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Wednesday March 3, 1915
Fayette County, West Virginia - Massive Explosion at Layland Mine Entombs 170 Miners
There has been another major coal mine disaster in Fayette County, West Virginia, where only a few weeks ago 21 men were killed at the Carlisle Coal Mine. Yesterday at 8:30 in the morning, a massive explosion blew up the Layland Mine, seven miles from Quinnimont, leaving 170 men entombed. One man who was making a delivery near to the mine was killed in the explosion, and nine men have been found dead within the mine so far. Ten men have been brought out alive, but unconscious.
Families gathered at the mouth of the mine to wait and pray as rescue attempts continued throughout the night. Rescue Car No. 8 of the United States Bureau of Mines reached the scene last night. A report received from the Bureau of Mines stated that one member of the rescue team had been killed. No further details on this man's death were given.
Nine Score Miners Entombed
By West Virginia Explosion
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Ten Workers Are Rescued.
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One Hundred and Seventy-Two Others
Believed To Be Lost.
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Fall of Slate, Due To Terrific Force of Blast,
Is Blocking Entries.
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Windows Shattered and Buildings Jarred Many Yards
From Scene of Wreck.
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Concussion Felt Miles Distant-
One Victim, Standing Near Opening,
Is Hurled Against Pole and Killed-
Ignition of Gas in Pocket Blamed For Disaster
That Occurs at Layland.
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SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE ENQUIRER.
Rescue Car Arrives
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Charleston, W. Va., March 2.-Another mine disaster in West Virginia is believed to have claimed more than 170 lives, snuffed out by afterdamp, following an explosion of gas.
Rescue parties late to-night had brought out alive 10 men and recovered bodies of nine victims of the explosion, which entombed 182 miners in the layland mines of New River and Pocahontas Consolidated Coal Company, seven miles from Quinnimont, early to-day.
The work of rescue is continuing and is aided by the crew of Rescue Car No. 8 of the United States Bureau of Mines, which reached the scene to-night.
The explosion destroyed the stone arch over the main entrance of the mine and caused the death of A. B. Cooper. Cooper was delivering groceries within 75 yards of the mine entrance, and was hurled against a telegraph pole.
CLOUDS OF SMOKE ISSUE FROM WORKINGS.
For an hour and a half after the explosion heavy clouds of dense, black smoke issued from the workings. The fan was damaged and was not ready for use for nearly an hour.
A crowd of anxious relatives of the entombed men stood around the entrance all day, but no bodies were allowed to be seen. It is believed that some of the entombed men have been able to brattice themselves in, so as to escape the noxious afterdamp.
From outside evidence the force of the explosion must have been terrific. Besides the stone arch over the main entrance of the workings, which was destroyed, windows within a three-hundred-yard radius were broken, and the explosion was felt for miles around.
The first rescue party which penetrated the mine, a drift working, found bad slate falls. They reported the air courses to be good.
Guard lines have been established about the workings, and only employees are permitted within them.
Most of the entombed miners are of foreign birth, but there also are many Americans.
RESCUED MEN ARE UNCONSCIOUS.
Hugh R. McMillen, assistant mine boss is among the missing.
The rescued men were unconscious when brought to the surface. Several suffered bruises and cuts.
A temporary morgue was built near the entrance of the mine to-day.
It is believed that the striking of a pocket of gas by one of the miners led to the explosion. The explosion, it is said, occurred in Mine No. 3 and spread to Mine No. 4.
None of the 182 men who entered the mine early to-day was able to escape unaided, and it is believed all the entries are blocked.
Two rescue parities of 16 men each went into the mine early to-night and relieved the two parties which had been working all day. The rescuers, it is reported, are making slow progress on account of the heavy falls of slate encountered.
General Superintendent H. M. Bertolet, of the Berwind-White Syndicate, which controls the New River and Pocahontas Consolidated Coal Company at Layland and other places in West Virginia, stated that the mine had been explored to the face, more than one mile from the opening, and that in that main entry the nine bodies were found.
CAUGHT WHEN AT WORK.
Mine No. 3, in which the explosion occurred, is connected on the inside with what are known as Mines Nos. 4 and 5. The fact that only nine bodies were found in the main entry of Mine No. 3, throughout the entire length of three miles, leads the mine officials to believe that the men must have detected foul air or heard the explosion and sought escape through the main entries around to the only opening, or they must have been caught by the afterdamp while at work and succumbed without knowing there had been an explosion.
"We are hoping the men knew of the explosion and have bratticed themselves in some heading where the rescuing parties will find them alive," said Mr. Bertolet.
"We are not taking out the bodies," he said. "We are forging ahead as rapidly as possible to find if there is any one alive, and we will keep up the search during the night and until we have explored the entire mine."
Asked if he believed the explosion was due to gas, he answered in the affirmative.
The rescuing parties have been in charge of Inspectors L. B. Holliday and John I. Absalom, assisted by R. Y. Muir, inspector for the Berwind White Mines, and who until six months ago was an inspector for the department of Mines. Earl Henry, head of the Department of Mines, reached the mine at 10 o'clock to-night, at which time also the mine rescue car reached the scene.
While Bertolet would not venture to give names of those believed to be in the mines at this time, he expressed the belief that many were men with families and mostly English speaking. The company has whenever possible sought miners with families.
The Layland mines are located 2,600 feet above sea level, being higher than those in Raleigh County, where, April 28 last, 180 lives were claimed by an explosion.
Second Blast in Month.
The Layland explosion is the second to take place in West Virginia within the last month, a gas explosion at the Carlisle mine on the White Oak branch of Loop Creek in Fayette County, snuffing out the lives of twenty miners.
The cause of the explosion at Layland will not be definitely determined until a thorough investigation has been made. Reports made to the State Department of Mines show that an inspection of the mine was made by a district mine inspector February 19. At that time no gaseous formations were discovered, the mine was reported free from dust and in good condition.
At an early hour this evening the only plausible explanation advanced as a cause for the explosion was the supposition that a pocket of gas had been struck in one of the furthermost entries of the mine and was ignited by an open lamp.
The mines of Layland are located about seven miles from Quinnimont, on the Quinnimont branch of the Chesapeake and Ohio River railroad. Gas has never been discovered in dangerous quantities at any of the mines on this branch, which follows Laurel Creek from New River.
Blast of Terrific Force.
Reports coming to the local headquarters of the United Mine Workers during the day indicated that the explosion was one of much violence. L. C. Rogers, President of District 29, reported to President Thomas Cairns, at Charleston, that the explosion would have hurled a man 100 feet from the drift mouth. Rogers stated that 182 men had entered the mine for the day when the explosion occurred, and he expressed the opinion that all but a few of them had been killed, either from the violence of the explosion or by asphyxiation.
That the explosion was of terrific force was shown by the early attempts to penetrate the mine. Brattices were blown out and tons of debris were piled roof-high on the main entry at frequent intervals. In a number of instances heavy supports of rock and slate had tumbled down, necessitating the removal from the main haulage way before the rescue crews could proceed.
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MINE RESCUER
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Reported To Have Been Killed in Layland Workings.
Pittsburg, Penn., March 2.-George S. Rice, mining engineer of the Pittsburg station of the Bureau of Mines, upon learning of the explosion near Quinnimont, W. Va., to-day ordered the mine rescue car at Glenallum, W. Va., to proceed to the scene.
The Pittsburg rescue car is being held in readiness. James W. Paul, Chief mining engineer in charge of rescue work, and his assistant, H. D. Mason, Jr., are expected to reach Quinnimont to-night.
The Glenallum rescue car will pick up experienced rescue workers.
A report received by the Bureau of Mines here late to-day was that a member of one of the rescue parties at work in the Layland mines had been killed. No details were given.
[photographs added]
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