Early Morning
Near St. Mays, WV:
Charles Ankrom, 65, prominent farmer and citizen of Ben’s Run, wakes up early and starts fires in the living apartments and then goes to the kitchen in the rear. After starting a fire on the kitchen stove he stepped out onto his rear porch. It was still dark and Charles stumbled over a bucket or some obstruction which threw him into the window. His weight broke the glass and a sharp piece of the pane in some manner severed the large artery on his left arm near the shoulder and he bled to death in a short time. It seems that the cut was so near the shoulder that it was impossible to bandage it to prevent the loss of blood. (FWV 12.17.07 pg. 1)
Morning
In Fairmont:
The Fairmont West Virginian reports the upcoming weather as: clear and cold. (FWV 12.16.07 pg 1)
At the mines in Monongah:
“Sunday not much work was done in No. 8 owing to the condition of the air but this trouble was fixed Monday morning and the work progressed again.” (CDT 12.16.07 pg. 1)
A Pennsylvania Delegation is in town to inspect Monongah and attempt to establish the cause of the disaster. (FWV 12.16.07 pg. 8)
State Mine Inspector James W. Paul and deputies examine the interior of No. 6 today “to gather evidence for the coroner’s jury as well as for the state legislative board. The coroner’s inquiry will begin the latter part of this week.” (CDT 12.16.07 pg. 1)
~10:30 am
In Yolande, AL:
An explosion in Yolande No. 1 Mine in Alabama becomes disaster #3 of Bloody December.
“The Yolande mine is operated by the Yolande Coal & Coke Company and is located thirty-five miles south of Birmingham.” (CDT 12.16.07 pg. 1)
The mines go down something like 1,500 feet. The explosion occurred below the 2nd right subentry. “The force was made known outside by the dust and timbers that were blown out in great quantities, destroying small buildings nearby and landing some distance away.” (FWV 12.17.07 pg. 1)
“The estimate of fifty men underground is based upon the number supposed to have been at work at the time. The mine was a non-union slope, and was operated largely by native American labor, white and colored, about half of each. Other reports say that there are as many as 125 entombed, and that the pumps cannot be gotten into operation.” (JVT 12.19.07 pg. 1)
Officers of company immediately took steps to start a rescue party to get to the men on the inside. The fans were started and other means employed to eliminate the bad air. (News)
~11:30 am
In Yolande, AL:
Within an hour 14 men had crawled out of the mine, and their description of the interior conditions were terrible. Several of these men were severely burned. (News)
“From sixty to seventy-five men are reported entombed in Yolande mine in Tuscaloosa county as the result of an explosion.” (CDT 12.16.07 pg. 1)
“Crowds of women and men quickly gathered around the mine entrance, and were cheered by news that all the fans continued to work.” (ES 12.16.07 pg. 2)
In Monongah:
A joint meeting of Executive and Subscription committees of the MMRC is held at Postmaster Fleming’s office at which many of the details of the committee’s work was determined. (FWV 12.16.07 pg. 1)
These committees will have their headquarters in rooms Nos 214 and 216 on 2nd floor of the Masonic Temple. The Masonic building committee donated the use of the rooms and the Fairmont and Clarksburg Traction Company has donated the light and the Fairmont Gas and Light Company has donated the heat. Offices will be furnished by FCC. (FWV 12.16.07 pg. 1)
George DeBolt will look after the work. (FWV 12.16.07 pg. 1)
In Fairmont:
The WV Legislature Joint Committee is called to meet at the Hotel Waldo in Clarksburg this evening.
Mr. Jas. E. West, of Washington D.C., is the personal representative of Mr. Theodore Dreisser, editor of the Delineator, and in Fairmont “with a view of finding something of the conditions in the homes at Monongah…” (FWV 12.16.07 pg. 4)
“Mr. West says the Home Placing Agency in WV alone which works in connection with the Delineator in caring for homeless children, has more places to fill than there are orphans at Monongah and that Mr. J. Eagle, of Fairmont, the State agent, with the aid of the Delineator will assist in placing all the children that need homes.” (FWV 12.16.07 pg. 4)
With all the talk and good intentions behind the arrangement for orphanages, the local people “would rather have the kids placed with families than in orphanages.” (FWV 12.16.07 pg. 4)
“Mr. West went to Monongah this afternoon to make a personal visit to the homes of the people.” (FWV 12.16.07 pg. 4)
More on How Death Gloated!
The Monongah Disaster 