Tank's Poetry
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united states mine rescue association
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Tank's Poetry |
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From the Google News Archives:  (news links open in a separate window)
Fire in an Alabama Mine The Nebraska State Journal, Lincoln, Nebraska September 21, 1897 A panic followed among the workers and rescue parties were at once formed to relieve the miners. More than fifty were gotten out from the various entrances without harm. Others were overcome by smoke and fell by the wayside. The brave searchers found and dragged them out while those waiting at the entrance restored life to their unconscious friends. A scene of wild excitement prevailed at the mine's mouth, and woman and children were screaming and shouting for help and a fire brigade was at work endeavoring to overcome the flames. Five men who were working about the slope beyond where the fire originated could not be reached and it is regarded as certain that they are dead. It is possible that two or three others may be in the mines, but these five are known to be lost. There was no possibility of their escape and the fire brigade battled with the flames all day in a vain attempt to reach the entombed me, but at nightfall the fire was still burning fiercely and efforts were abandoned and the men were given up for dead. The News, Frederick, Maryland September 21, 1897 Birmingham, Sept. 21. -- About two hours after the men went to work in mine No. 3 of the Bessemer Land and Improvement Company at Belle Ellen, near Blocton, Bibb County, yesterday, fire was discovered far down in the main slope. About a hundred men are employed in the mine, and an alarm was at once given. A panic followed among the workers and in the little town of Belle Ellen. Hundreds of men, women and children gathered at the main entrance of the smoking mine, while rescue parties were formed to relieve the miners. More than 50 were gotten out from the various entrances without harm. Others were overcome by smoke and fell in the tunnels. These, the searchers found and dragged out. A scene of wildest excitement prevailed at the mine's mouth. Women and children were screaming and shouting for help and a fire brigade was at work endeavoring to overcome the flames. Five men who were working about the slope between where the fire originated could not be reached, and it is regarded as certain that they are dead. The missing are Herman Kramer and Hubbard Foley, white, and Henry Reeves, Frank James and William Fairfax, colored. It is possible that two or three others may be in the mine, but these five are known to be lost. There was no possibility of their escaping, and the fire brigade battled with the flames all day in a vain attempt to reach the entombed men, but at nightfall the fire was still burning fiercely and efforts were abandoned and the men were given up for dead. The fire is thought to have originated from an overhead steam pipe, which ignited gas in the mine. A careful check is being made of the list of miners in the mine where the fire broke out, to ascertain, if possible, if the death list will exceed five. So far it is not positively known that any others are missing. |
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