Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1913-04-30
HUNDRED LIVES ARE LOST.
Fearful Gas Explosion In PennsyIva-
MIA Coal Mines.

VI hi'hSicb Ppcoib'y Nv, pdiu
the toll shortly after noon to-day of
a disastrous explosion in the Cincin-
natl mine of the Monongahela River
Consolidated Coal and Coke Company
at ~Finleyville, Pa. Over three score
of workmen in the mine made thrill
ing escapes, crawling most of the
time IN their hands and knees
through deadly gas fumes and over
debris.
Up to. II o'clock tonight seventy
bodies of victims had been recovered.
The bodies were located by rescuing
squads of the United States bureau
of miIfes, the Monongahela Coal and
Coke Company, and of the Pittsburgh
Coal Company.
AS the C found bodies they
were carried to the entries. None Of
the bodies, however, was brought to
the open.
Preparations are being made. to
handle the dead. Box cars have
been ordered to a mine siding. The
III Diou.olS Will DO I'd KEN lIOIl
the mine at daylight tomorrow and
shipped at once to Monongahela City,
where they are to be prepared for
burial.
Rescue work is hampered by af-
terdamp. Fire, which followed the
explosion, has been completely sub
dued, it is said.
A Tale of Terror.
Robert Carten, a track layer who
escaped, tonight told the following
story: II had been working at the
head of No. 16 entry. After eating
lunch | resumed work at 1890 and
had driven only two spikes when the
explosion occurred. The conclusion
knocked me down and | was uncon-
scious for Is minutes. Others
quickly arrived where | was. Fol-
lowed by about rs men l. started
down No. 8 motor road, one of the
main roads Of the mine. We had not
gone far before we found there was
so much smoke we could go no fur
Their. We tried No. 7 motor road
and found this also choked with
smoke and debris. Less than 100
feet in No. 16 entry we found our
way blocked. We turned back and
had penetrated No. Is entry some
distance when we were again blocked
by debris.
II found a hole at the top of the
debris. / crawled through this on
my stomach for a distance of 200
feet and the others followed. Finally
l reached No. 4 motor road, which
was clear. l could not hear those
behind. After a time | reached the
surface.
Later the other men reached the
opening. All were i'll and dazed on
account of the fumes"
Two-thirds of the dead are foreign.
The Cincinnati mine, it is claimed,
has been known as being gaseous
Three years ago there was a gas ex-
blown through the tipple and half
way across the Monongahela river.
The mine is among the oldest in the
Monongahela valley, having been in
operation at least so years.
10 Bodies Recovered.
Pittsburgh, April 24.-At an early
hour to-day rescue parties had re-
covered Is bodies Of mincrs who
lost their lives yesterday in an ex-
plosion in the Cincinnati mine of the
MOnongahela River Coal and Coke
Company at ~Finleyville.
The exact number OF dead is not
known, but from figures obtained
from the check weighman OF the
mine and Charles NJ. Johnson, gene
raj counsel of the company, the num-
Der is placed at between 100 and
1855.
According to the statement Of the
attorney there were 1872 men on the
pay roll of the company. lie said
that it was not improbable thaC all
Of the men were in the mine at the
time of the explosion.
The check weighman stated that
according to his figures there were
1i9 leaders, 81 miners, two motor
men,, two snappers and IS trackmen
in the mine. His figures, however.
do not include fire bosses, foremen
and assistant foremen. There were
76 men, who escaped, g. out of the
Mingo entrance and 81 out Of the
Courtney entrance.