“Williams was coming out with his cars and was held up by another train some distance from the mouth at Jacobs Creek. He walked along the shaft toward the mouth and had almost reached the open air when he was lifted from his feet and turning over and over in the air, landed on the ground, seventy-five feet away, and then rolled over and over down a hill.” (WBR 12.21.7 pg. 5)
Early Afternoon
At the Darr mine in PA:
“Superintendent Black, who was in charge of the mine, recently resigned, also David Wingrave, former fire boss, also resigned on account of the gaseous nature of the mine. He said he notified the officials that the mine was unsafe for men to work in. There are many such reports here.” (FWV 12.20.07 pg. 1)
In Fairmont:
At the Grand Opera House, Irene Myers & company performs a “special relief fund” Matinee. The entire gross amount of the matinee and 10 percent of week’s receipts will be turned over to the General Relief fund. (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 3)
~3:30 pm, Press Time
At the Darr Mine in PA:
Rescuers have gone 5,000’ into the mine and it is necessary to go ¾ of a mile farther before coming to where the diggers will be found. (FWV 12.20.07 pg. 1)
“Clambering over obstructions that have been blown into the slope the men succeeded in reaching a point 5,000 feet from the mouth, where the first of the victims were discovered. Here was the office of the pit boss a small declivity hollowed out of the wall of the main passage, where the boss’ telephones are located, and where the business of the interior of the mine is transacted.” (WBR 12.21.07 pg. 5)
“Five bodies lay in a heap here. From one the head was blown off and this was found a little alter, thirty feet from the bodies. The features were blackened and scared beyond recognition, while only parts of the mens’ clothing remained after the fearful consuming blaze.” (WBR 12.21.07 pg. 5)
“It is now thought that about 180 men were working in the mine when the explosion occurred. Usually about 400 men worked in this mine but yesterday was a holiday and several foreigners remained out. It is not thought that any of the miners will be rescued alive.” (FWV 12.20.07 pg. 1)
“All of the 13 bodies taken out up to this time are terribly mutilated. Three of them are headless.” (AR 12.20.07 pg. 1)
“Up to this time the rescuers have found no fire in any place in the mine.” (AR 12.20.07 pg. 1)
In Fairmont:
The Loyal Temperance Legion meets at the Diamond St. M.E. Church and presents a small program of recitations and songs. (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 2)
In Monongah:
“With the recovery of five more from the mines of the Fairmont Coal Company at Monongah, W. Va., the total to date is 334.” (IJ 12.20.07 pg. 1)
During the Afternoon
In Pittsburgh:
“’I did not find at the mine the gruesome scenes I feared,’ said Vice President W.R. Woodford, of the Pittsburgh Coal Company, on his return yesterday afternoon from the Darr mine at Jacobs Creek. The acting head of the corporation was in telephonic communication with the mine almost the whole night after the explosion and the strain told upon him visibly. He went to Jacobs Creek early yesterday morning and held a conference with the men in charge.” (PDP 12.21.07 pg. 2)
“’No definite conclusion has been reached,’ he continued, ‘accounting for the explosion. Our experts will be unable to decide until they have explored the inner workings. Three theories, gas, coal dust and the two combined, have been advanced.’” (PDP 12.21.07 pg. 2)
“’It will be time enough to talk of our future plans when every body has been brought to the surface. We consider the proper burial of the dead miners the most pressing need. Afterward we can sit down and figure out future developments.’” (PDP 12.21.07 pg. 2)
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