Emery County Progress | 1906-03-31 | Page 4 | Gas Explosion in Coal Mine

CS IN IRL MINE terrible accident at small mining town in west virginia ten bodies have beert been recovered and it is bel be eved that between fifty and seventy fv ave e have lost their lives as result of the accident fairmont W va ten men are known to be dead twenty five injured and from twenty five to seventy five missing and believed to be dead as the result of an explosion of gas in 9 the shaft of the century coal corn pany at century a small mining town the explosion took place at 4 30 in the afternoon but owing to the tele phone wires being put out of commis sion by the high winds details are lacking and the names of the victims bix six of whom are known to be foreign erg ers have not been secured the century mine wh ch is owned by shaw brothers of baltimore bisone isone Is one of the largest independent operations in northern west virginia ov over er men are employed daily in the shaft and had the explosion been an hour earlier the loss of life would have been appalling As it was there were but a few remaining in the shaft the main body of the miners having quit work for the day the giant fan which furnishes air tor for the shaft was partially wrecked by the force of the explosion but was repaired immediately and within an hour after the accident superintendent james ward had a relief gang in the mine the first trip out brought ten men five dead and five badly burned they were found in the main heading near the bottom of the shaft the living could give no details of the ex saying they were on their way to the surface when the explosion took place behind them