The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-04-25
NINE LIFE SAVERS
VERY BRAVE men
Rescue Work under Federal
Supervision is One of
Fine Success.

4 lHe nOsL naLaruOuB 0ceupatiO
known to man is that OF life-sayer in
the service of the United States Bu-
reau Of Mines. 1t is popularity sup
lposed that deep sea diving has the
highest mortality rate among all the
dangerous callings, but it is not to
be compared with rescue work. In
the first year of this service two out
OF twenty-four experienced miners
employed by the bureau in this des-
perate work, have given their lives
attempting to save others. Seven
others have fallen unconscious in
the poisonous vapors OF the mines
and have been rescued only after
the most heroic efforts of their COM
rades, and then resuscitated by the
use OF the modern oxygen apparatus
in the skfllful hands OF the en-
ployees of the bureau.
statisticans have cold, calcu-
lating method OF finding the com
ipartive risk of the different indus
tries and they usually figure on the
number OF men killed per 1000 en-
ployed in years time. Ont this
basis, the mortality rate among the
Bureau of Mines rescuers is eighty
in 1000 men-the highest death
rate known to any occupation.
With such fearful record before
them. it might be thought that
miners would hesitate about en-
gaging in such business, but this
F., is not the case. Miners are as brave
a body OF men as can be found in
any industry, and those who have
been trained in rescue work by the
Bureau of Mines and have sought
employment as life-savers, are i'm
bued with the spirit that they are
engaged in a great work, which
promises within a few years to ma
Iterially reduce the disgraceful death
rate in American mines.
That the life-savers have made a
good beginning is shown in the rec
ords of the Bureau of Mines. In the
period OF one year, forty entombed
miners have been rescued directly
through the efforts of the bureaus
men and perhaps as many more by
individual miners who were trained
in rescue work by the Bureau OF
Mines. Best of all, the federal res
cuers have stopped the death roll
among volunteer life7savers at dis
asters. In the past, it is said that
rescuer has given up his life for
every man saved. Forty rescuers
were killed at Hanna, Wyoming, two
years ago, trying TO save fourteen
entombed men. At the Cherry mine
fire in Illinois, twelve volunteers who
went into the mine were brought
up on the cage lifeless.
Since the Bureau of Mines took
up this great work, but one yolun-
teer rescuer in the last eight or ten
disasters has lost his life. and this
was hero in Colorado who loaned
his helmet to dying miner. The
latter was saved. but the rescuer
was found dead where he had given
Eup his helmet,
In the accomplishment of this, as
said before, the Bureau of Mines
has had two martyrs-Joseph Evans,
of Wilkesbarre, Pa, at the Pancoaht
colliery fire, Throop, Pa, April Z,
1911. and John Terrell, Ellsworth,
Pa, at Are in the Cherry Valley
mine, Washington, Pa, January 10,
1912. Evans, who had been an ex-
prienced miner and mine foreman
for years, had been trained by the
Bureau OF Mines and had charge OF
the mine rescue car that responded
to the call for aid. He lost his life
While pressing forward in the suffo-
eating gases to locate entombed
miners and bring them to place
of safety. All indications show that
Evans died from exertlon in his
heroic efforts to save the lives OF
men, some of whom he had known
personally. having worked as a
miner in that section of the coal
fields.
Terrell was exploring a burning
mime with the idea OF determining
whether it was safe for the miners
to enter when he met death. He
had gone into the mine with an.
other federal rescuer who had be
come effected by the gases and who
had told Terrell that he intended tc
get to the fresh air as soon as posi-
BILE. The second rescuer staggered
family out OF the mine. but Ferrel
failed to follow as he had promised
Another bureau rescuer alarmed a
the failure OF Terrell to appear wel
in search OF him. Later he returned
md fall unconsctons paronI