By Staff Correspondent
Sanford, N.C., May 27—Most of the 71 miners entombed in the Carolina mine here today and perhaps all of them are believed to be dead. The terrific nature of the explosion and the raging nature of the fire which has now spread through the workings are believed to have sealed their dooms, unless cave-ins have temporarily saved some of the men from the fumes and flames. Rescue work will be slow because of the lack of equipment here and th time needed to get it here.
Captain Barbour Ready
Whether the local machine gun company of the North Carolina National Guard will go to Sanford was not known here this afternoon. Captain L.H. Barbour, commander of the local company, stated about 2:30 o’clock.
“I have heard indirectly about the explosion,” Captain Barbour stated, “but I have received no orders to carry my company to the scene of the disaster.”
“I am ready for any call to duty.”
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Sanford, May 27—At 3 o’clock this afternoon the troops that were ordered out by Governor McLean about noon had not arrived here. However, it is expected that the troops will put in their appearance before night fall, and will assume charge of keeping order, among the thousands who are flocking here from various cities of this section of the state.
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Sanford, N.C., May 27—With virtually the entire population of Sanford at the Carolina Coal company mine, six miles from town, only meagre details sifted through to Sanford this afternoon on the mine disaster this morning, which is said to have killed or entombed from 50 to 75 miners. Six bodies have brought to the mouth of the mine.
According to information received by Chief of Police Parker of Sanford, two explosions in rapid succession shortly after 10 o’clock today closed the shaft. Chief Parker notified Secretary to the Governor, England at Raleigh, and Governor McLean and troops were rushed to the scene.
Hysterical women and wailing children crowded about the mouth of the mine, awaiting the word as to the fate of their husbands, fathers and sweethearts, trapped as they worked far below the surface of the earth. Voluntary guards maintained safety lines and rescue teams worked in shifts. Apparently no danger of the two hours after the explosions.
The accident this morning was the first that has occurred at the mine since it was opened about two years ago. However, several minor accidents have occurred at the old mine of the company, but none recently. Today’s accident is the worst that has ever occurred at any of the local mines.
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By International News Service
Washington, May 27—Seventy-one minors were trapped today in the Carolina Coal company’s mine at Sanford, N.C., of which six have been recovered dead according to telephonic advices received here by the bureau of mines.
The men were trapped in an explosion which was almost immediately followed by fire, bureau officials said. A heavy loss of life is feared because the mine has no facilities for fighting fires and has but one gas mask, it was stated by Dr. T.T. Read, safety service director of the bureau.
Rush Equipment from West Virginia
A rescue car loaded with first aid equipment and experienced men was immediately ordered prepared at Thomas, West Virginia, and J.J. Forbes, engineer of the bureau at Birmingham, Ala., ordered to rush to Thomas to assume charge of the car by 4 p.m. today.
Because there is no engineering equipment available near Thomas, the start of the rescue expedition will not be made before 4 o’clock.
Railroads have been ordered to give the car right of way over all traffic and it is expected to reach Raleigh early tomorrow morning.
The men are trapped in the mine at the present time with rescuers unable to materially aid because of a lack of equipment and the raging fire which began immediately after the explosion partially tore down the walls of the shaft.
Worst In State’s History
The six bodies recovered were those of miners working near the mouth of the shaft, according to bureau officials.
The disaster was said to be one of the worst ones in the history of the North Carolina coal district.
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Raleigh, N.C., May 27—Between 50 and 75 men were entombed in the mine of the Carolina Coal company at Sanford, 45 miles from here today by a terrific gas explosion which wrecked the mouth of the shaft.
Yellow fumes were issuing from crevasses and hampering the work of rescuers when calls for assistance were sent to state officials here.
State troops were dispatched by Governor McLean.
No information could be obtained as to the number of dead and injured from the meagre reports received here. Some said as high as 65 men were buried by the blast, while the information in the hands of the adjutant general placed the number at 50.
Guards on Duty
The Lee county sheriff’s office said guards had been sent from there to the mine to keep back the crowds from the entrance to the shaft.
Governor McLean announced after a long distance telephone conversation with officials of the United States Bureau of Mines at Washington that rescue equipment would be rushed to Sanford by airplane.
Adjutant-General J.B. Van Metts and a corps of engineers from the state highway department were ordered to Sanford to take complete charge of the rescue operations.
General Metts left with instructions to order out such national guard troops from Raleigh, Red Springs, Raeford and Parkton as are necessary to get the men out. No information had reached Raleigh this afternoon as to whether the trapped men are dead or alive, but it is feared that, on account of the comparatively poor development of the mine that all were killed.
Every agency of the state government available has been ordered into action, Governor McLean said.
From the front page of the Durham Sun, May 27, 1925
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn84020732/1925-05-27/ed-1/seq-1/
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