The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-11-06
Tragedy Follows Soon After
Men Start to Work.
Terrific Explosion Destroys Un-
dergrOund Workings.
MINE is FLOODED WITH GAS
Believe Men Quickly SmOthered
Account Lack of Air.
Mine Rescue Car Makes Spec
tacuIar Dash to Mine.
(By the I. N. 81

Spangler. Pa, Nov. 6.-One hundred
and forty-four men were entomhed in
the Reilly mine No. L here early to-
day, when terrific explosion wNecked
the shaft. Little nope is held out for
them. The fan which supplies air to
the mine was wrecked by the explo-
sion and was out of commission for
two hours.
Three hours after the explosion, res-
cue workers reached the first group
of dead. Five bodies were found in
one of the workings. With the dis
covery of these corpses, practically ali
hope of the rescue of any of the men
alive was given up. Word came from
the men. digging in the mine that
other bodies had been found but that
none would be brought out until late
this afternoon.
(By the Associated Press.I
Spangler, Pa, Nov. 6.-The first
rescue party to enter the Reilly coal
mine after the explosion this morning
reported at noon today that they had
found three bodies and feared that
some if not ALI of the other ninety
men entombed are dead.
The rescue party entered the mine
under the direction of Supt. o. ].
Flanagan and had proceeded to the
third entry on the right of main entry
when they came upon the bodies. The
dead miners were brought to the foot
of the shaft and the party went back
The rescuers came to the surface
after their second trip into the mine,
but declined to give out any further
information. A second rescue party
In1medi iately went into the workings.
The rescuers were composed of vol
unteers chosen from hundreds OF men
who had gathered at the shaft.
Shortly before the second crew went
under ground word was received that
the rescue car from Pittsburgh would
arrive early this afternoon.
Relatives Wait at Shaft
Silent groups OF wet eyed women
and children huddled together close
to the mouth of the shaft. mutely
awaiting CLEAN of hope from the
miners who went down to search for
their husbands and fathers Steady
rain was falling but the women. many
of them bareheaded. paid little atten-
ton to the weather.
After the first rescuers came up,
some of the groups moved toward the
company's offices expecting that an
announcement would be made. The
rescue party Immediately conferred
with company officials regarding the
mass of debris which had halted their
progress.
One of the rescuers said he Thought
fourth body had been found.
me first two bodies removed from
the shaft were identified as Thomas
Logue and Joseph Fritz
Two Found Alive.
Shortly after these bodies were re-
moved two living miners, frightfully
burned, were brought up and rushed
TO hospital. The men were un-
conscious and their recovery Is re-
garded as extremely doubtful.
The fan house was destroyed by
fire, which flashed from the explosion
and this fact caused miners 10 fear
that the entombed miners quickly
were smothered. Owing to the volume
of gas in the mine. the rescuers
worked in relays and requirements
were necessary at brief intervals.
Mine officials said the number OF men
in the workings was less than usual,
because Monday is a light working
day.
More Bodies to Top.
The rescuers brought two more
bodies and two more unconscious and
badly burned miners TO the surface a
few minutes after the first. victims had
been removed. The dead are John
Planto and Michael Surrfck
The Reilly mine was regarded as
nom gaseous and the miners worked
with open lamps The explosion was
so terrific that the machinery in the
fan house was blown from it's founda-
ton. Foul air and after-damp quick
ly filled the mine. and -rescuers re-
ported much difficulty in making
progress toward the section where the
rsain body of miners were trapped.
Rescue Car Arrives.
The mine rescue car arrived IN
Spangler on scheduled time early this
afternoon and the experts from the
bureau of mines at Pittsburgh went
under ground shortly before O'Clock.
CONFINED on Page SKI