New-York tribune., 1922-02-03
Victims Saturated Handkcr-
chief Masks With Coffee
in Vain Attempt to Es-
cape Fumes at Gates, Pa.
9 Alabama Convicts Die
Boss Gave Life in Pcnnsyl-
yania Disaster While
Saving Job for Comradc
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. Feb. 2.-Nine
convict miners were killed in n gas
explosion at Belle Ellen mines accord
spocia! Dispatch to The Tribune


GATES, Pa, Feb. 2.~Twenty-five
men. the entire night force Of miner,
IN the Ross section Of the Gates Mine
of the H. c. Frick Coal and Coke Com
rany, were asphyxiatcd by gas fumes
after an explosion in the mine at $50
o'clock this morning. Although some
OF the miners were buried under falls
OF slate, the position Of their bodies
indicated that all were dead before
they were covered by the debris.
Tonight sixteen bodies had been de-
livcred to the morgue at Masontown
four miles from Gates, six bodies Law
at the foot of the main shaft, ready to
be taken to the surface. and three
were still buried under slate and coal
IN tho mine. while rescue workers were
digging the bodies out.
Four Escape Deadly Gas
Four men. the only ones to ESCAPE.
at first believed to have been workinr
IN the Ross section Of the mime. were
later found to have been working in a
section of the mine located some dis
tance from where the explosion oc-
Cured.
The men who were caught in the mine
masks with their kcrchicfs to pre-
vent the acrid fumes from entering
their lungs. Some had been able only
to pull their korchicfs from their
pockets; others had stuffed the bits
OF cloth in their mouths, and some
desperately strove to prolong life by
clogging their nostrils A number. re-
alizing that moist kerchiefs would pre-
vent the gases from entering their
lungs for a time, had poured the cof-
fee from their dinner buckets on their
kerchiefs before stuffing them into
their mouths.
Seven bodies first removed from the
p1t were found at a point nearly a
mile from the scene of the explosion.
Dies Protecting Friend
Thomas Horne, day boss, one of the
victims. was working overtime to pre-
vent the night boss, James Gillen. from
losing his job. When Horne was ready
to leave the mine last night at the
finish OF the days work he learned
that Gillen had not reported for duty.
Horne Immediately volunteered to work
a double turn and fill in for Gilen. 80
that the latter would not suffer for his
allure to report for duty.
James Hageerty, roper and one cf
crs in Fsyette County. was working in
the mine about Il mile from the point
n the shaft where the explosion oc-
CURED. lie was Knocked down cut
and bruised and stunned by the force
Of the blast, but recovered in a few
minutes and made his way out Of the
shaft He brought TO the mouth of
the shaft first news of the explosion.
Frank Guy. Il machine boss, working
about mile and a half from the place
OF thc explosion, was Knocked down and
stunned but after few minutes fought
his way through the smoke and gas to
the foot Of the shaft and then made his
way TO safety. He said that a few
he passed the five men whose bodies
were first found. He said they appar-
emily had finished their work and we're
proceeding in leisurcly manner on
their way to the surface.
Crowds at Mouth of Shaft
Hundreds Of women and children,
many Of them related TO the victims.
clustered about the mouth Of the mine
to-day while the bodies were being
brought out. Physicians and nurses
with first aid apparatus were held in
readiness to resuscitate any Of the vic
TINS who might still retain life, but
their services were called for only
when re cue workers We're temporarily
overcome by the gas that still remained
in the mine.
Three Investigations into the cause
OF the explosion, one by the county,
another by the mine inspectors and a
third by the officials Of the mine, will
be made as soon as the mine is safe.
The Gates mine is one Of the larress
coal operations in this region It is a
shaft mine with two main shafts each
250 feet deep. Neither Shaft was dam
aged to any great extent, which faci]i-
tated rescue work. Ordinarily 1000
men are employed in the mine, but on
account Of the slackness in the industry
1t has not been operating at capacity.