The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1922-11-24
70 Miners KILLED
IN DUST EXPLOSION
$50 Trapped; Fire Follows
Blast In Alabama
Disaster

birmingham. Ala, Nov. 22.-Sev-
enty miners were killed and sixty
injured, some Of them seriously in a
dust explosion in Dolomite mine num-
Der 3. of the Woodward Iron Co..
nire miles from this city this after
noon which trapped $50 workers
beneath the surface, according to an
official statement issued here tonight
by d. e. Wilson, treasurer of the
company.
State militia gradually is assum-
ing charge of policing the districts
surrounding the mouth of the pit to-
night and it was stated that martial
law might be called to avoid conges-
ton about the mine owing to the in
flux of the curious.
Mr. Wilson stated that the more
seriously injured miners had been
removed to hospital at Besseiner,
near the scene of the accident.
STORIES OF SURVIVORS,.
According to one of the first
miners to be taken out alive. the
explosion came with little warning
This miner stated the first warn
ing he had was the concussion of
the big blast, He started to make
his way to the mouth of the mine and
was JOINED by other miners.
After they had proceeded, a
short distance. shouts of other
miners were heard ahead of them
and holding their breath as best
they could, muffling their faces in
coats and clothing, they struggled
onward. finally winning their way
to the fresh air and the entry way.
Those men were among the first
to reach the outside with actual
news of the terrible Situation in
side the mine, They told of passing
over bodies in the main entry and
OF seeing other miners. badly in
jured and moaning for help or col
lapsing as the fatal after-damp
snuffed out their lives.
A. ID. Jones a Hero.
A. ID. Jones proved hero. When
the explosion occurred. Jones gath
cred five white miners and fifteen
negroes, who were working near him
and started to lead this 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 to-
gether the band began to make pre-
parations to die. Gathering about
Jones. they sat down, budding to-
gether to await death.
Suddenly they heard mans
voice asking il there were any men
still alive within range of the voice.
Several of the men answered. Pull
down your bratices, yelled the voice.
Its all right here and If you can
break thru we will all win out"
Jones led his men in the work and
soon the little band was safely out
side of the mine. having passed thru
the manway to mine No. and thus
reaching safety.
Men Block Passageway.
About thirty men saved their
lives by blocking passage way into I
the mine, "trip" and thereby shut
ting off effectually the poisonous gas
and after-damp until the fans were
started again.
AS the night wore on, fresh crews
replaced tirsd workers. Cayarans of
wendell their way along
the narrow. crooked road that led
from the mine to the hospital. At
10 O'Clock. 1t was said that il would
lake until early morning to remove
he injured and then the task of re-
moving the dead would begin
400 Men In Mine
At the company's office, it was
stated that out of AIS men who
checked in for work today. 400 were
inder ground when the explosion oc-
,urred.
According to mine officials,
broken electric circuit caused by the
Of train of trip cars was
'esponsible for ignition of the dustyl
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