The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-06-05

plosion and fire today and thirty -one
were injured, according to list
given out by the company officials at
noon.
Forty one bodies have been~identi-
fed and thirty-six remain unidenti-
fed. The companys injured list is
not complete and It Is certain the
number of injured will reach about
forty.
The disaster, with one exception.
was the greatest shat has ever oe-
Cured in this vicinity.
More than hundred workers were
crowded into the mine cars, drawn by
a motor. The rear car carried twelve
kegs of black powder used for blast
ing coal. The trolley wire snapped
when the train had gone about 200
feet from the entrance and sparks ig-
nited the. powder.
In an instant virtually every man
on the train either was dead or ia
tally injured. Mangled bodies were
found everywhere by the rescue crews
which instantly rushed into the mine.
Fire fighters, working frantically,
succeeded in an incredibly short time
in subduing the flames which followed
the blast.
Then came the gruesome work of
taking out dead and injured. Those
who had not already succumbed were
so badly burned or injured that in
nearly every case death is a matter
of only a short time.
The accident resulted from care
lessness and violation of mine laws
of the state. One of the most dras-
tic provisions of the anthracite mine
code Is the section forbidding the
transportation of men on car or
train which carries explosives. In
vestigation viii disclose whether the
men or the company is responsible for
violation of the law.
Killed Outright:
Wilkes Barre, Pa, June 5.-Sixty
men were killed and forty others in.
iured, some severely, when car or
black powder was exploded in the
Baltimore No. 2 tunnel of the Della
ware & Hudson company at East
End. this city, today.
The accident happened shortly be-
fore o'clock while the men were be-
ing taken to their places of employ
ment. A trip of empty cars was
provided to convey them down by an
electric motor with John McGroarty
driving.
Into these cars the 100 happy work
men were crowded and near the rear
of the train was a car of black pow
der
When 200 feet inside the tunnel the
electric trolley wire fell, sparks from
it ignited the powder and the eXplo-
sion that followed blew the men in
all directions. More men died from
flames and suffocation than from the
force of the explosion.
The force of the explosion was ter
rifle. 1t was felt in all parts of the
city and was heard for miles around.
When rescuers got into the tunnel,
dead men were found everywhere.
Some had, been slightly burned and
sought to get to safety, but suffo-
Gated. Others were burned almost to
a crisp. Here and there were others
moaning and crying.
Within an hour and a half after
wards most of the injured lad been
removed. The dead were brought to
the surface and placed in tiers along
the green.
Calls went out for aRbulances,
doctors and nurses, but because Of
the early hour it was difficult to get
big force at once. The hospitals
began to crowd. Morgues were filled.
Women Faint.
MANY of the 6niured lived only a
short time Hundreds of men. women
and children gathered about the tun-
mel and shrieking and CRYING. they
lifted the blankets from the men, Ter
rified at the sights. women tainted.
men lost their nerve and children
Ran away in fright The bodies of
scores we're removed IN the morgues.
There the work of identification was
beinp carried ont with little success.
Brave men and women were seeking
70 Aid the relatives. to give them
news hut the scene was pitYul.
- 90 ,ia d
mere were SCORES y. wluo"s anu
orpnahs ds d lesuit VI .ouas
tlophe, the sleatIst IIlS sealon VI
the ahthFaclle coal lelu mas seeh'
Violation OF State Law.
Today's accident was the result of
violation of the state law. Permls-
sion was given the men to ride the
trip to their place of work and spe-
cial train was provided for that pur-
pose. On these cars special seats
would increase.
Company employees said there is a
pull of $4,000 cubic feet of air per
minute in the tunnel and that the air
drew the flames from the powder df-