Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-06-05

Wilkes Barre Pa, June 5.-Seventy-
five to 100 mine workers were killed
and many others injured at the Balti.
more No. tunnel of the Delaware T.
Hudson Company near here early to-
day, when a ear of black powder at
tached to a train of cars on which the
miners were riding to their chambers
in the mine exploded.
An electric motor drew the cars and
broken trolley wire ignited the pow
der.
The accident occurred shortly before
o'clock. A train of empty cars was
sent to the mouth of the tunnel to take
the men to the chambers. More than
100 men piled into the cars. Near the
end Of the train was the car Of pow
der.
Fire Cause Of Fatalities.
When 200 feet in the tunnel the troll
ley wire broke and fell. Sparks .ignit-
ed the powder and instantly there was
an explosition which sent the bodies
OF the men, flying in all directions.
Flames caused the greatest loss of
life. Some men who were trying 20
reach safety died of suffocation.
When rescuers reached the tunnel
there were dead and dying bodies scat
tered everywhere. The injured were
rapidly removed and sent to hospitals
as soon as ambulances could be pro-
vided, while the dead were brought
out and placed In tiers on the train.
Bodies Mutilated.
Identification of the bodies is almost
impossible, many of them We're char
red almost beyond recognition. The
limbs of some and the heads of others
are missing.
Many Of the injured lived but short
time, and hundreds Of women. men
and children gathered about the tun-
mel. shrieking and crying as they lifted
the blankets from the bodies in their
efforts to identify relatives.
Accident Due to Law Violation.
Today's accident is said to be the re-
suit OF direct violation of the state
law. Permission. was given the men
to ride to their place of work and the
special train was provided for that
purpose. On the car of the special
train special seats We're built for the
miners. 1t is violation Of the state
mine law to carry powder on such
train. The law is specific that powder
and other explosives must be trans
ported alone.
Mine officials and state workers were
on the scene promptly. but their efforts
were directed solely to the work OF res
cue. There were enough men to meet
all needs of the work inside the mine,
but tie chief trouble during the early
hours was in getting nurses, doctors
and supplies.
Burning Bodies Brought Out.
Some Of the first bodies brought
from the tunnels were burning when
they reached the surface. Clothes had
been burned away and the flesh was
roasting from the intense heat. Water
was poured on these to put out %the
fire.
At TO-: 80 o'clock the company offici-
ais announced that scycnty-one men
were dead and thirty-f were in hos
pttals. 1t was stated that the death
list would increase. n
Company employees state, that there
is a "pull'' Of 10000 cubic feet Of air
per minute in the tunnel and that the
air pulled in the flames directly over
the men. Along the side Of the tun-
mel there Is a ditch, and at the flash
Of the flames some men VINO were
walking along the side OF the cars
dropped into the water and saved their
lives.
Explosion Did Not Kill.
Several employees state that 1t was
not the force Of the explosion that
killed the men. Flames and lack Of, air
caused all the fatalities. All admit
that the accident was tIfe .res -. 81 e y y
violation of the law. but they state tha,
miners are accustomed to these 4v;o-,
lations.
Thomas Dougherty, miner, and one
Of the survivors, was thrown out OF q
car and saved himself by jumping into
a ditch. He said:
I'VE were riding along about fifty
feet In the tunnel. There was a blind
ing flash. Il was thrown from the car
4 saw the water and hurled myself into
1t. Bodies were all about. Some i
know were dead, others were Giying.
The flames were terrific. We were ii,
q yeritable he'll. No man could pos
sibly hope;to escape to ifis relies miles.
he got In the water, buried his face
and rolled over and over ais SI did.
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