The New York herald., 1922-11-23
100 Miners PERISH
IN DUST EXPLOSION,
4SO CAUGHT in TRAP
From so to Is Are Injured
by Terrific Blast in
Alabama.
GREAT FLAME KILLS 40
Tram Cars Run Wild and
Crash Into High Ten
sion Wires.
RESCUE SQUADS AT WORK
Accurate Checking Up Of Dis
aster's Death Toll Awaits
Inquiry To-day.
RESCUE SQUADS AT WORK

specicf Dispatch 70 THE New York HERALD.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Nov. 22.-The toll
of a dust explosion to-day in mine No.
Birmingham, belonging to the Wood
ward Iron Company will total around
100 when all bodies have been re-
moved, with fifty to seventy-fve more
or less injured.
The explosion occurred at 2:40 P. NJ.
and was caused by a trio of tram cars
breaking loose on the incline and
dashing back into the mine. breaking
some high tension wires, igniting dust.
A terrific flame was started and
shot out Of the mine, nearly 1900 feet
to the top of the tipple, where the
scale house was burned.
At the first lift of the incline in the
mine. fifty feet from the mouth, is
where the coal is assembled to be sent
out of the mine. 1t is known as "the
yards" and upward of forty men were
at work at the time at this point. The
terrific flame killed these men in few
seconds.
The decoration followed by afterdamp
spread quickly through the mines and
those of the $50 men working in the
place who were not stricken down In
stantly began cropping their way to
safety.
Guided by Voice.
A. d. Jones. white, led twenty men to
place of safety. but found afterdamp
following He then told the men to pre-
pare TO die, as there could be no escape.
A voice rang out clearly through the
mines. Come this way to the yards and
get out" and there was shout as the
score beat their way through the heat
and to safety.
Rescue men gathered at the Dolomite
mines from all parts of the district.
The Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad
Company of the United States Steel Cor
poration sent a team of twenty-five
crack rescue men with full parapher-
MALTA TO go into the mines after the
dead and injured men. Fire lighters
worked on the fire on the tippie as
rescue men worked their way into the
mines.
on the yards" Eugene Robertson,
mine foreman. was among the number
who met instant death. Tom and
Hershel Warwick, brothers. both with
families. succumbed to the flames. as
did Hugh Cornell, Grady Crowder. Cleve
Early and Lige Stanford. all close
friends.
Scores of negro miners and mine
workers we're caught in the flames and
lost their lives.
Ambulances from the Birmingham
district were gathered. as were physi-
clans from Birmingham. Bessemer.
Pratt city. Ensley. Fairfield, Brighton
and other places. Mine workers from
a dozen mines within twenty-five miles
of Dolomite gathered and offered their
services in going into the mine.
Assembling of OficialS.
A more terrific dust explosion was
never before experienced in the history
OF coal mining In this State. Repre-
sentatives of the United States Bureau
OF Mines. the state Mine Inspector and
assistants and other officials In the
mining industry assembled within few
hours after first announcement CT the
explosion and bent every effort toward
rescuing the men The fans were not
broken down and ventilation was not
disturbed This made II easier for the
rescuing work.
Much difficulty was experienced In
identifying the negro victims OF the ex-
r,losion. 1t was after g. o'clock before
dead bodies were brought out. At that
time there was no telling how many ex-
actly had been killed. and II will be to-
morrow afternoon before definite results
will be known.
II was impossible tonight to check
up the men at work In the mines be-
fore the explosion. and those who came
out after the accident. there being three
ways Of getting out OF the mines, some
men vending their way two miles ana
more under ground within an hour after
the explosion. The entire Dolonite
camp was thrown into CONSERVATION.
Men started fighting the flames on
the tppIe. while women and children
began wringing their hands and at the
top Of their voices cried for loved ones
i'm the mines. As men would come out
Of the earth and were recognized they
were hugged and kissed.
Bofore the bodies were brought out II
was deemed best to rope or the mines,
as several thousand people from the city
had gathered at the place and were
crowding the mouth of the mines.
Deputy sheriffs were stationed TO keep
the crowds back and there was trouble
In clearing the space.