Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-04
HOPE ABANDONED
FOR IS WORKERS IN
FLAMING MINE PIT
Entry Sealed Up to Put Out
Fire So Bodies Can Be
Recovered.
TWO OFFICIALS CAUGHT
IN TERRIFIC EXPLOSION
Blast Takes Place Just After Day
Shift of 700 Men Had
Left Shaft.
+ me Associated Press.

r ne Associated Press.
PITTSBURGH, Pa, February r
Abandoning hope that any of the 10
miners unaccounted for after an ex-
riosiou N the Horning Mine late yes
'orday We're alive, rescue workers
.trly today sealed off the entry where
they we're entombed, in order 10
smother fire that has been raging
fnr hours, and make possible the re-
.overy of the bodies. rwenty-one men
,>nre at work III that section, miles
h,ck In the pit, when the blast oc-
''Irred. Two escaped alive and three
bodies have been recovered.
Announcement that the entry had
1,aen walled off was made by c. f. Tut
10, president of the Pittsburgh Ter
ninal Coal Co, who, with other Off
cl4ls OF the concern which owns the
mine. remained at the scene through
out the night directing the efforts 10
reach those inside. The action. he
said, was taken on orders OF John l.
Pratt, State mine Inspector. II was
Indicated that the section would re-
main sealed for at least "A hours, dur
ing which it was expected the hre
would go out for lack Of air.
Two Escaped Alive.
\ check early today disclosed that
Edward Travis and Lewis Powell We're
the only miners TO come out alive.
Ralph HoltzhausNr. previously report
ed rescued, remained unaCcounted Tor,
officials said. Others in the mine at
the time of the blast included Howard
N. Ernst, general superintendent or
he Pittsburgh Terminal Coal Co.
Mines. and George Travis, manager or
-he Horning Mine and brother OF one
Of those who escaped.
The men trapped in the mine were
fighting a fire at point some two
miles back from the entrance, when
the explosion occurred.
The explosion. which took place just
after the day shift of about 700 miners
had left the mine late yesterday. was
terrific in the region of the fire. This
was evidenced by reports Of the rescue
workers. who said that string OF
mine cars had been blown - pieces
hv the force of the blast.
Edward Travis and Powell We're con
structing d fire wall near the bottom
of the shaft and We're not injured by
the blast. They assisted with the res
cue work for some time before coming
70 the surface.
W
we're huddled about the top Of the
shaft IN the wet, heavy snow which
started to fall late yesterday and con
tinued early today. They, with other
relatives and friends of the enton1bed
men, composed a large crowd which
was kept back by State policemen, so
as not to interfere with the work OF
rescue.
Priest Enters Mine.
The Rev. Charles Fahrenbach, pas
tor of a Catholic Church at Brough-
ton, nearby, went into the mine TO give
absolution over the three bodies re-
covered.
Early today George Mckay. one Of
rnc chiefs of the United States Blu
.eau of Mines crews and six others
II the more than a 100 expert rescue
mon at work in the mine, came out
.fter more than 10 hours of labor.
They were taken to the emergency
hospital, where one had to be put to
bed because of exhaustion. The others
had been slightly affected by smoke
and gas and We're ordered by the doc
AXE rest.