The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-02-21
RELATIVES AT
SHAFT HOPE TO.
RESCUE SOME.
Officials, However, Declare
That All of Trapped
Miners Are Dead
LOSS PLACED AT 81
Men Caught in Mine During
an Explosion, Have
Little Chance

Sullivan, Ind, Feb. 21.-(By the
A. P)-Under lowering skies that
occasionally cast down showers
throng of relatives, and friends stood
about the shaft Of the City Coal
Company's mine today awaiting word
of the efforts of rescue crews to
bring forth the bodies of thirty-four
miners still held beneath the debris
of an explosion that wrecked part
of the interior of the mine yesterday.
Sixteen bodies were recovered yes
terday and one today. The fatalities
will total 81 mine officials said.
Despite the insistence of state
mine inspectors. Elbridge Daily and
other officials that there is no hope
for those still underground, relatives
clung to their belief that possibly
few men may have barricaded them
selves from the dread after damp and
would be brought out alive.
About 20 men at work in the
mine, but in rooms remote from
the explosion, came to the surface
unhurt. The casualties were all in
two small chambers leading into the
coal vein off the main entry of the
mine.
Miners who escaped and rescue
teams rushed here from various parts
of the Indiana coal fields toiled to-
night clearing away the debris and
recovering the bodies. Mine officials
said it was impossible that any of the
trapped men would be brought out
alive.
None Found Alive
Clarence Ford, a rescue worker,
said he had been able to explore a
good part of the wrecked portion Of
the mine and had seen many bodies.
He had discovered none alive. he
said.
Wives, and children of miners en-
ployed in the shaft crowded about,
seeking information and groups Of
wailing, sobbing women and children
clustered about as the news was
broken that 81 of the men were
known to be dead
A signal to the hosting engineer
was received within three minutes
after the explosion but one of the
cages was caught on the bottom of
the wreckage and miners were forced
to climb into the shaft to the bottom
and cut away the wreckage before
the hosting engine could be used.
But one cage was being used and
as result the work of bringing
the bodies to the surface progresses
slowly. A row of waiting ambulances
removed the dead to the city.
Women Aid Rescuers
Sheer courage and heroism marked
the work of rescuers who braved the
deadly fumes of gas and descended
from time to time into the mine to
bring out the dead. Many were over
come and several were carried from
the mine.
Organizations of women of Sulli-
van were early on the scene and had
established food station for the re-
lief of rescue workers and others.
The Red Cross erected tent early
in the afternoon.
james Russell of Sullivan and John
Stevely of Clinton, deputy state mine
inspectors, were at the scene soon
after the explosion and went into the
mine Immediately.
Most authentic reports of the dis
aster were that the explosion oc-
CURED when the miners either cut
into abandoned workings, or
slight cavein opened old entries in
which gas had collected, the miners
lamps setting off the pocket of gas.
The explosion occurred in entries off
the main east entry on both sides of
which were abandoned entries.
President Overcome
Death in all instances was caused
by burns or suffocation, according to
reports.
John M. Lowery, of Sullivan, presi-
dent of the City Coal company, and
superintendent Of the mine, was on
the bottom at the time of the dis
aster and was overcome by gas, be-
ing carried from the mine.
DIFFICULTIES INCREASE
Sullivan, Ind, Feb. Embarrassing
difficulties which confronted rescue
workers searching in the City Coal
Co.'s mine for 33 men missing since
an explosion yesterday made it pos
sible that their bodies would have
to be abandoned to the fate of that
of Floyd Collins whose remains were
sealed in Sand Cave where he was
trapped.
Intensive efforts carried on TODAY