“Death came suddenly to the Monongah miners, and it is probable that many of them were taken off without bodily pain. The greatest sufferers were and are the women who are left behind. The anguish of their hearts as they waited in awful suspense between hope and dread, only to realize at the last that their loved ones had perished, is known only to themselves and to the pitying God, who alone can give consolation. And they must suffer on haunted forever by the recollection of the terrible ordeal. This case is not exceptional. When the men are in peril, the women must agonize. Theirs but to wait and mourn…‘For men must work and women must weep.’” (TD 12.10.07 pg. 6)
Evening
At the mines:
Both mines are sufficiently cleared of foul gasses that recovery work progresses at a faster rate.
“Until Tuesday evening 142 bodies of the victims of the Monongah, W. Va., mine explosion had been rescued.” (CC 12.12.07 pg. 2)
In Monongah:
Several different parties of inspectors are formed to begin determining the cause of the explosion. One of the inspectors from Pennsylvania spends an entire week surveying and examining the mines. (McAteer)
“The various lodges and churches of Monongah have sustained heavy loss.” (FWV 12.10.07 pg. 6)
During the night:
In Iowa:
In Morgantown:
Mayor I.N. Lucas holds meeting for the citizens of Morgantown to render assistance to Monongah victims. (FWV 12.9.07 pg. ?)
N.C. Prickett, Grand Chancellor of the Knights of Pythias of West Virginia is in Monongah making arrangements for the relief of the distressed families of the order. The local lodges are working to relieve the sufferers. (FWV 12.11.07 pg. 8)
In Fairmont:
“There was a rumor about Fairmont last night to the effect that some of the miners might be alive in the mines. The gossip was that a workman had heard rapping noises on a pipe. J.H. Wheelwright, who has been at the mines since the explosion, declared he had heard none of the supposed rappings and that it was ridiculous to suppose that anyone within the mines could be alive.” (CET 12.11.07 pg. 1)
At the mines:
“When darkness fell tonight 141 bodies had been brought to the surface while many more were located with every prospect of the rapid work of recovery of the past twenty-four hours continuing throughout the night.” (News)
23 bodies are removed tonight. (FWV 12.11.07 pg.1)
“Owing to the inclement weather it was impossible to bury bodies in the regular Potter’s Field, on the top of a steep hill, and when this became known the Fairmont Coal Company turned over an acre of ground just behind the Polish church of Monongah and this is being used as a Potter’s Field.” (NYTb 12.11.07 pg. 11)
“The crowds of idlers who surged about the pit entrances…have been dwindling ever since the rainstorm last night until tonight there only remained the forces employed in the rescue work, the newspaper workers and the inconsolable near relatives of victims who have remained faithful in the vigil during the downpour all night and all day, still shivering and enduring the physical discomfort in the wet snow that succeeded the rain.” (AR 12.11.07 pg. 1) (LAH 12.11.07 pg. 7)
“The bad weather did not stop the grave-diggers for they toiled from morning until night. It was found that the wagons could not make the trips up the steep hills to the regular Potter’s Field, so the company donated an acre of ground near the Polish and Italian Catholic cemetery. Several of the unknowns were buried there but the first body interred was that of John A. Ringer, an American. His widow brought her child to the morgue and identified the body. She said she had no money to pay the burial expenses and that the body would have to be placed in the Potter’s Field.” (CET 12.11.07 pg. 1)
“Another pathetic incident was the saving of the remains of Tom Donlin from the potter’s field by Mrs. A.J. Ruckman. The body was found on Tuesday night and passed by unidentified; his own little girl had looked at almost every body brought out, saying, ‘That’s not my papa.’” Luckily, Mrs. Ruckman manages to somehow recognize and identify Tom’s body, despite it being “mutilated”, before he is sent off with the others. (FWV 12.12.07 pg. )
“Mr. Wheelwright said the rescuing squads were working close to the underground passageway which connects the two mines and that the men hope to be working in the passageway and will work toward each other.” (CET 12.11.07 pg. 1)
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The Monongah Disaster 