The New York herald., 1922-11-07
LOOK FOR go DEAD
In Mine EXPLOSION


They were among the first to reach the
mine after the explosion. and In a short
time were taken down the shaft to give
absolution to five men near the bottom.
eager Rescues BOY.
Mike Whalen. rager, was working
with his coupler. a boy named Caven-
dish. at the bottom of the shaft when
the explosion occurred. Whalen put
the boy on his back and started hand
over hand on a water pipe for the sur
face When almost half way UP some
one at the top started the cage from
the bottom, and waiting his opportu-
nifty. Whalen jumped to the top of the
cage and rode with the boy to safety.
The fan house, which had been
wrecked by the explosion, was repaired
and the fans started to clear the work
ings of black damp. Mules were sent
down on the cage to assist in the dis
tribution of quantities of lumber used
In the building of brattices.
Many of the rescuers suffered from
gas and numbers of them were brought
to the surface, where, after receiving
first aid. they insisted on returning to
the workings. Three of the Cambria
Steel Company's crew were among those
most seriously affected, but II. w.
Darr, in command of the Cambria car
said that all would recover.
Four rescue crews of five men each
tonight were hunting for Pat tlanna-
gan, the fire boss He went into the
mine at $3.50 O'Clock this morning and
reported the mine was safe. He went
down again at $40 o'clock and was not
seen afterward.
Early in the evening mine rescue
crews from the Maryland Coal and Coke
Company at St. Michael. Pa, and the
Pennsylvania Coal and Coke Company
at Johnstown Joined the Federal res
cuers and the Cambria Steel Company
crew. The second United States rescue
car was expected here from New York
State tomorrow morning.
Killed 100 Feet From Air.
The rescue men all told the same story
as they came to the surface. They de-
clared that bodies were scattered through
the workings for more tEan 500 feet.
"The sad part of It," said one miner,
"is that at least twenty of the victims
were within hundred feet of fresh air
when they were overcome by the gas"
Every effort tonight was being made
TO find all of the living. AS soon as that
has been done the work of removing the
dead will commence.
Men. women and children by the score
crowded the police lines near the shaft
Many of them had been there since they
heard OF the explosion early in the day
and there was, no indication they would
leave their posts until the last body had
been brought out.
On the "cot of honor" at the hospital
rests youth of %. His name Is Abe
Craig. His coolness saved at least a
dozen lives.
There isn't much to tell" said Craig.
1--WE went down at o'ctock and entered
Heading No. 10 on the left. A few min
utes later there was crash. told
the boys that meant a cave-in, and we
had better get out. Then there was a
rush of gas Luckily our door was open
or the explosion would have knocked
1t down. l slammed it and about
twenty-five Of us waited to see what
would happen.
Men Pray In Coal Tomb.
"Outside there were yells and one OF
our gang shouted to tell them there was
fresh air In our place. opened the
door and three or four men staggered
in. The boys rushed out and dragged
In others. We revived them.
Then looked out again. All could
see was bodies. The afterdanp was
rolling through the heading. I jumped
inside and closed the door. There was
nothing to do but wait for rescuers.
From 80 until about 2 o'clock we
stayed In the chamber. Older men were
getting faint. Young fellows were hold
ing out pretty well. Nobody had very
much to say. Some of the boys were
praying.
FINALLY the afterdamp worked its
way around and under the door. There
was only one thing to do. I told them
we would have to make run for 1t. We
opened the door and ran for the head
ing. 1t was a tough dash, stumbling
over bodies. We began to choke. Some
of the boys fell. but those of us who had
any fight left kept on.
I'VE ran into fallen rock between the
seventh and ninth headings. That proba-
bly, was where the explosion took place.
''I had hunch that IL we got TO the
sixth heading we would get fresh air.
but you can believe me that the last
hundred yards was something awful.
Coughing and strangling we kept on. and
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