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-■ — ■ — • --Horrible Mine Explosion155 Men Bueied Alive in a Vir-ginia Coal Mine.Latest advices from the miuo disaster at Pocahontas, Tazewell county, Va., confirm the first reports of its magnitude. Out of the one hundred and fitty-five men who went to work on the night shift not a single one has come out alive, aud there is no hope that anything hut dead bodies will be recovered. The mines are still on fire aud the only means of extinguishing it is to close and seal them up. This is now being done, and the mines will remain sealed probably two weeks.TERRIFIC FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION.The scene at the mouth of the mines bailies description. The hillsides in every direction are strewu with de bris and blackened with coal dust, blown with terrific force from the entrance to the mine; trees torn to pieces aud limbs scattered about. Particles of wreck were blown dear over the mountain ridge fronting approaches to the ruins and picked up more than half a mile distant.So terrific was the force of the explosion that the windows in the house Of a farmer two miles off were shivered.FUTILE EFFORTS TO ENTER TJIE MINE.There are five entrances to the mine, which are all filled with foul air rendering the recovery of the dead bodies impossible. Every attempt to enter the mines has beeu attended with bad results, and in several iu-stances men have barely escaped dying from the overpowering effects of the gas. The farthest eutry effected was by a Hungariau, whoso sons were buried iu the mines. He was nearly crazed by grief. Ho could not be re strained, aud penetrated to a considerable distance, but eventually was forced to retire. He reported seeing a number of bodies congregated indiscriminately in one chamber, torn and mangled beyond recognition.STATEMENT OF TUB MAN Ad Kit — JUS THEORY OFTHE ACCIDENT— EFFOltTS OF THK FIRST EXPLORING PARTIES.A Pocahontas special to the Herald says : Mr. W. H. Cocking, the general manager of the mine, in answer to the Herald correspondent, said : ,-0n Wednesuay I was in personal charge of the mine up to 0 o’clock in the evening. Everything was then iu perfect order, a good circulation of air travelling through every channel of the mine. After 0 o’clock I left to give instructions to L. M. Hampton, the night-foreman, I did so, and went to my home, near the north entrance, by the fan tunnel. Nothing unusual occurred until about 1 o’clock on Thursday morning, when Hampton sent orders to the engineer to slacken the speed of the air, the current of air being so strong in the mines that the men’s lamps became extinguished.TUB FIRST EXPLOSION.“ About twenty minutes after the first explosion there was a loud, heavy report, which came like a whirl wind, with a rumbling sound, followed by a noiso like a hail storm. I got out of bed, aud a volley of dust and pieces of timber blew my window in, lilling the house with particles and breaking my bed. The whole valley was illuminated with blazing dust. Pieces of cars, mules, anti timber were blown a quarter of n mile away. I sent at once for the superintendent, Mr. Lathrop. I think Hampton went In with about 120 men. I would not say there were any more, but think there were that many with him. I went into the main or South opening.OPINION OF EXPERTS.Colonel George Dodds, of the Midlothian mines, and other experienced mining engineers, visited the mines yesterday morning and made a careful examination of the surroundings. After consultation, it was decided uu-■afe to attempt to use the fan, aud orders were immediately issued to have the mines closed and sealed as the only means of suppressing the Are, which is still burning.
Newspaper Details
Our Church Paper
New Market, Virginia, US
Thu, Mar 27, 1884
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Rachel B.
USA 25 Sep 2024
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