The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-03-05
NO HOPE FOR
ENTOMBED
OFFICIALS AND RESCUERS
THINK LAYLAND MINERS
ARE DEAD
Thirty-fiye Bodies Have Been Re-
covered-BOdies Being Pre-
pared For Burial.

CHARLESTON. W. Va. March A.
Practically all hope OF finding any
more OF the entombed miners Ia the
exploded Layland mine OF the New
RIVER a POcahOntas Consolidated Coal
Company alive had been abandonsd
tonight when the list OF rescued
bodies had reached 30 II was stated
that ten miners had been taken from
} The mine alive the frst day after the
explosion, but only SIX OF them were
llFing TINS morning. the others having
died from their Injuries.
Most OF the dead were found in Sec
ton No. > OF the mine The rescucrs
were working through this section
and forcing the foul air and after-damp
ahead OF them and out through ar.
other opening. The inner workings
OF the mine were greatly damaged.
IN" force OF the explosion having
brought down avalanches OF slate and
coal. and many entries 10 rooms have
been choked so that the progress OF
the searchers has been slow and Is
very hazardous.
Prepared For Burial.
Following the arrival of a carload
OF collins at Layland. undertakers on
the ground began preparing the bodies
Tor burial as fast as they were
brought from the mine and dnen
turned them over 10 relatives when
identified. The art Of the undertakers
in treating the bodies Is said 10 make
the matter Of Identifying difficult. Ten
bodies were taken to Sinton this after
noon for burial.
There was much confusion to-dav
as TO the number of men who entered
the mine Thursday. After canvassing
the situation. the company made
known the names OF Ia men who
were employed in the workings af-
/ fected. Whether or not all Of them
were at work when the explosion oc-
I CURED officers OF the company ad-
mitted they were unable TO say. but
the opinion prevails al Layland that
perhaps twenty TO thirty men escaped
the disaster. No list of identified dead
has been received here
HINTON. W. Va. March 4-With
me possibility that the death list will
reach nearly $50. rescue crews today
continued the search Of the workings
OF the Layland mines wrecked BY an
explosion Tuesday morning Early
tonight p bodies had been recovered
The rescuers are making slow pro
gress, and believe they have overcome
the worst of the debris Recovered
bodies have To be carried half a mile
TO mile and half to the entrance.
around which crowds OF relatives and
friends OF the missing men remain ON
. continuous watch. house To house
canvass shows l5G men from Layland
entered the mine Tuesday n Is be
/ heved, how ever. that "a dozen or more
young men from surrounding towns
also were working. II is known sew
/ eral youths had obtained work in the
L-ayland drift when other mines
closed down temporarily some weeks
ago.
Ten bodies arrived here tonight for
/ interment in the Catholic cemetery.
I The work OF clearing mine No 3
was almost completed tonight The
! bodies recovered so far were all in
J this working Clearing OF mine No.
\ VIII BE- undertaken next
Earl Henry. chief OF the state de-
! partment OF mines. who is at the head
| OF the rescue work. said that only one
OF the bodies recovered had been mu-
& ulated. II had been struck by a
: piece OF wood. In most instances.
Chiet Henry said, the bodies were
found at the working places with
picks In hand or at the mining ma
chimes. One man was found sitting
down with his watch in his hand
Chief Henry stated that considerable
gas had been encountered as the res.
cuing parties went deeper.
II Is expected that the workings
Will not be cleared entirely until some
time next week.