By the Associated Press
Coal Glen, May 28—The glimmer of hope that some of the three scores or more miners entombed in the Carolina Coal Company early yesterday might be rescued alive wavered and went out today in the heart of rescue workers, who through the night labored in the recesses of the mine.
Afterdamp, dread enemy of the miner, claimed their lives if they survived the series of explosions which closed their passages to the exterior, rescue workers declared. But despite this belief, which gained headway through the night, they labored no less faithfully in the effort to reach their imprisoned comrades of yesterday.
Throughout the night hundreds of men, women and children, relatives of the entombed men, strained against the barrier ropes surrounding the dusky entrance to the mine.
The arrival of a mine car from West Virginia, whence it was ordered by the bureau of mines, today was expected to facilitate the work of rescue.
Mine officials believed the men would be found in the main shaft after a wall of debris had been cleared away.
Hospital and other relief facilities were made available to care for any man who might be rescued alive. A hospital unit from Fort Bragg, sent here yesterday, stood by to aid should its services be needed.
Adjutant General J. Van B. Metts again made a survey of the situation today.
Two More Bodies Taken from Mine
Coal Glen, N.C., May 28 (AP)—The bodies of Geo. N. Anderson fire boss, and Shubert Anderson were brought to the surface at 3:30 this morning, bringing the total number removed from the mine disaster here to 8. The bodies were found 1,800 feet down the slope.
The two bodies will be shipped to Birmingham, Ala., their homes.
[The Encyclopedia Brittanica has an explanation of afterdamp, the toxic gas that often killed miners after an explosion. For more information on afterdamp, see https://www.britannica.com/technology/mine-gas.] Search Continues
Coal Glenn, N.C., May 28 (AP)—Beneath a summer sun, the relentless search for the entombed victims of the Carolina Coal Company mine disaster of yesterday continued here today, stimulated by federal aid. At midday eight bodies had been brought to the surface, after the steady work of rescue workers for 24 hours had cleared the main shaft of the mine nearly 20,000 feet in the depths of the earth. It was estimated that from 50 to 63 men still remained beyond this level and little hope was entertained that the men would be reached alive.
Hope, which through the night had kept hundreds of grief stricken relatives of the entombed men standing near the mine waiting earnestly and tensely as each crew returned from the lower levels, was virtually abandoned early today when it was found an almost solid wall of slate had closed the main shaft of the mine, perhaps cutting the men behind it off from the foul air caused by the three explosions near the surface, but at the same time effectually closing off their only avenue of fresh air. Experienced miners were of the opinion that the men would not be extricated before tomorrow at the earliest, and when [then?] it was not expected any would be alive. Mine officials today were also less confident that the men would be removed alive after the physical conditions within the mine had been revealed.
There was no demonstration today by the hundred packed as closely about the mouth of the shaft as the guards would permit. The hope of yesterday had been succeeded by black despair today, but there was outward calm today.
But if there was an outburst of grief, the faces of the relatives of the entombed men reflected their inner grief, intensified by a long night of vigil.
The American Legion Auxiliary of Sanford and the local chapter of the American Red Cross were on duty ministering to the physical wants of the rescue workers. Through the black hours of the night the women stood by with coffee and sandwiches for the workers, and today those who had worked all night were relieved by another shift which came from Sanford.
Shortly before 10 o’clock a car from the Bureau of Mines at Washington arrived at the mine in charge of T.T. Read, safety service director of the bureau, and E.H. Groff, foreman of operations. The experts were accompanied by one or two workers of the bureau, while an additional crew was expected late today from Birmingham, Ala., and other points. Immediately after the men arrived they went over the conditions in the mine with those in charge of the work, and it was announced if a sufficient crew of experienced workers could be obtained, the task of going forward in the shaft would proceed at once. Men estimated it would be tomorrow or later before the recesses of the mine believed to hold the greater number of men would be reached.
Were 53 Men in the Mine
Coal Glenn, N.C., May 28 (AP)—A careful re-check by the timekeeper of the Carolina Coal Company’s mine, it was stated, showed that there were 53 men recorded as having been in the mine at the time of the explosion. Of these, 27 were white and 26 negroes. Eight bodies, five white and three negroes, had been recovered.
Records of the mine showed that 59 men, 39 white and 20 negroes, had comprised a crew which went into the mine at 8 a.m., while mine officials reported that 71 miners’ lamps were out and it was believed the entombed list might be increased when finally checked.
Hope was expressed tonight by Bion H. Butler, vice president of the mining company, and William Hill of the Cumnock Coal Mine, nearby, that the entombed men still live. Miners from the Cumnock company aided throughout the day in the work of rescue.
Air Clear in Mine
Mr. Hill said that the air was clear in the mine below where the bodies were found and this was held to indicate by officials that the entrapped men might still survive. The fans were kept going all day, purifying the inner recesses of the mine, that eater fellow workers and those from nearby points might penetrate further into the dark passages that were believed to hold victims of the disaster.
Mr. Butler told newspaper men tonight that his information was to the effect that the first explosion was in the second right lateral of the mine, approximately a thousand feet from the entrance. He added that if this was true the main shaft might not have filled with gas but merely was blocked with debris.
The two subsequent explosions were believed by officials to have occurred between the second right shaft and the opening. The second and third explosions came at half hour intervals after that at 9:30 o’clock which had blocked the men from the entrance.
Mine authorities said the finding of the six bodies climaxed what appeared to be almost a rescue for them, the men apparently having died only a short time before they were reached.
Scene of Sorrow
This section tonight presented a scene of sorrow and suspense, with women and children, composing the families of the men in the lap of the disaster, gathered as near the scene as possible, waiting and praying that their father or brother might be returned safely to them, yet grimly realizing that only a miracle could have saved them.
Man, too, awaited hopefully for rescue cars rushing across neighboring states to the aid of the pent-in miners, and hoped against time that they might not be too late. Leaders of the rescue work had been authorized of action taken by the bureau of mines at Washington to lend aid and were looking forward to their arrival, although feverish workers toiled as rapidly as possible that they might if possible effect a rescue at any hour.
Little hope of reaching the entombed men before tomorrow was held, those in charge admitted.
While two lorries of troops from Fort Bragg were sent to the scene, their services were declined. Adjutant General Metts, representing Governor McLean, is on the grounds and declared that he would remain at the mine for two or three days.
From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Thursday, May 28, 1925
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1925-05-28/ed-1/seq-1/#words=MAY+28%2C+1925
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