DISASTER IN MINE

Otago Witness, Issue 3594, 30 January 1923, Page 21

DISASTER IN MINE

▲ TERRIFIC EXPLOSION. ONE HUNDRED KILLED. The death toll of a dust explosion to-day in mine No. 3, at Dolomite, 16 miles west of Birmingham, Alabama, belonging to tha Woodward Iron Company, will total about 100, when all tire bodies have been removed, with 50 to 75 more or less injured, telegraphed the Birmingham correspondent of a New York paper on November 22. The explosion occurred at 2.40 p.m., and was caused by a strip of tramcars breaking loose on the incline and dashing back jntO the mine, breaking some high tension' wires, and igniting dust. A terrific flame was started and shot out of the nearly 1200 ft to the of the tipple, where the scale house was burned. At the first lift of the incline in the mine, 50ft from the mouth, the coal is assembled to be sent out of the mine. It is knoWn as “the yard,” and upwards of 40 mqn were at work at the time at this point. The terrific flame killed thc-se men in a few seconds. The detonation followed by afterdlamp spread quickly through the mines and those of the 480 men working in the plaoe who were not stricken down instantly began groping their way to safety. A. D. Jones led 20 men to a place of safety, but found afterdamp following. He then told the men to prepare to die. as there oould be no escape. A voice rang out cleai ly through the mines, “Come this way to the y-arefa and get out,” and there was a shout as the score beat their way through the heat to safety. Rescue men gathered at the Dolbmite mines from all parts of the district. Tlie Tennessee Coal, Iron, and Railroad Company of the United States Steel Corporation sent a team of 25 crack rescue men with fufl paraphernalia to go into the mines after the dead and injured men. Fire-fighters worked on the five on the tipple as rescue men worked their way into the mines. Scores of negro miners and mine-workers were caught in the flames and lost their lives. A more terrific dust explosion was never before experienced in the history of coalmining in this State. Representatives of tha United States Bureau of Mines, the State Mine Inspector and assistants and other officials in the mining industry assembled within a few hours after the announcement of the explosion and bent every effort toward rescuing the men. The fans were not broken down and ventilation was not di«turbed. This made it easier for the rescuing work. Much difficulty was experienced in identifying the negro victims of the explosion. It was after nine o’clock before the first of the dead bodies were brought out. lien started fighting ths flames on the tipple, while women and children began wringing their hands, and at the top of their voices cried for loved ones in the mines. As men would come out of the earth, and were recognised they were hugged and kissed. Before the bodies were brought out it was deemed best to rope off the mines, as several thousand people from the city had gathered at the place and were crowding the mouth of the mines. Deputy sheriffs were stationed to keep the crowds back.