New Britain herald., 1929-12-18
Many Still Unidentified in OkIa- homa Catastrophe-Gas
 Hampers ReSCueTS
VICTIMS BADLY BRUISED
 AND BURNED IN BLASTS
Three Who Escaped Alive Describe Horrors of Experiencc-Owner Admits No Compensation Carried on Workers and Intimatcs Com- pany Will Be Able to Do Little for Families.

McAlcstcr Okla. Dec. IS tR}- Flfty-sevcn bodies had been re covered at noon today from the Old Town Coal COmpany's mine at North McAIcstcr, in which @ miners were imprisoned yesterday by an cN- plosion. Search continued for ad- ditional bodies.
 Five more bodies, bring 10 59. the total known dcal in the explosion at the Old Town Coal company's min" at North McAlcstcr, were brought to the surface at 10 o'clock this morning. Forty-sevcu bodies had been recovered at z o'clock this morning from the mine, where yes tcrd1y e miners were trapped by an explosion in ono of the lower levels, and Frank Parker, T mining engineer was killed instantly Parller's body was removed shortly after the blast.
 Sixteen of these bodies we're m- identified. The bodies Of the 52 men were in two McAlestcr morgucs,
 Bodies Bruised and Burned
 The bodies of two men were r"- covered just before daylight from the seventh west entry of the mine by rescue workers who had toile1 ccasclessly since 10 o'clock yesterday morning. The two bodies were bruis- ed and burned to such an extent that Identification was difficult.
 These two bodies. those of Henry Skaggs, Negro, and Walter MurdocI5. white, showed that the terrific blast which snuiIcd out the lives of three score men almost instantly appaH- ontly ccntcrci about the seventh west entry.
 The bodies Of Manuel Luna an $ l.. Mata were recovered during the night. They were MeXicans an1 arrived here recently from TcNas. They went to work in the mine fo, the first time yesterday morning.
 Gas Blamed for Deaths
 Trcachcrous gas, which drifte l thicklH through the lower levels of the mine, hamporcd the rescue squads Of more than 200 and mu ah of the effort during the night WHs directed at "curtaining off" sections Of this danger area. and in attempts 10 Vcntilatc the mine. This vas q tedious process.
 An inspection did not reveal the cause Of the explosion, Miller IT, Hay, chief state mine inspector sad. but miners familiar with the work inSS were inclined to blame sparks from an electric 'Cutting" machine for the blast. They believed the ma chine uncovered q pocket Of gas. which exploded, they continued, probably caused dust, which in turn cd caused the greater explosion.
 The broken and twisted condition of many of the bodies told a mute story of the great force Of the de donation.
 Arms and Legs Broken
 Many of the bodies were found with arms or legs broken. while others were horribly bruised or bui ltu. utllIIlCdjlOn m many cases was difficult; one mans idcn- tity was established only through the fact that he was known to have broken toe.
 Joe Ponsclla. Arnold Kcssingar and Frank Gonzales. the three men taken alive from the mine. all told stories of a terrific concussion which left them 1azod and doafcneI. Working much Gcarcr the entrance than inc others in the mine, thn trio groped their way further into the entry and away from the main shaft, fearing the dread mine damp. then all lapscd into unconsciousnc4s until they were taken to an emcr- Gency hospital, near the scene of the disaster
 The seat of the explosion was not located on the first inspection Hay
 Continued on Page Two)