The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-04-29


miners were entombed yesterday.
ECLES, w Va, April 29.-Prac-
tically all hope that any of the 1856
men entombed by an explosion in
mine No 5 OF the New River Col
leries Co, here, are alive, was aban-
doned at 9 a. m today. Frantic et-
forts at rescue were still progressing
at that hour, but with little promise
OF an entrance through the gas-filled
and debris-choked shaft before late
this afternoon.
The death toll OF one OF West Nir.
ginias worst mine disasters viii
reach 20t according TO conservative
estimates today.
Several men aG,e still unaccounted
for In mine No &, wrecked by an ex-
plosion shortly following that which
brought death far underground TO the
men In No. 8. Twelve bodies have
been taken from this shaft and 60
men rescued alive, a full score OF
them horribly burned.
Throughout the night and long after
dawn, 200 wives and widows
and orphans without doubt-but still
clinging TO a faint thread of hope. sur
rounded the rope enclosure that Kept
them back from the entrance TO mine
No. s. The walls and means OF the
bereayed ones served to hasten the
work OF rescue. but deadly gas fumes
issuing from the pit drove back the
rescuers time and time again. MOST
of the dead are foreigners.
With Gov. H. ID. Hatfield and other
state officials on the scene today an
investigation OF the disaster was all
ready 10 proceed, Chief Mine IN
spector Earl Henry was expected 10
begin the examination or witnesses
this afternoon.
n. c. Bayless. general manager OF
the New River companys MINES
said early today he believed the ex'
plosion was caused by dust and that
he had no hope for the safety OF any
OF the entombed men.
Poth mines have long been listed
as gaseous and fire boss" has been
constantly on watch.
The first explosion occurred at the
E0O-foot level of the No. 5 mine, and
was OF such force that hosting ma
chinery above the shaft opening was
wrecked. An instant later lesser
explosion occurred in No. 6 mine at
the 30O-foot level Rescues OF men
in this mine were effected by the
crew OF the rescue car OF the Pawama
Coal company, which was rushed
from Matoaka and by volunteers from
Beckley.
Rescue work r. in charge OF Earl
Henry, chief mine inspector OF the
state mine department, who arrived
last night on a special train with Gov.
Hatfield. DR.. J. II. Mccullough. chief
examiner under the workmen's COM
pensation law, and Chief Clerk w. l..
Thomas.
The crew OF a federal mine rescue
car is also at work The disaster was
said today 10 be the worst In West
Virginia since December 1907, when
266 miners lost their lives at Monon-
gah in the Fairmont coal field.
Men in No. 6 mine were burned in
the backfre from the effects OF the
explosion In No. because Of the con.
Meeting air shaft 1t is through this
air shaft that rescuers hope TO be
able 10 enter the No. mine.
The frst explosion occurred on the
500-foot level and experts say the
comparatively slight loss OF life in
the adjoining shaft was due to the
fact that the men In the No mine
were working at higher level There
IS little hope for the men entombed in
mine No 5.
The dead. whose bodies have been
recovered. are:
T. @. Llngenman. mine foreman: A.
W. Broughman. chief electrician:
Carl v Darden, % electrician: 10.
seph n. Carper % Henry McMil
lion: william Bostic: ID. l.. Phillips;
an unidentified Negro, and two un.
identified Hungarians
Bus:aess-ItEc Printing. No fuss and
no feathers The plain. neat kind that
looks rfRhf Times PrtuffUn CO IA