Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-29
g DIE, NINE SAVED
IN MINE EXPLOSION
Seven Brought Out Anve To-
day From Shaft in FL
diana Disaster,
Nv the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press
LINTON, Ind, January 29.-The
lives of 20 miners were snuffed out in an
explosion at the Little Betty Coal Mine
near here late yesterday. With the res
cue of two men last night and seven
more this morning all of them in the
mine had been accounted for.
Those brought to the surface today
were Locie Hale, Julie Wellington, VIII
JusS CrouSs. and Herman Brown. All
were in good condition.
Eighteen Bodies Removed.
Eighteen bodies were taken from the
mine this morning
The men who were brought out alive
this morning had barricaded themselves
in an entry of one of the main corridors.
When they were brought up alive res
cue workers renewed their efforts to
penetrate the gas-fllled shaft In the
hope Of still others might be found alive.
Triumphant shouts went up from the
crowd lingering about the shaft in the
almost vain hope that some would be
rescued alive.
Early last night the rescue work
erS and Albert G. Daily, State mine in
Spector, had expressed the belief that all
those in the shaft at the time of the ex-
ploSion were dead.
The cause of the blast could not be
determined Immediately. Veteran miners
expressed the belief It was q gas ex-
plosion. First reports were that DOW
der being carried into the mine for
firing shots had exploded. The rescue
crews, however, said 10 boxes of pow
der were found intact.
Probe Awaits Rescue.
Daley said there would be no in
vestigation of the blast until all bodies
had been recovered. Daley arrived
from indianapolis few hours after
the catastrophe and aided in organic
ing the rescue work.
Some Of the bodies brought to the
surface were badly mangled. Others
were badly charred. Still others bore
no marks, indicating poisonous gas
following the explosion had taken toll.
Most of the lis men Of the day
force working in the west entry had
just left the mine when the explosion
sent its booming warning over 2-mile
radius. Others quickly scurried to
safety, but 80 were trapped under
ground and were believed at first to
be either killed outright or caught by
CAAC POAoOAOuo UInCh OdInp WHICH 1Ol-
lowed the blast.
Quickly organized rescue teams
worked through last night, risking
their lives in efforts to reach the en-
tombed men, while hundreds of per-
sons, including wives and children of
miners, milled about the pit mouth.
Eight OF the rescuers were temporarily
overcome by the gas.
Poisonous gas and brattices broken
by the explosion, delayed progress of
the rescue crews.
Two in Hospital.
Earl Bedwel of Digger, Ind, died
last night in hospital after he was
removed from the mine alive. Don
Burrts, Digger, and Joe Wallace.
PleaSantville, were reported in salts
factory condition at hospitals.
Burris, from his hospital bed. told
how after the explosion he grabbed a
trolley wire and followed it toward the
mine mouth, calling to others to follow
him. He said suddenly everything
went black" and he din't remember
anything more until he reached the air.
He was unconscious in the mine for two
hours before rescuerS reached him.
Bedwel was brought out at the same
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