The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-07-20
SEEKING NINE
ENTOMBED MEN
Rescuers Expect to Reach
Victims of Mine Explosion
Before DAYLIGHT

Pittsburgh. July l9-Thc rescue
crew OF the bureau OF mines station at
Pittsburgh and volunteers, continued
10 work tonight n an effort 10 reach
the nine men who were cntombed by
an explosion IN the mine OF the Union
CollierieS company az RentOn, eighteen
miles from here carly today.
Members OF rescue crew said ton!ghc
that the cage OF the mine had been re-
paired, and that they expected 10 pene-
trate the debris a: the bottom Of the
shat before daylight.
Officials Of the Union company an
nounCed tonight that they had aScer-
tanned that nine men had been entomo-
ed instead OF eight. as reported today.
The missing Include three tre bosses,
three bumpers and three laoorerS.
As soon as the Gaze was repaired late
today. a mine rescue worker. carrying l
canary bird, was lowered INTO the smart
n distance OF more than 500 feet. He
was pulled up in ten minutes ana As
the bird showed no IL effects OF thS
trip members OF the rescue crew sad
the mine was free from gas and nre:
They explained that the bird was used
as a gas and fire test.
Mike Thomas. 4 lampmaN, VINO was
or duty when the explosion occurred
sa,d today that shortly after the nine
men went into the mine on tour o!
inspection. he received z telephone caIl
from John Lucman. fire boss, VINO "aS
with the party IN the mine. LuSHIaI,. Lu'i
d
so that they could sc; light. Thomas
said ne informed Lutman that II was
against orders TO turn on the power;
hut nc added. when the fire boss t9.I
him there was TO danger ne cotnps!sH
With the request. \ few moments later
mo explosion occurred. Thomas said.
Slow Progress.
Midnight found the rescuers woTN!hs *
hard 10 fight their way through l.'
mass OF twisted wreckagc at the bot
tom Of a shaft. but those who came %
the surface during the nisht rcportsu
that the progress was SLOW. The res
cucrs were hghc!ag the oarr'cr IN
shifts. and while some tlnpESSS'oa, "a ''A'. -
would be some time before they would
reach the inner workings, from "h'tA
point they hoped 10 work their way 10
Sae entomocd men. 49, A,o,
\ Up 10 midnight nothing mad 1Sn
Ssard Of the nine men trapped by Hhr
rxnIosion but the absence OF gas ana
fire gave the rcSCuers some hope tAaI
they would md them alive. IL was eN,
plalned that the mine spreads 60
Instance from the Two shafts. the on.y
entrances 10 the workings. and som.
r,ernhers Of the rescue crew SAID thst II
the nine workers had not been NlI1ed y
,ne explosion they might have slCEeu'
I'd In reaching point IN the m!np
- trrsh air reached them. Olaee
r,"r,hers ~ tho crew said they doubted
,bat the entonbed men could De- brought
out alive. = -, 49,, .x.
nroslon. a volunteer who went down me
sLaFt tonight said. when ne returned
80 surface that a seTer-ton mtnC
iocon,o,ivc. used for hauling strings OF
,,arx Sas overturned rear the point
where the rescuers were diGE,nS the'r
way through 20 IN" minr leFs"
The Prisoners
officials or tho Union company TO-
-,trht gave out tho following list OF
r3mes or the men who arc prisoners IN
'"s CbarjSs Rces. aged - years. married
fire boss. 10 r-,od o..
Iohn I.utu,an. age A.. married. hr'
TSb, Marks. age So married. pumperr
Niks Kase. Mike Roskurd. COG" -
rlasedo, Louis Kotfcr and MIKE MatuS
te,orh bumpers and laborcrS.