The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1913-04-25
One HUNDRED DIE
I'm BIG COAL Mine
tSes .-odies Recovered From
Pennsylvania Coal Pit, Wrecked
by Explosion of Deadly Gas.

ny EAplOSloh ol Dcduly UdS.
Pittsburg, April 24.-The lives of
100 miners, possibly 120, paid the
toll shortly after noon yesterday of
a disastrous explosion in the Gin
cinnati mine of the Monongahela
River Consolidated Coal and Coke
Company at Finleyville, Pa. Over
three score of workmen in the mine
made thrilling escapes, crawling
most OF the time on their hands and
knees through deadly gas fumes
and over Debris.
Up to IL O'Clock last night 70
bodies of victims were located by
rescuing squads of the United States
bureau Of mines, the Monongahela
River Consolidated Coal and Coke
Company and of the Pittsburg Coal
Company.
AS the rescuers found bodies they
were carried to the entries. None
of the bodies, however, were
brought to the open.
Preparations are being made to
handle the dead. Box cars have
been ordered to a mine siding. The
victims probably will be taken from
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.
RESCUE WORK HARD.
Rescue work was carried on with
difficulty owing to the fire and
deadly fumes. The coal company
maintains rescue corps patterned
after the mine force of the United
federal mining experts, it is said,
was declined by the coal company.
Only a few of the miners who
reached the surface could talk. Suf-
fering from burns or fright the min
ers only knew that an explosion had
occurred and that a large number
OF men are either killed by the ex-
plosion or asphyxiated by the after
damp.
Several hours after the explosion
seven foreign miners crawled from
one OF the entrances. All were SER
iously burned. They could give no
connected account of conditions In
the mine. They all said the mine
is full of dead.
Relatives and friends of the min
. aSs rbeneath the earth are frantic.
.-scsMany OF them had to be restrain
ed. After time a guard was plac-
ed completely around the entrances
to the mine and all persons except
rescuers and mine officials were held
at distance.
A TALE OF TERROR.
Robert Carter, track layer who
escaped, last night told the follow
ing story: 81 had been working at
the head OF No. 16 entry. After
eating lunch / resumed work at
1880 and had driven only two
spikes when the explosion occurred.
The concussion knocked me down
and L was unconscious for Is min
utes. Others quickly arrived where
l was. Followed by about 25 men
L started down No. 8 motor road,
one OF the main roads of the mine.
we had not gone far before we
round there was so much smoke we
could go no further. We tried No.
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 turn
ed back and had penetrated No. Is
entry some distance when we were
again blocked by debris.
Il found hole at the top of the
debris. l crawled through this on
my stomach for distance of 200
feet and the others followed. Fin
ally l reached No. motor road.
which was clear. / could not hear
those behind. After a time / reach
ed the surface.
Later the other men reached the
opening. All were i'll and dazed on
account OF the fumes"
relief train from this city with
government experts and equipment
arrived at the mine shortly before
o'clock last night. Immediately a
hrst aid corps entered the Mingo
entrance and another the Courtney
entrance. The work of rescue was
carried on with difficulty.
Carolina and GenrUia yUuI oa 20