The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1914-04-30
LITTLE HOPE FOR
100 MEN IN MINE
RESCUE PARTY OF STATE MINE
OFFICIALS UNABLE TO ENTER.
ONLY ELEVEN BODIES FOUND
Dust Explosion In Mine at Eccles,
West Virginia, Yesterday is Sec
ond Largest Disaster in His
tory Of That State.

CharleStown, w Va, April ga
rescue party headed by officials of the
state mining department was unable
to enter Nc. mine of the New River
Coal Co. at EcCles today and little
hope was left for the 100 men en-
tombed yesterday by an explosion of
dust. Eleven bodies have been TAX
en- from No. 6 mine and many injured
have been taken out.
The disaster, the second largest in
the mining history of West Virginia,
was caused by gas explosion in the
COO foot level of mine No. S. 1t was
followed five minutes later by a sec
ond explosion which wrecked this
mine and partially demolished No. s
connecting operation.
One hundred and ninety men we're
at work in No. 5, and not one of them
reached the surface. The mine i'm
mediately caught fire and attempts at
rescue work were futile.
Governor Hatfield, of West Virgin.
la, high officials of the company, to-
gether with the government and state
mine experts, are at the mines rem
dering all possible assistance.
While the loss of life will be
heavy there Is a relief for the famil-
les of tho victims that was not in
force when former disasters occurred
The new woIkmen's compensation
act provides $40 month for the wild
ows of the dead and each of the sur
viving children not to exceed three,
is entitled to S. a month.
Death in each case was due to suf
location, an indication that the dead
ly gases got In their work before the
flames.
This little mining community of
1.500 persons was shaken by the muf-
fed rumbling of the explosion which
brought the entire population to the
tipples of the mines.
Early Reports.
Bluefelds, W. Va. April 29.-Two
hundred and sixty miners ere believed
to be victims of an explosion In the
shaft of the Raleigh Coal company,
near Eccles, W. Va,
There we're two blasts. debris shoot
ing hundreds OF feet from the mouth
of the shaft, which took fire imme-
diately after, the flames cutting on
escape of any who may have survived
the explosion and fumes.
Families OF the entombed men
rushed to the edge of the pit, many
women threatening to throw them
selves into the fiery mass.
Government expert rescue men are
rushing to the scene and everything
possible at the mine Is being done to
save any entombed who may be alive:
II is believed. however. that nops
will live OF the two shifts that yere
in the mine at the time of tbS ex-
plosion. n
The mine is owned by tFs Gusen-
helm interests.
Three men were pulled out Of shaft
No more dead than alive. They
we're a considerable distance from the
point OF explosion but were SO badly
burned that 1t Is said that they cannot
live.
Shifts were just being changed at
the time of the accident, making the
number OF men beneath the ground
much larger than az other times.
The first roar was heard at 2:3O
,. m. and soon afterwards flames were
shooting high in the air from the shaft
mouth, adding greatly to the horror
of the occurrence.
Both mines, Nos. and 6, were com,
paratively new. Up to eight O'Clock
rescuers had brought from the gaseous
mine torn and burned 81 men, all liv
ing, but badly injured. Seven dead
bodies had been recovered.
No. 6 mine Is cleared and the res
cuers are working to reach mine No
through No. SIS walls, where there
are lis men.
Gov. H. D. Hatfield and party left
Charleston on special train and are
now on the scene.