The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-11-23
Heroic Deeds Soften BLoW
To Crushed Hearts When
Dead and Lining Rescued

4 you from the paper" he plead, We
said So Then I'm sure that 1 am
4 right when ] tell You that there
I are al least As who are dead, for l
I have just come up and l saw them
/ lie was the first who furnished us
names Of several dead he knew. FOR
the reporters were dependent upon
such workers for scraps of informa-
ton they were able to collect.
Now and then across the sky
| flashed weird lights which workers
declared were Other explosions
which turned out to be flashes from
photographers instruments and from
I lights playing about the premises to
locate certain spots, squads and
helpers in the fight against death.
These not only made the sight
more grotesque and terror-flled, but
magnificent in its awful picturesque
ness against a midnight atmosphere,
the depths OF which even the peace
full moon could not penetrate.
The general attitude of the wait
I ing ones was that OF suppressed Inn
I patience, but self-control and eff
cheney in the rescue squads was par
amount. Az rescue workers came up
the dark shaft. their lights twink
/ ling from the underworld, all rescue
cars had to be stopped at one period
because no on ewas willing to take
an additiona risk that these tired
men might be hurt They came up
crushed--silenced--a when one
took hold of one OF them he said.
trying to control himself:
God. you must wait minute
can't think. It's SO terrible to see
my pals-them chaps-piled up down
there" He, said he had made the
best count he could and he was sure
that hundred dead would be found.
The approach to Dolomite re-
vealed a town of darkness. Men
women and children had fled from
! their homes and had gone to the
mines. The only signs OF life were
high powered automobiles and am
balances that clogged the way and
climbed the wildwood hills like
I lengthy funeral professions. These
automobiles were filled not only
with officials. but from all parts Of
/, the district relatives and friends
| had seized the quickest method of
getting TO the scene of their Geth-
| semene.
| About 10 o'clock IT was reported
that 80 OF the injured had been listed.
bat no one could give an adequate
idea OF now many more were to fol-
low or when thee, long task might be
finished.
Corps of doctors were in the
mine. and 1t was expected that the
! Red Cross would arrive totthe aid Of
| the sufferers at any moment.
While 1t was declared there were
NOR ewhite men in the mine than
groes. large number Of colcred
workers were included In the dis
! a. a OF. nd
mot rushing forward to get the news
but waiting. waiting. Despair was
| in their faces. and one poor black.
| woman had slumped down upon the
ground and was rocking herself back
Land forth praying and moaning. She
refused 10 be comforted. when white
and black had words OF kindness to
say to her Her boy was in that
mine and nobody yet txnew whether
!, he was dead or alive
Lovely Woman Heroic In Grief
| Among those who STOOD and shiv-
cred in the cold was one of Ensley's
! loveliest twomen. Mrs. Price Clay
ton whose brother James Summer
lin. motorsinspector, of Fairfield. was
killed. News had been brought TO
her OF his death by some of the work
ers and she STOOD alone in the dark
while her husband fought his way
along the restrai ming ropes to the
| summit tot the mine to find out
other news OF him. IL possible, and
when the bodies OF tn edead m ght
be expected
In that explosion. death was no
| respecter OF rank or creed. Men who
| were bosses and men who grubbed
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