The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-11-23

oOui Is ne uedu
This was the cry that broke forth
from the hearts and upon the lips
OF anguished men and women gath
cred Wednesday night around the
shaft OF Dolomite mine.
"oh. my brother-my father-my
sweetheart
These were the low little means
Of terror that went out from sisters
and wives and daughters as they lit
orally wrung their hands and SILVER
ed pra ting in the cold.
They were gathered In long fines
over a space or several hundred feet
square watching with almost crazed
eagerness as the bodies one by one.
of entombed miners were brought up
the incline of Number 3 mine from
the black shaft
They strove in vain 10 pierce the
thick folds of blankets and quilts
and wrappings that swathed the
bodies of the men. And they drew
back stricken that they could not
see--the uppermost In their minds
that the ones they loved best on
earth might be passing by.
They stormed the news sources
about the scene of the catastrophe
and stopped reporters to ask what
was the last word they had received.
While the. explosion in the mine
which buried several hundred men
happened around O'Clock in the aft
ernoon. ii was not until almost dark
that the first bodies began to be
brought out.
Bearing Their Crosses
While the news that the most
grievously injured must have the
first chance on the cars bringing
them back TO life caused additional
suffering TO those anxious ones
many OF whom had heard from work
ers that their loved ones were dead
and lvingfin the mine--they tried
to understand. and they tried TO be
brave. None of them wished to go
away. They would stay II II meant
all night. For you see they could
not yet know that their loved ones
were dead Authentic news-offfcial
news--was lacking. and maybe. oh
maybe. there might be mistake.
Crowds lined all the pathway to
the shaft OF the mine where II was
declared The accident had been
caused down Number 3 slope by run
away cars which bad struck an cleo
trio power cable. This caused a spark
which produced a coal dust explo-
sion that rushed onward with ter-
rifle force and engulfed the workers
even mile or two down In the shaft,
1t was pointed out that 1t was not
gas explosion--since the mine ~
free from gas--but that the coal
dust. set on fire. produced flames
which. burned the bodies Of the men
and filled their lungs with fire
Their SILVER Lining
Thus, 1t was with great shouts. OF
happiness and hopes kindled anew
that spectators heard that eight
other men in one place had been
found still alive and that the helmet
men were rushing stretchers TO their
aid that the toll of death might not
be SO great.
While first reports carried the IN
formation that 400 men might pos
sibly be killed. as time passed during
the afternoon joy broke out amidst
the settlers and the workers when
it was found that many Of the min
ers had escaped through other en-
trances-those of No. ! mine at fDolo-
mite and the other at old Shaft No, ?
back beyond Do1omite
These. at the first explosion had
been able to escape to safety and
many Of these Immediately yolun
teered their kindly services to rescue
their less fortunate buddies. Others
stood and comforted stricken rela !
tives. a number Of these men sur
fered minor injuries and were in need
of aid when they came out still
others escaped with scarcely a
scratch.
In the dark. one man rushed UP
and seized US by the clothing. Are