The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-04-29
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away to an overcast, gloomy sky
that again threatens rain at any
moment, The lines of weeping
!. women have vanished with the dis
appearance of hope of any Of the
men within the mine, and in many
sad home they wait for the bring
ing home of remains of those who
were so suddenly snatched into
eternity.
However, the curious pour in
from all sides today, and in the
early morning long lines OF parked
automobiles stretched away along
the roads.
The force Of mill police was aug.
mented this morning by detach-
ments of State troopers, who pa
troll the section.
Undertakes this morning began
preparation to take care OF the
death toll of the mine Just as soon
90 the bringing Of the bodies to
the surface should be started.
Throughout last night the res.
cuers pushed forward, under di.
rection Of State Mine Chief r. M.
Lambie, Of Charleston, and the Gov.
eminent rescue crews. Among the
volunteers were many who had
relatives in the mine, Alec Russell
one OF the number, seeking a trace
OF his father-in-law and uncle.
Air Circulation Restored.
Rescue teams to aid in the mine
search have come from as far as
Altoona, Pa, ana Williamson, w.
Va. During last night their work
was hampered by the appearance
Of after.damp, but with the estab-
lishment of brattices early this
morning and circulation OF pure
air through the mine much Of
this danger has been eliminated.
Stretchers have been taken into
the mine, but there are timbers
and great stones upon. the floor Of
the mine that in many cases will
have to be moved before the bodies
OF the victims can be brought to
the surface.
Mine officials would make no
statement as to when it was likely
the work Of bringing the bodies to
the surfcae would begin.
All Hope Abandoned.
The disaster was the worst in the
history Of mining in the Pan Handle
counties Of West Virginia, and Ben
wood and vicinity are stunned by
the tragedy. Some of the bodies Of
the victims are half buried under
stone, shale and the like, rescues
only ascertaining the victims were
dead, then pushing father on into
the mine in the hope that some
living person would be found.
All hope has been abandoned that
a single one Of the Ill men who
rode down into the mine to work
yesterday morning survived more
than a few moments after the blast.
The work Of bratticIng the mine
20 restore air circulation continues,
great crowd from the hillside
watching the construction of the
long frames that are being con-
etructed, then carried down into the
shaft to be covered with canvas
TO form the air course. At this time
complete exploration Of the mine is
far from complete, and many of
the dead are believed to be in side
rooms and entries that have not
been penetrated so far by the res
cuers.
The thirty.six bodies found so
Tar have all been along the main
entry, every indication pointing that
death came almost instantly to the
men.
School Resumes.
Benwood school-suspended yes
terday after the xplosion-resumed
today, but with small attendance.
The town is practically paralyzed by
the tragedy, small groups of men
gathering along the curb, while
within homes efforts are made TO
comfort grief-stricken wives and
children.
The big mill of the Wheeling Steel
Corporation at Benwood closed down
on the night shift last night and Is
idle, save for the shipping depart
ment. This was partially due to the
mine blast cutting off the fuel sup
ply and the difficulty in keeping
men at work.
Benwood today is the mecca for
thousands who seek glimpse Of the
entry of the Inflated mine from the
hillside overshadowing the "cave Of
DEATH"