The Washington times., 1925-02-21
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after the explosion. About 100 men
were working in the mine at the
time OF the explosion.
Caused by Spark.
The explosion occurred in what
vas known as the third and fourth
north entries, off the main east
entry. 1t is believed to have been
caused by a spark from an electric
motor igniting gas and thus setting
off accumulated dust in the work
ings Of the mine. The mine was
of the type known az dry" and In
this sort of mine dust accumulates
rapidly and becomes dangerous.
i, Most of the miners who were killed
lived at Sullivan. When word spread
into the town that an explosion had
occurred the families of the miners
poured out to the shaft.
The scene at the mine is not one
Of confusion such as IL generally
pictured following big disaster.
Perfect organization OF the first
aid teams from surrounding towns.
cooperating perfectly with Federal
rescue squads. has eliminated Ala
waste efforts and even the pres
ence Of Borrowing relatives IN
great measure has been avoided
through the efficient work OF the
Sullivan Red Cross chapter which
quietly turned sorrowing relatives
back to their homes when they
appeared at the mouth Of the
mine.
The clearest account Of the dis
aster which takes into account all
happenings from the time of the
explosion down to daybreak today
was given by o. G. Thomas. check
weighman for the mine, who, with
Bruce Lowery, brother OF john
Lowery. president OF the mine. was
In the tipple.
Miner For ~ Years.
"r've been q miner for forty-two
years, since / was thirteen years
DID," Thomas said. 81 have had
experiences in several disasters and
yesterday when the explosion oc-
CURED knew exactly what had
happened.
"Lowery and I were checking
off the loads when there was a
swish and a roar that filled the
tipple with coal dust and gas"
There was no second explosion,
as Is usual in mine blasts, Thomas
said, and both he and Lowery
rushed outside. Rescue work, he
said, was started, Immediately and
within Is or 90 minutes the first
men had been brought out Of the
mine.
'The men in the south part OF
the shaft were soon released.
Thomas continued, "and although
most of them were choking from
the gases. within q few minutes
after they hit the air, they offered
to return as members OF rescue
crews. AS work proceeded, how.
ever, the black damp. or after.
damp, continued to increase and
soon all attempts had to be aban'
doned."
The names Of the sixteen "identi.
fled dead. are: Arthur Sullivan,
Frank Hawhee. Claude Sanders,
Jon A. Ward, John Solomon. John
Brown. Phillip Walters. Ellis Eas-
ton, r. l.. Jackson. Cecil Carly,
Harry CARLY, Robert Freeman.
George Neal, Lex Robertson. John
TOW, 1dlAS NuD6CAs
The list Of those still In the
mine follows:
Patrick J. Dunning, Everett Efet.
calf. Wayne Walters, Gilbert Tay.
lor, John Thomas. Ross Booth,
Charles Sheedy, Clinton Higgin.
bottom, Harry Maxwell. Frank
Smith. Stlas Wagner, George Baird,
Russell Bowdey, Davis Smith,
Daniel Purcell. Claude Treader, Earl
Laughlin, Oliver Keggy, John Col.
Inns. Frank Cottingham, James
Burris, James Eller, Emil Lecoquoc,
Florence Lecoquoc, Charles Mccain.
meron. James Boyle, w. II. Moberly,
Everett Keller, James Miller, Dwight
McClannahan, Frank Mason, Pearl
Hawhee, father Of Frank: Harry
Anderson, Blaine Gioson and Earl
Robertson.