The Pittsburgh Press from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 1

7 EE nn SBXJ LOCAL UEATUER FORECAST FAIR Forecast for Western Pennsylvania: Fair to light, with partly cloudy weather predicted for Sunday. Closing ESTABLI IED 1884 SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 7, 1907 TWELVE PAGES TOM ME CARLOADS OF COFFINS NOW IN STRICKEN MINING TOWN rim nn 5 DISASTER DEATH LIST IS INCOMPLETE AS YET I I About 40 130 Bodies Found in the lines and Brought to Surface, Where Most Agonizing Scenes Are Enacted HUL'GH BOXES READY TO RECEIVE BODIES OF MIXERS WHO WERE KILLED IN THE MOXOXGAH DISASTER. BY. B. N.

SPARKS, Staff Correspondent. Fairmont, W. December 7. The death list of the Monongah mine disaster is necessarily incomplete as yet. Latest advices giW the following THE KNOWN INJURED.

JOSEPH NEWTON, negro; worked in No. 8, fan house; head injured. PAT McDONALD, boy, blown off bridg by explosion. PARTIAL LIST OF THOSE ENTOMBED. BY B.

N. SPARKS, Staff Correspondent. Talrmortt, W. Dfcembor 7. Four rarloads of coffins, about 4n In have been received at Monongrah.

from Pittsburg-. Zanesville. Wheeling-, Clarksburg, W. and ilarttnsburg-, Va. I'nderlakers R.

C. Jones, EH Musgrave and R. L. Cunningham, of Fairmont, are caring- for the dead bodies. They are working in overalls and jumpers.

Each dead body is being clothed In a new suit of black clothes, rushed from Pittsburg and s'urounding cities. Four hundred suits were ordered. The Fairmont Coal Co. placed an order with the National Casket of Pittsburg-, for' 75 coffins and rough boxes immediately after the explosion in the Monongah mine yesterday. The order was delivered in two shipments one of 25 boxes leaving at 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon and the other, of 00 boxes, at 9 o'clock.

Later a supplementary order for 'J'2 more caskets was received. By BEVERLEY N. SPARKS, Stan Correspondent. Fairmont, W. December 7.

About 130 corpses had been found in the wrecked Monongah mines here at 1 o'clock this afternoon. This is a suggestion of the frightful harvest which Death has reaped in the two ill- "Tr PITTSBURG, WOMEN HELP IN WORK OFjIESCUE Ladies' Aid Society of Fairmont Supplies Coffee and Sandwiches. BY B. N. SPARKS, Staff Correspondent.

Fairmont. W. December T. Th Toadies' Aid Society of Fairmont is taking an active part In the work of relief and is rushing warm clothes and food supplies to the mine. The exhausted rescue gangs are fed by representatives of the society and given dry clothes to take the place of the perspiration-soaked garments.

In this way the men are able to stand the. extreme exposure of coming out of the hot interior to meet the icy winds sweeping around the mine. The society has also prepared huge cans and tubs of boiling hot coffee, and hundreds of sandwiches, which are urged on all the rescuers and the shivering and children. Iast night the women held a meeting and resolved to help in rescuing the dead. hey were told this morning that all they could do was to prepare food and drink for the workers.

MONARCH AT POINT OF DEATH By United nre. Stockholm, Sweden, December 7. It is feared King Oscar is at the point of death. Heart trouhle is beginning to" manifest itself and at times bis majesty is but partly conscious. An official bulletin issued today says his "strength has steadily decreased for 24 hours and especially in the course of the night." The pastor primarius, or head of the church in Sweden, has been urgently summoned to King Oscar's bedside.

His majesty's death is momentarily expected. i (HIP RESCUE HARRY TRADER, FRED ROGERS, WILLIAM STEAKET. JOHN HALM. JOHN HINERMAN, FRANK MOONEY, ALFRED MILLER, JOHN MILLER, LENNIE MOORE, MOORE. DAN MOORE.

JOHN GEYES, WILLIAM GEYES, ANDY NORRIS, THOMAS DONALD. JEFFERSON FLUHARTY. SCOTT STONE, "KID" DAVIS, DENNTS SLOAN, FLOYD FORD, FAL COOPER, aged 12. SAMUEL KELLY. HARRY EVANS, FRANK HO RYER.

-HENRY MARTIN. TIMOTHY LYDEN, DAVIS RIGGIN. WILLIAM COFFMAN. ZlDmilO LJuarters Stock Quotatic ONE CEN "2 SAMUEL THOMPSON. SCOTT MARTIN, CURENCE MORRIS.

CHARLES HONAKER LESLIE SPRAGG, HARRISON MARTIN, JOHN RINGER. HOMER PYLES, JOHN SMITH. CHARLES M'KANE, L. L. MOORE.

JOHN MOORT, CHARLES MOORT. F. D. SNODGRASS GEORGE SNODGR DANIEL HIGH LA PATRICK I-OCKNt THOMAS KILLEN? G. D.

SANDEE, JOHN JANES, PATRICK KEARNS, JOHN HAYNER. TfjOMAS WEIAGO. -THOMAS GR1BON. JOHN ROSBEIG. DENNIS ROGERS.

SIX M'GRAW BOYS, GEORGE COX. FLOYD FORD. FAY' COOPER. -SAM KELLEY. HARRY EVANS.

FRANK SHROYER. HENRY MARTIN. TIMOTHY LYDEN. DAVIS RIGEIN. WILLIAM COFFMAN.

SAMUEL THOMPSON. SCOTT MARTIN. FRANK MORRIS. LESLIE STRETTS. HARRISON MARTIN.

JOHN RINGER. HOMER CYLES. SMITH. FARRELL McKANE. L.

MOORE. JOHN MOORE. F. O. SNODGRASS.

GEORGE SNODGRASS. SAMUEL HIGHLAND. PATRICK LOCKNEY. THOMAS KILLEN. E.

D. SANTEE. -JOHN JAMES. PATRICK KERNS. JOHN HAYNER.

THOMAS SAVEIACE. THOMAS GRIBON. CHARLES WEISE. a son-in-law of Cat. tain Thomas Reed.

Weise was inspect ing the' mine vesterday. JOHN M. McGROW, taken out still alive, died later. GAS CAUSE OF THEJjSASTER West Virginia State Geologist Believes It Brought About the Explosion. BY M.

G. HAYMOND. Morgantown, W. December 7. I.

C. White," State geologist, said this morning that while the facts in the case of the at Monongah were not known, it was most likely due to an explosion of gas, possibly combined with dust. "Gas accumulates in all mines." said Mr. White, "and I would think that the explosion -came from this. It If more than likely that dust combined with tho gas In the explosion.

This, -of course, is in face of the precautions which the companv took to keep its mines free from all dangers." The company is a very large one and did everything possible to make the mines safe, but gas accumulating in the mines is always a menace. I would think this was the cause of the explosion." There are rumors here that the mines had not been working the day before tho explosion on account of gas, but they are not confirmed. At An REHEARSAL. fated mines which were yesterday ravaged by the worst explosion in the history of coal mining in America. This morning another fire in the mine caused fresh consternation.

Conservative estimates place the number of men and boys killed in the mine at between 400 and 475. Little hope is entertained of bringing any alive to the surface, as from the difficulties attending the i work of rescue the task cannot be completed for at least a week. The 'dead bodied brought out so far have been taken to the temporary morgue in the building of the National Bank of Monongah, where preparations are being made to receive all the others. A thousand men are working to rescue the entombed miners, but they are making discouragingly slow progress. C3 1 GREAT MINE DISASTERS In the ollowlng list of notable mine disasters It be seen that Pennsylvania ha had more than her share of them.

The Important ones follow: Johnstown, July 11. lf)o2. 112 dead. Auderlues, Belgium, March 11, 1902, 2-i dead. -Nainamo, Vancouver.

May; 4. 1S87, 170 dead. L'ind, Hill, England. February 19. 1S57.

1S! dead. Sydney. Australia. March 2o, 18S7. 87 dead.

Dour. Belgium, November IS. 121 dead. Berlin, Germany, August 19. 1893, 57 dead.

Rhondda Valley, Wales, February 18, 1KS7, 33 dead. Mens. Belgium. March, 5. 1SS5.

87 dead. Braznell mine, near Brownsville. December 24. 18S0. 30 dead.

Port Boyal, 1900. 21 dead. Hill Farm Mine, Dunbar, June 16, 1890, 31 dead. Hill Farm Mine Dunbar, November 21 1903. 12 dead.

Aber Valley, Wales, May 24, 1901, SO dead. Warwick, January 28. 1904, 189 dead. Hanna. Wye, June 30, 1903 2O0 dead.

Pas-de-Calais. France. March IO. 1906, over dead. Canaries.

Mexico. June 1, 1906. IOO dead. Naomi Mine Belle Vernon, December 1. 1907, 34 dead.

Pocohcntas Mine. Virginia, 1884, S07 dead. Newburg. W. 18.

39 dead, Red Ash. W. March 6, 1W0O. 46 dead. Berryburg Mine.

Barbour county, W. November 2. 1900. 15 dead. ing the work, and hag issued orders for every miner employed in the 47 mines of the company in the Fairmont district to be ready for service in the rescue work.

From these 47 mines at least 1.000 men will be drawn, and it is said that every one of them will be badly needed, as the work presents difficulties never before experienced in a mine disaster. AGONIZING SCENES. With the early dawn of day and rising" of the sun. the beautiful little mining village of Monongah was found to be one of sorrow and despair. Throughout the night widows and orpnans hovered close together at the mine entrance, despite the coldness of the night, hoping against hope that their loved ones would still be found alive who were entombed.

The concussion was felt all over the country, houses were wrecked, windows broken and many persons near the mines knocked -dawn and injured. Thousands of people have assembled at the mine entrances. The scenes about the mine openings throughout the night were agonizing in the extreme. The anguish of wives and mothers who wrune their hands and cried hysterically out of their solicitude for bread winners who were locked up in their underground sepulchre, were p-ninful in the extreme. Women fainted.

Strong men gave way. Little children, onH-faintly realizing what happened, cried pitifully, not for absent fathers und brothers, but because of the distress CLARKSBURG STARTS A RELIEF FUND ALREADY BY B. N. SPARKS, Stuff Correspondent. Fairmont.

W. December 7. The following telegram was received by C. W. Watson, president of the Fairmont 'Coal this morning from the mayor of Clarksburg.

W. Citizens have started a relief fund. Call on us for any help needed. (Signed) L. C.

CRILE, Mayor. To this President Watson returned the following answer: Many thanks for your telegram. Will not hesitate to call upon you if the occasion- requires. We are giving all possible attention to the suffering families. (Signed) C.

W. WATSON, President of the Fairmont Coal Co. President Watson also sent the following message to Governor M. W. O.

Dawson of West Virginia: Newspaper reports have been sent from here stating that rescuing parties have been lost. These are false. Crowds are large, but order is excellent. Everything possible is being done for families who have suffered and there is no destitution of any kind as far as I can Assistance of every kind has been offered by our night boys and operators in other Railroads and business people generally here have put themselves at our service. (Signed) C.

W. WATSON. THE KNOWN DEAD. DAWSON READY TOJENDAID Virginia Governor W' Act Promptly, Jf Coal Company Requests. Special to The Press.

Charleston. W. December T. Governor William M. O.

Dawson is waiting, prepared to take any measures which may be deemed necessary on account of the explosion at Monongah. He lias not received any further word following the reply from the Fairmont Coal Co. officials, replying to his offers of last night. These officials thanked the governor and said they would call on him for anvthing they deemed necessary. The governor will act promptly if any help is asked.

The report of the possibility of dispatching troops to the mines has not resulted yet in anything more than talk and, so far as known now, none will be sent. THE WEATHER. The local is for fair Sunrise ttxiav. 7:02 am -Sunset today pm i Pittsbtir-K Meridian Time) Comparative temperature and precipitation for lfcemb.1i- 7: Burst Out Afresh in MmA I UlA mint; inib mummy ctuu Drove Back Men Working To ncach Comrades. DISASTER ORPHANS OVER 1,000 CHILDREN By M.

C. LOUGH. Fairmont, XV. December 7- lliere was another fire inside of the slope of Monongah mine Xo. 8 carh this morning, due xo the starting of the fan shortly after midnight.

was put out after an hour, anil the fan working successfully facilitated the efforts of-tho rescuers': to get into the mines. Owinjc to the nfeesity of erect-ins brattices tor the safety of the rtscu- ins parties, the progress underground is ijoiitia to be very slow. he air is so had that the utmost precaution is neces sary on the part of the invading forces. When I'eter Rosebeiis. the Pole, erowled out of the "toad hole." some distance from the- mouth of the pit.

he tried to irtl of those inside. He managed to say that his brother was just inside and that several others were near, but his state-ji irtents generally were of a rambling nature owing to his condition, and it was had to understand what he said, for his logue was pht. his face burned and his body fearfully racked. His brother was found where Indicated with his face partly ouriod in the mud where he had fallen. A NARROW ESCAPE.

t'harles Wise, the civil engineer, of Fairmont, who went down in the mine yesterday morning, is supposed to have cone a mile and a half back from the mouth of the mine on an inspection trip. He was a son-in-law of Captain Thomas Heed, of Fairmont, and a brother-in-law of C. E. Reed, who represents the CJuftey tnterests in this vicinity. He had been in the mine quite a ion time ge fore the explosion.

Ai'other man ho if among those down the mine is John M. Met? raw, one of the most popular pit bosses hereabouts. It- was more famihary known as John T. his friends humorously changing his initial to conform with that of the not -d politician of this state. Another among the missing is Charles HcKane.

ne of his lawyers remarked lhat he lii'd finished only yesterday the record of suit of McKane had against the Ohio Railroad for damages. He is undoubtedly among the dead also. All mlnlngr work in this neighborhood 1 been suspniou and everything li'-fn done to forward the work of rescue. R. M.

Hite Coal Co. closed down fully and sent word to the Fairmont Coal Co. that all their "men were willing to do they could for the unfortunates. Continued on Iae S. FRANK LARIO.

single, carpenter R. STALNAKER. 35 years, married. W. R.

DOX. M5 years, married. R. N. MYERS, 3o years old, married J.

A. MYERS. 30 years old. STAN LEY URBAN, of No. 3 Hill street.

WILLIAM L. COVE, a carpenter, married. CHARLES HONAKER, blown out of mine No. fi. PETER ROPBERG.

a Pole. FREDERICK COOPER, motorman. of Locust avenue, Fairmont; leaves a wife and one child. JOHN HARMAN. married, of Monongah.

I.ONNIE HINERMAN, aged 18 years, a brakeman in mine; single. W. H. EYCE. died in Miners' Hospital late last night.

HARRY T. RAPER. FRED ROCERS. WILLIAM STEAKEY. JOHN HALNE.

FRANK MOONEY. ALF MILLER. JOHN MILLER. CONNIE MOORE. MOORE.

JOHN EYESE. WILLIAM EYESE. "ANDY" NORRIS. THOMAS DONALD. JEFFERSON BLUHARTY.

SCOTT SIX)ANE. KID DAVIS. DENNIS SLOANE. M'KEESPORT MAN NOTMUJCTIM Trautman Hears From Son Two Nephews Supposed To Have Perished. Ernest hardware merchant, McKeesport, has a son Emmett, who ha been working for some time at the Monongah mine.

The father received a letter this morning stating that he was all right, as it had not been his turn to work during the day. He stated, however: that two nephews of the father probably were dead. One of the nephews. Harry 'trautman, is known to have been in the mine at the time of the explosion, while the other nephew, whose name has not been ascertained, had not been heard from since the explosion and is supposed to have met a Bimilar fate. Injuries Prove Fatal; Titusville.

December 7. Burdette Gray. a. young living near Spar-tansburg. died yesterday evening as the result of injuries received a few hours previous from a Pennsylvania freight engine, while he was walking on the track.

He was 2ft years old and a son of Myroy Gray at Glynden. round about them and intuitive knowledge that it was an occasion that called for tears. The Fairmont Coal Co. is one of the largest companies of the kind in the country and is capitalized at about $20,000,000. It owns many railroad cars and many engines.

it has upwards of 10O producing properties. The company is the outgrowth of years of coal mining. Lee Malone is the general superintendent of the properties and is known as one of the most careful and competent and practical surjerintendents In the mining industry. His position has been 1 worked into from a trapper boy to which he. has added a technical education.

The principal 1 ffioes of the company are in Baltimore and Fairmont. GOVERNOR IS COMING. Chief Mine Inspector J. E. Paul is expected to arrive on the scene of the dis-ter early this afternoon, and Governor Dawson, of West Virginia, has sent word that he is coming here, and District Inspector M.

I Larew is on the ground now, personally assisting in the work. Of the bodies so far recovered eight have been taken from No. 8 mine and three from No. 6. The scene around the mine is beyond description in its depth of agonized grief.

All night Jong crowds of men. women and children have clustered, shivering in the cold" wind, as near as they could get to the mouth opening, calling 1 pathetically for missing loved ones, screaming in abject sorrow, and wring-' ing their hands In abject misery. The mine is located spoilt mile nnl half from the town of Monongah. and after the frantic women and relatives of the missing men had reached the scene they refused to retrace the weary distance, and so have remained clustered half dead -with cold, fear and exhaustion about the place where their husbands, fathers and sons have met such a dreadful fate. I SUFFER FROM THE COLD.

Every measure to contribute to the comfort and assistance of the rescuers and the wailing, distracted friends of the missing men have been taken by the mine officials and the Baltimore Ohio Railroad, and there is an abundance of hot coffee and food always on hand. The thermometer registered 16 degrees above freezing this morning, and it was colder during the night, but inside the narrow entrance in which the rescuers are working the air is as hot as a furnace, and the men are bathed in perspiration, and emerge from their frightful exertions with clothing wringing wet. CHICAGO GETS CONVENTION By Vnlted Prt-mn. Washington. December 7.

Chicago has beep selected as place for holding the Republican national convention. The members of the national committee resumed their deliberations today and arrived at the result after a lively James Cain, an inspector, was overcome while working in the mine this afternoon and is in a precarious condition. Many women are rallying to aid in giving temporary relief wherever possible, ifcross the street from the mine quarters have been arranged where the distracted widows of the dead miners are cared for. This headquarters for relief Is being operated by the King's Daughters, the Ladies Aid Society and volunteers. Among the women cared for here is the widow of J.

11. Harriman, aged 38 years, whose body was the first one shipped away from here. It was sent at o'clock this afternoon to Eckert, by a special train. It was discovered this afternoon that the families of many of the dead miners will not be without funds. The Ancient Order of United Workmen, the German Beneficial Union of PittsOurg and other fraternal organizations had insured many of the miners for large sums.

The A. O. U. will lose about because of the disaster, and the German Beneficial Union wil lgive up over $14,000 to the widows and orphans. A telegram was received this afternoon from Frederic M.

Da vies, of Xew York, offering assistance. He was told, however, that none was needed at this time. ANOTHER FIRE IN MINE. Another fire broke out in the mine this morning and for over an hour raged with the fury of a volcano, but after hundreds of tons of water had been emptied into the burning area by means of immense lines of hose, the flames were again smothered out. The fire was at once followed by stifling masses of smoke, which are still pour-inisr out cf the mine opening, and driv ing back the desperate rushes of the rescue parties.

The work of rescue is being prosecuted entirely through one opening into No. 8 mine. "This was opened by the explosion itself the force of the gas tearing out at least 50 tons of rock and earth from the side of the mountain. -and revealing an opening into the shaft. LIE IN HELPLESS WRECK.

The other openings, the ones used for entering the mine" and bringing out the coal, were entirely wrecked and blocked by the explosion, and todav lie in a hopeless wreck of piles of debris, through which is forcing its way the poisonous black smoke mingled with the fumes of the explosion. Into the new opening into No. 8 mine the rescuers go in small gangs, aa the space is very limited. The men are displaying an unusual amount of heroism and enthusiasm, but in spite of their utmost efforts, they can only stay inside for a few minutes at a time, as it is almost impossible to breathe-After working desperately as long as they can stand the smoke, the men are recalled, coming out into the fresh air in a terrible condition of exhaustion. Two of the rescuers.

Joshua Cyles and James Lockhart. were overcome while at work and were carried out by their comrades in an insensible condition and had to be removed to the hospital. General Manager Malone. of the (Fairmont Coal is personally superintend- Oft i.v: '(lj "03 '021 '01 'AO 521 42 1 44 15! 32j 2: 2i R3i "3y2 22' 4iK flR! 32! 42! .00 MMniRht a. 34! 1 a.

SiV a. R. 9 a as ss 40 "42 46 a. to a. m.

Cio tt a. 12 noon WashhiKtnn. December 7 Official forecast: AVestern Per.nsj- ania Partly cloudy tonight and Sun lay. Ohi Fair tonight: Sunday increasing cloudiness, posiblv rain. West Virginia Fair and warmer 'tonight; Sunday part tv cloudy.

The rivers will remain nearly stationary. ur Max Minimum Mean nday The Editor of the BILLVILLE BUDGET If You Wish a Hearty Laugh Read This New Feature Taken Behind the Scenes With conductor: PAUFL Humorous Sketches and Snappy Word Description of Popular Typical American Girl FLUFFY RUFFLES Besides Morgan's Page of Drawing, Results of Two Press Contests Will Be Announced bv Naming Fifteen PRIZE WINNERS. Rev. Dr. S.

Edward Young's TIMELY SERMON Taking His Cue From the Financial Situation, He Presents a Strong Discourse on "KEEP YOURSELF IN CIRCULATION." Musician ORCHESTRAL From the Old-Time COUNTRY NEWSPAPER..