The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-03-03
ONE VAST TOMB
IS MINE NO. 8
Rescuers Returning From I'm
derground, Report Little
Hope for Men Still
Down There.
OUT CoRPsEs
Doubtful Now II There Is Single
Living Man In the SHAFT Which
Was Wrecked by the
Explosion.

limited Press Leased Wire Service
HINTON, w. Va, March 3.-Mi1e
No. 3 of the New River and Pocahon-
tas Consolidated Coal and Coke COM
pany at Layland is today a vast tomb
And many are its dead.
That Was the report brought to the
surface by small party OF rsscuers
that penetrated far into the main
passage of the mine and returned to
daylight with three bodies. They said
that it was doubtful if any living per-
son was still in the workings.
Ten living and eleven dead have
now been removed from the mine
leaving 161 still to be accounted for.
Nearly all these worked far down IN
the recesses shooting OF from the
main entry and 1t is not believed now
that any escaped Following the ex-
plosion that wrecked the mine. came
fire that swept it.
There was the further fear that
some Of the workers in Mine No 4
were caught and shrivelled by the
blast that tore throueh No. 8. Mine
No. 4 adjoins No. 3 and is connected
with it by open passages. Several Of
those who worked far down in No.
were said to be missing and an ac-
counting of workers Of both shifts
was being made.
Though officials OF the mine con-
tended that the explosion was light,
its force was suffacient to blow the
stone arch from the entrance OF the
mine aad cause the death OF negro
200 feet away. A dog belonging to
the negro. driver OF grocer's wagon.
was killed as 1t trailed him into the
home of miner to which he was de-
livering goods.
The rescuers were slowly and sys-
tematically going about their Work to-
day. The trained crew Of rescue car
No was at Layland assisting the
mine and volunteer corps there. It
reported the mine free from fire alG
all sections explored, but many evil
dences that the flames had swept into
nearly every Granny
Rescue work is now at standstill
and may not be resumed before late
this afternoon. With debris blocking
the entrances Of nearly all chambers
in the mine and the air SO rank that
it actually endangers life, It was found
necessary to suspend all efforts to
save life until the wreckage can be
removed and the air clarified.
Hope was about abandoned by the
watchers shortly after ten o'clock
when 100 collins We're received. More
are on the way to Layland, it was
said This was taken to indicate that
the rescue parties have learned more
than they have chosen to announce.
Seventeen Bodies Recovered.
LAYLAND. w. Va. March 3.-Sev-
enteen dead had been removed at II
o'clock today from Layland mine No.
8 of the New River and Pocahontas
Coke and Coal Co.,
wrecked by an explosion yesterday.
Nine miners had been rescued alive
and more than 100 were still in the
mine at that time.
Hope Of taking out any more alive
has been abandoned. A carload of
coffins is on the ground and a tempor-
ary morgue has been erected.
Federal rescue car No. was on the
scene and assisted in the rescue work.
Rescue parties worked in shifts to
reach the entombed men. On account
of distractions in the air way, caused
by the force of the explosion, the
of rescuers is impeded, bu.
the air condition in the mine is still
good with no fire Or after damp.
Rescue parties have penetrated the
entire mine except one entry where a
CONTINUED on page 2.)