach the sixth level or a
distance of 900 feet from the en-
trance,
The explosion occurred at 9:15 yes
terday morning. The impact carried
away the tipple and damaged the fan
house so badly that it was not until
six hours had elapsed that a small
quantity of air could be forced into
the pit. The explosion, according to
authorities, occurred between the
sixth and eighth levels. Three
fourths of the miners were at work
below these levels, and the fact great
ly decreases the chances for recovery
of the men.
The first body recovered was found
buried, beneath the wreckage in the
shaft. The man was burned almost
beyond recognition. With jar that
felt like an earthquake McCurtain
was thrown into bedlam of excite
meent with the first indication of the
CAplOSlOA lHC cAplOSlou away
the tipple and part of the fan house.
A thin veil of smoke Immediately be-
gan creeping out of the shaft. A hur-
RED call was issued for volunteers
and first rescue party crept into the
mine at half an hour after the explo-
sion. At the bottom of the pit they
met men cropping about in the smoke,
which momentarily became more
dense. The rescuers dragged them
forth. The men were almost suffocat-
ed
A couple of hundred feet from the
entrance the rescuers found the body
of a dead man. Apparently his
clothes had become ignited and he had
started to run to the entrance, when
he was buried by a cave-in. When
the rescue party and the rescued min
ers reached the opening the mine be-
gan to cave in and the shaft became
choked with a stream of the thick
black, sickening smoke. The collapse
of the mine further precludes the pos
sibility of rescuing the entombed men.