The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-11-24
SIX DIE INSTANTLY, ! FOUR MORE LATER,
 AND SIX INJURED
Explosion at Parrish Believed Caused By Open Light Car ried Into Mine Which Had
 Been Closed Down

Jasper, November 23. - Flames, caused by a gas explo- sion at 8:45 this morning, in the fourth left entry, 1,600 feet from the mouth of the Railway Fuel company's coal mine at Parrish, just south of this city, resulted in the instant death of six miners, and four others sev- eral hours later and the injury of six, one of whom is expected to die.
 The dead are:
 Reuben Phillips, 70. Dora. Lee Chamblee, fs. Parrish. R. F. Chapman, go, Double Hun. Ga.
 Charles Lamb, 25, Double Run, Ga H. Kyle, Parrish.
 George Bell, Parrish. R. A. Rochell. Parrish. w. ID. Parrish.
 UIos Bentley, negro. Parrish. John JordOn. negro. Parrish. The injured are: James Summer, J. H. Garrison and W. H. Martin. all white men, and Columbus Peo- pies. Buster Johnson and Burl Eady, negroes. Parrish, who WAS sent to the Birmingham infirmary with the other injured died later. Kyle and Bell died while en route to Birming- ham on a special train sent to the scene immediately following the acci- dent.
 Immediately following the explosion an emergency call was sent to the Bir- mingham offices of the company for aid and a special train. quantities or first aid equipment was rushed to Par rish Every possible attention was given by the company, townspeople and associate miners and the work of res cue progressed as rapidly as possible.
 LEAKE'S STATEMENT
 iaThe explosion occurred at S45 this morning. said w. E. Leake,
 general manager ct the coal
 cOmpnny in formal state-
 ment several hours after the
 accident and after he had
 an opportunity to make n thorough
 investigation, .sand in the fourth
 left entry. 1,6OO feet from the
 
 entry and not working. The explo-
 sion was caused by miner cross
 ing damage board and going Into
 the place with an open light.
 saThere were 18O men at work in
 the mine and only those within 200
 feet of the explosion were affected.
 It was wholly local explosion,
 and very little damage was done to
 the mine. It is a reasonable pre-
 sumption that the six men who
 were killed in the mine were in-
 stantly killed. 1t was n pocket Of
 gas and caused by reason of the
 open light. am certain the trag-
 edy was entirely avoidnble."
 According to the miners. who escaped injury or only superficial burns. 26 men went into the drift this morning to resume operations after a shut down of more than week Almost im- mediately after the first squad of men arrived at a. point about half mile in the drift. a great explosion was heard, followed by flames racing along the cor riders Escape was impossible and. those nearer the explosion were fated for death or dangerous injury. It is believed that the gas was exploded by a miners head-lamp.
 KILLED INSTANTLY Although the explosion was heavy and 1arred timbers from their moorings, res- cue squads who went into the wrecked mine state that the drift was not choked This is taken to indicate that the six victims of the disaster were killed instantly either by the explosion, the enveloping flames or falling timbers, and had no chance to attempt an es- cape.
 Worlmen in the adjoining mines, re- inforced by scores of others from the town. rushed to the scene and helped remove the dead and take care of the injured. The six dead men were taken to Jasper and their bodies now are at the undertaking rooms of Coroner A. B. Legg. That official has not announced date for an inquiry into the cause of the disaster, but it fig probable the in quest will be held the latter part of the weak.
 Tn the meantime, the six bodies taken from the ruins are being prepared for burial The body of young Lamb will he sent to Double Run. Ga, tomorrow aft ernoon. Lee Chamblee and Chapman will be buried at Parrish. probably Thurs day. The body of Reuben Phillips will be sent to Dora. 1t is pathetic in cident of the accident that Chambee' s father was killed year ago in a similar accident at the Brilliant mine in Parrish.
 Insurance Inspector Wood arrived this afternoon and agreed with others that the explosion in all probability was caused by the recent idleness at the mine and the. entry of the workmen wearing the usual coal miners cap lamp. It is understood that officials. including MT. Ieake and J. w. Lockwood, resident foreman, are inclined to the same ex- planation.
 The little town of Parrish is in state of the greatest. but suppressed excite ment Hundreds have assembled in the vicinity to inspect the wreckage, drawn there in curiosity by reason of the whole sale character of the tragedy. There has not been heard the slightest intimatfon that the company or individuals are re- sponsible; fl is generally interpreted as . local explosion and caused by the entry of one of the miners in the pocket Fish an open lamp.
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