New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1923-08-15
|S7 bodies ARE
TAKEN FROM Mine
Rescuers Find Remains Of Some
Victims
SEARCH STILL GOES ON

OlhNUH DllLI uuuD Vl'
Believed That There Are II Dead
Left in Galleries--Exaet Cause OF
Disastes Still Mystery--Funerals
in Wyoming.
By The Associated Press.
Kemmerer, Wyo., Aug. 15.-Newly
revised figures announced shortly be-
fore IL o'clock this morning by Of
ficials of the Kemmerer Coal. Co. re-
vealed that 81 bodies had been re-
moved from the company's No. l
mine at Frontier, where an explosion
occurred early yesterday Eleven
men are still in the workings, all be-
lieved to be dead.
Thirty-four miners were rescued
alive from the mine yesterday.
The vice. presidents announcement
was issued today after a check-up on
the number of men who were work
ing in the mind. The revised figures
showed definitely that, 134 men were
in the mine when the blast occurred,
1t was announced.
In the grip of sorrow and desola-
ton, Kemmerer and the little coal
camp suburb, Frontier one mile away,
where approximately 100 miners per-
ished yesterday in an explosion in
mine No. !. of the Kemmerer Coal Co.
already has set about the task of pre-
pairing her dead for burial.
Throughout the hours of darkness
as arc lights shed palid illumination
over a weeping, grief-stricken throng
at the portal of the mine, rescue
workers brought forth the blast-char-
red bodies of the victims who were
suffocated as they sought safety from
poisonous gases.
81 Alive
Thirty seven of the 1877 or 1873
miners who were entombed by the
blast have emerged from the mine
alive. OF these one lies at a hospital
here in serious condition. 1t is be-
lieved he will recover.
The exact cause of the blast re-
manned a mystery early today, al
though officials of the company in a
statement declared a blown-out shot
was responsible for the detonation.
Another theory is that a careening
"trip" car, jumping from the track
on the 1900 foot level where the ex-
plosion occurred, caused spark
which ignited a cloud of dust or gas.
Disastrous as was the loss of life,
the interior Of the mine was only
liorl, xryro cd Nv wall ny,I
rescue workers were hampered but
little by debris, AT entry Is 1t was
necessary to clear away a cove-in
which had buried six mine cars, and
beyond at entry II, theworkers were
forced to relay stretches of track torn
up by the concussion.
No Fire
Charred timbers and smoke black
ened cars found by rescuers at first
led to the belief that fire was raging
in the workings after the explosion
but investigation later is said to have
revealed no other traces of conflagra-
ton
AS news of the explosion spread
quickly throughout Kemmerer and
Frontier, crowd estimated at 1000
gathered at the portal of the mine and
maintained a frantic, fearful vigil
throughout the day and far into the
night, Wives, mothers. sisters. sweet
hearts and children of the entombed
men pressed against the rope barrier
strung around the shaft, and at times
overwh elmed the small force of Kem- |
merer police and volunteers as rescue
crews emerged from the underground
tomb
Historically, women wept for hus- |
band, father. brother or friend as the |
hours passed, and only few survivors |
struggled from the mouth of the pit |
Children's walls mingled with the |
aeart- breaking cries of faithful watch |
ars when it became apparent that no |
more men remained alive in the mine |
and rescue workers ceased their |
search for the living and turned to the |
ask of bringing forth the dead. The |
eyes of men were wet with tears as |
hey waited, hoping for the appear
ance of comrades with whom they had
worked shoulder to shoulder but who
never came.
On Lne SlreeIS OF Cne town, grim
'isaged men and drawn. sad faced /
went about the sorrowful task
If preparing for the last home com
ng of those they loved.
At the temporary morgue throngs
# weeping relatives of men who had
ost their lives in the blast passed
lowly along before the long rows of
orms, many still unidentified, or stood
n small groups, assua ging the sorrow
+ those who had been bereft.
First Warning
The first intimaticn of the disaster
'as a long tongue of smoke which
hot from the ventilation fans. The
lectric alarm system had been de-
troyed by the explosion. the pumps
ad been wrecked and tracks on
'hich the trip" cars operated had
cen torn up.
Relief crews were organized i'm
(Cnnfint1ad m