The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1913-10-24
BAD AIR AND COAL
DUST DANGEROUS
Fire Breaks Out Shutting OFF Prin-
cipal Entry 26 are Rescued
-Deats Now Estimat-
ed at 260


Dawson, n. M., Oct. 2l.-Allan Bo-
gard and Jim Laird. helmeted rescu-
ers, died this morning while attempt
ing TO save imprisoned miners.
They had been working since s
O'Clock last night and refused to come
out when ordered. The air in the mine
was bad, imperiling 12O rescuers. In
an inner passage coal dust was thick
and there was danger OF another ex-
plosion. Fire started cutting off the
principal entry
At 10 o'clock 26 had been rescued
alive and AZ bodies recovered. 1t is
estimated that 260 perished, incIud-
ing the rescners.
In the mine at the time of the ex-
plosion we're 2S4 miners, and that the
death list will reach so great figure
is attributed to the fact that the great
fans which kept the air circulating
within the mine we're rendered useless
by the force of the explosion.
Harry p Mcshaw. son Of Mrs e. P.
McShaw OF New York city, widow of
former heavy stockholder in the
mine, is among the known dead Nc
Shaw, who was but 10 years old. had
come to the mine in which his faith
er's estate still held an interest in or.
der to learn mining from practical ex-
perience
j. c. Roberts, chief of the United
States mine rescue bureau in this dis
trict, arrived here yesterday and inn
mediately took charge Of the rescue
work Mr. Roberts stated that 1t was
impossible to tell what occasioned the
explosion. but that it was Of such vio-
lence as to cause him loss Of hope
for the rescue alive Of any more vie
tins.
Mr.. Roberts stated that many of the
dead yet in the mine undoubtedly suf-
focated some of the rescue parties
declared it their belief that party Of
the entombed miners had reached
room and had sealed it In time to
keep the gas from overcoming them.
The work Of rescue will continue
unabated until all of the bodies yet
within the mine shall have been re
covered.
Dr. S. p Morris. representative Of
this district Of the American Red
Gross society, reached here yesterday
fand at once made preparations to as
sist if necessary the families of the
victims of the explosion.
Gov. Mcdonald said the mine offic-
ials had given him every assurance
that all destitute families would be
amply provided for and that the com
pany would defray expenses of all
funerals. Orders on the company
store for an indefinite length of time
have been issued to the families Of
the entombed miners.
The mine was supposed to have
been one of the model mines in the
United States. and that such disas-
ter could befall the men within it had
been considered impossible. Only two
days before the tragedy State Mine
Inspector Biddow had examined the
: property and pronounced it in excel
lent condition
The explosion occurred at 3 O'Clock
S Wednesday afternoon, when all of the
E day shift was within the mine. Two
o miners We're at the high line or main
: entry for tram cars when the explos
+ ion caught them and they were buried
t under the debris at the mine opening
# One of them escaped, the other beinl
buried under the tram, where his bod
e was recovered a few hours later.