New-York tribune., 1922-11-23
Workers i'm Alabama Pit
Fight Way to Surface,
Carrying Injured; Many
in Hospitals May Die
W omen Wait for
Word of Victims
Crowd Entrance to Shaft:
Broken Current Believed
Cause of the Explosion

BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Nov. 22-~Sey-
enty miners were killed and sixty in.
jured, some of them seriously, in
dust explosion in Dolomite Mine No. 8,
Of the Woodward Iron Company, nine
miles from this city this afternoon,
which trapped 480 workers beneath the
surface, according 10 an official state
ment issued here tonight by D. H,
Wilson, treasurer OF the company The
number of uninjured was placed at 345
by the company at midnight.
State militia is gradually assuming
charge of placing the districts sur
rounding the mouth OF the pit to-right,
and it was stated that martial law
might be called to avoid congestion
about the mine owing to the influx of
the curious.
According to company officials, the
explosion occurred simultaneously
with the crash of. three "skip" cars
which ran wild" down the slope to the
mine yards, approximately 1,100 feet
from the entrance. These cars, break
ing cable, while they were being
hauled up the slope to the entrance,
crashed downward, severing an electric
circuit. This caused spark and as
the cars crashed into the yards" in
the interior Of the mine, the explosion
occurred, So great was the blast that
the flames belched upward all the way
to the mine entrance, approximately
1,100 feet, and then continued on 200
feet further to the mine tipple, setting
this afire.
Many Escape Serious Harm
According to Treasurer Wilson many
of the injured were already at their
homes after receiving first aid treat
oto5 ~
hurts only being of minor nature.
speed in emergency hospitals estab-
lished on the ground at the mouth of
the mine.
Mr.. Wilson stated that the miners
believed to be fatally injured had been
removed to the Elizabeth Duncan Hos
pital at Bessemer. near the scene of
the accident
Fire, which followed the explosion,
hindered the work ofzrescue and was
believed to have been responsible tor
many lives.
Frank H. Crockard, president of The
Woodward Company, made the follow
ing statement late tonight:
"Out of Ats men who were in the
mine at the time of the explosion it
now appears that about seventy were
killed and sixty more or less injured. =
"Air currents have been established
IN the mine and all parts can be en-
tered. The mine itself is not seriously
damaged by the explosion.
Practically all of the injured are
now out and are being given every at
tention. While the loss of life is ter
rible, we are indeed grateful that more
Of the large number of workmen on
duty did not suffer"
Officials of the company said that
the mine would be cleared of dead and
injured by 2 a. m. Rescue crews had
explored every entry by midnight.
More than 500 workers uninjured by
the accident and blast that followed
were trapped for several hours, Most
of the injured men huddled themselves
in groups in various places of safety,
some a mile away from the main en-
trance.
These men were among the first to
reach the outside with actual news of
the terrible scenes inside the mine.
They told of passing over bodies in
the main entry and of seeing other
miners injured and moaning for help
or as the fatal afterdamp snuffed out
their lives.
A. D. Jones, a miner who was work
ing in the forty ninth west entry of
the mine at the time Of the blast,
rrovedfa a hero. When the explosion
occurred, Jones gathered five white
miners and fifteen negroes, who were
working near him, and started TO lead
his party toward the mouth Of the
mine. The after-damp became SO
dense, Jones said, that he felt the
journey to the outside was impossible
and together the band began to make
preparations to die. Gathering about
Jones, they sat down, huddling to-
gether to await death.
Suddenly they heard mans voice
asking if there We're any men still
alive within range Of theNvoice. Sev-
cral of the men answered.
"Pull down your bratices!" yelled
the voice dts all right here and if
you can break through we will all win
out"
Led Men Through
Jones led his men in the work and
soon the little band was safely outside
of the mine, having passed through the
manway to mine No. 2 and thus reach
ing safety.
About thirty men saved their lives
by blocking a passageway into the
mine "trip" and thereby shutting off
effectually the poisonous gases and
after damp Until the fans were started
again and cleared the way for them
to reach the outside allYe.
Dolomite mine No 8 is operated on a
60-inch Pratt coal seam and has one
slope opening. According to the last
report to the state nine inspector, the
mine generates gas, but sufficient fan
ventilation and other safeguards were
maintained to cause the mine to, be
regarded as safe.
Rescue Car Ordered
The United States Bureau of Mines
has ordered rescue car from the Ken
lucky mine field, it was announced at
the local station. The Kentucky car
will include full rescue crew and equip
ment.
As darkness came women and chill
dren, white and black. crowded closer
about the mine, Anxiously waiting, in
common horror, word from the pit. The
injured were being removed by rescue
crews, while undereakers' assistants
were preparing for removal of the dead
found in the entries nearest the MAIN
way No attempt at Identification OF
the dead or seriously injured had been
attempted, the work of emergency re-
l;af ,iatninp first attention. All the