Tank's Poetry
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united states mine rescue association
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Tank's Poetry |
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The explosion ripped through mine No. 3, of the Pennsylvania Coal and Coke company shortly after noon, when the entire day shift was at work in the headings leading from the main drift. The force of the blast was felt 10 miles away, rocking this mining village of 200 houses as if it were the center of an earthquake. Hundreds of miners and members of the families of the men in the workings rushed to the mine mouth. They held little hope for their fellow workers and loved ones, believing that a blast of such force would surely claim the life of every man in the underground tunnels. Walk from Supposed Tomb In the meantime, rescue workers, recruited from all parts of the field, succeeded in making their way down the main drift. Near where the blast is believed to have originated, they came upon four bodies. These men, caught in the open tunnels had no chance to escape. The others, at work in digging rooms off the main channels, were safe, as the blast passed them by and spent itself on the surface, where it damaged mine property and shattered every window in the village. As nightfall came upon the scene, a rescue squad marched from the main drift bearing the bodies of the four victims. Federal and state mine inspectors then went into the workings, hoping to ascertain the cause of the blast. Company officials believed that a runaway string of cars broke a trolley wire, causing a spark which ignited coal dust. Rescuers Gather Quickly The mine, a union operation, is one of the largest drift mouth workings in the field, and had been operated since 1883. Today's was the first explosion in its history. Mining men at the scene marveled at the speed with which rescue workers were gathered. Of the three hundred survivors, only six needed aid to get from the mine. These men were affected by afterdamp, but recovered quickly. Damage within the mine was not great company officials said, and it will be shut down only for a few days. Dr. Charles Barto, company physician, was not in the mine when the explosion occurred, but he was injured more seriously than any of the survivors. The doctor was seated in the company office, about 100 feet from the mine mouth. When the force of the blast ripped out of the drift, it shattered the office windows and the physician was caught in a shower of glass. He received many cuts. Pathos Has Its Part This aged mother has not been told that William is dead, because her neighbors fear the shock might kill her. Only a week ago death visited the Connelly home. Another son, John, who worked in the mine with William until recently, answered the last call, a victim of gas he inhaled during the World War. The other victims of today's explosion were Dan McConghey, John Fesko and John Shedlock, all of Ehrenfeld and South Fork. |
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Terrific Mine Blast Claims But 4 Victims