Evening star., 1938-04-23

Mlngo Keadle, vice president of the
company, said the air had been cleared
in all shafts. and rescue squads fought
to clear their way through them, but
scant hope was held for any of those
in the mine.
AL Of the miners were white men.
supt. E. r. Kirby was one ct the
first to enter the damaged shafts and
took charge Of the rescue work. Tho
crews found steel fan constructed to
supply $4,000 cubic feet OF air per
minute twisted from its base.
Explosion Laid to Dust.
The explosion, believed caused by
dust wrecked the operation, one of
the largest in Buchanan County, just
after four pine cars carrying men for
the night shift had entered the shaft.
The tremendous conclusion was felt
for miles around.
Fallen slate. coal and rock slowed
the efforts Of the rescue workers who
did not reach the scene until after
dark. Cropping carefully along the
haulage way they first came upon the
bodies of four mine motor operators
sprawled in the motor barn not far
inside the mouth.
News of the disaster spread quickly
in the little colony huddled in a mar
row valley over which Cumberland
Peaks tower. Two hours later State
police estimated 10000 persons were
on the scene.
Relatives, friends and neighbors
were held back by State police and
later retired from the scene at the
urging of officers.
Bodies Taken to Richlands, Va.
Bodies Of the men removed from
the mine and those killed at the en-
trance were taken to Richlands, Va,
where they filled the towns two funeral
homes.
The l8 identified were Ernest Boyd,
Hammond Varney, Orville Street. Coy
Reed, j. L. Blevins. Kilmer Patrick, Ed
Gilley, Claud Dollar, j. w. Combs,
Glenn Ratchff. Anvil Norris and F. L.
Buckler, Marcus Thacker. O. c. Hitch
cock, Charlie Keen. w. H. Grant,
Walker Sutherland and Ancill Owens.
Three miners suffered injuries.
They were j. w. Elam and Clarence
Combs, who suffered burns and back
injuries, and Ed Harris, who received
several broken ribs. Mr.. Elam and
Mr.. Combs were in critical condition
at Richlands hospital 10 miles from
the scene.
The coal operation on Keen Noun
tain begun last November and it was
one Of the most modern in the Ap-
palachian region. It had a potential
capacity Of 1000 tons a day but had
been operated in recent week at only
1000 tons daily.
Officer Witnesses Explosion.
sergt. Paul F. Springer of the vir-
ginia State police witnessed the ex-
plosion and said it looked like the
whole top Of the mountain was COM
ing of. He rushed up the mountain
down which tumbled the huge electric
motors and house.
Merchandise was thrown from
shelves in store mile away.
The officer said two men were de.
capitated by big motor as it fell.
Sergt. Springer took charge at the
entrance as friends and relatives hur-
riedly assembled, frightened, almost
stunned. He praised the conduct of
those who feared their loved ones were
entombed.
Il didn't have to tell them to get
back but once-and I was the only
officer up there at that time," he said.
The officer said he saw little hope
for those trapped behind the blast.
IT that explosion went back far
enough and pulled down those CELL
ings 1t may take week to get them
all out" he said.
The mine, Of the drift" type and
one Of the larfest operations in this
section, normally employs about 300
men.
Mr.. Harris, q worker outside the
who was burned by the
flames, said:
you couldn't describe it. Ono
We were there busy and the
next everything was in . mess. Its
hard to think Just what happened"