The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1922-11-30
EXPLOSION KILLS
TO IN ALABAMA
$50 MINERS ENToMeEp WHEN AN
EXPLOSION OCCURS IN WOOD
WARD IRON MINE.
FATE OF 215 IS UNCERTAIN
12o Men In the Mine When Partly
Wheeked by Dust Explosion Re-
moved Hours Afterwards.

Birmingham, Ala.-Seventy miners
were killed and sixty injured some
OF them seriously, in a dust explosion
In Dolomite mine number 3 of the
| woodward Iron company, nine miles
from this city, which trapped 4SO of
the workers beneath the surface, ac.
| coroing to an official statement issued
here by d. f. Wilson, treasurer of
the company.
Daniel Harrington, United States
mine rescue official stationed here.
had previously sent a message to- the
Pittsburgh station, estimating the dead
at so, with at least that number in
jured
State militia is gradually assuming
charge OF policing the district sur
rounding the mouth OF the pit and II
was stated that martial law might be
called to avoid congestion about the
mine. owing to the influx OF the GU
riouS.
According to Treasurer Wilson.
many OF the injured were already
at their homes after receiving first
aid treatment at the mouth of the
mine. their hurts being only Of
minor nature. Comrany physicians
worked at top speed in emergency hos
pitals established on the ground at
the mouth OF the mine
Mr.. Wilson stated that the miners
believed to have been fatally injured
had been removed to the Elizabeth
Duncan hospital at Bessemer. near the
scene OF the accident.
The fate Of 215 others entombed
in Number mine was regarded as
uncertain by rescue crews who aug.
mented their force for exploration of
all entries OF the pit. One hundred
and twenty-five men out of the total
OF 4S2 in the mine when 1t was partly
wrecked by dust explosion. were re-
moved late in the day from the pit
by means OF man-way connecting
mines Nos. and OF the Woodward
company. Fifty OF the men were ne-
ported injured, a few seriously
Fifty men. mostly white, were
caught under the wreckage Of the
three Skip cars which plunged at
great speed when they broke loose
100 feet above. Rescue crews found
mangled bodies and score OF injur.
ed men entangled with twisted steel
and splintered wood. The men were
skilled workers, many OF them sub
foremen and electricians employed I'm
the underground yard"
Rescue workers reported that the
number of dead would run high, It
being believed that many of the re.
naming 215 unaccounted for would
be found dead or injured.
Fire, which followed the explosion,
hindered the work OF rescue. and was
believed to have beeh responsible
for many deaths. The injured among
the first men rescued were removed
to Bessemer hospitals.
AS the work of rescue progressed.
reports brought to the surface grew
less hopeful. One squad Of workres
reported seeing bodies "strewn all
along the main passageway."
AS darkness came, women and
children. white and black, crowded
closer about the mine anxiously wait
ing in common sorrow word from the
pit. The injured were being removed
by rescue crews, while undertakers'
assistants were preparing for removal
OF the dead found In the entries near
est the man-way. No attempt at iden-
tifcation OF the dead or seriously in
jured had been attempted. the work
OF emergency relief claiming first at.
tention. All the doctors and nurses
in the community had been marshaled
to care for the wounded.
The American Red Cross sent
corps Of nurses and assistants 70 the
scene OF the disaster. Ambulance
companies armed with lung motors.
joined the rescue crews, whose op-
erations were directed by Ed Flynn.
head Of the Tennessee Coal. Iron and
Railroad company's safety department.
and Frank Fl, Crockard. president Of
the Woodward company.
Officials OF the company directed
that every effort should be made TO
identify the dead and injured. in or
der to relieve the suspense Of the
hundreds OF families in the camp
At the companys Office is was
stated that out OF AIS men who check
ed in for work, 400 were underground
when the explosion occurred