~6:00 pm, News Hour
Fairmont West Virginian:
Jokes were not the only section of the paper to be sacrificed for the disaster and Christmas adverts. Ads for local spiritualists and psychics were also removed and it is only today that horoscopes have returned:
Full page article from the Pittsburgh Dispatch on Mine disasters. 
“Employed by the Dispatch to investigate the cause of the recent mine disasters in the Pittsburg district, J.L. Dixon, E.M., whose reputation as an expert is known throughout the country, has visited Naomi and the Monongah mines…has inspected the Darr mine…familiar with its workings, machinery and safety devices.” (FWV 12.26.07 pg. 6)
“Quite recently coal mine explosions sent a thrill or horror through the civilized world; nearly 400 men and boys lost their lives, hundreds of widows were made and more than a thousand children were fatherless.” (FWV 12.26.07 pg. 6)
“Already the intense excitement has died away, the adjoining mines are working as usual and the mines where the disasters occurred are being prepared to resume operations…” (FWV 12.26.07 pg. 6)
“…there probably was no better (mines) in the country. If this is true, and I know it to be so, and it was considered one of the very safest of mines, it makes one contemplate with horror the unspeakable danger to which thousands of our fellow men are daily subjected, for if they are working where precautions for their safety are not so great and where the natural danger is greater, we may naturally expect that the past will prove prophetic of the future.”
“Now let us look this condition squarely in the face without any evasion; let us try to get at the truth of the matter, viz., whether it is necessary that so many victims should be offered up as sacrifices on the altar of the country’s industry and prosperity…” (FWV 12.26.07 pg. 6)
“That coal dust will and does explode with the most disastrous result is no longer question by intelligent mining men. It’s explosive force, weight for weight, it is said to be four times greater than that of gunpowder.” (FWV 12.26.07 pg. 6)
“After the coal is shot down the dust and coarser coal are loaded into the mine cars and the cars are started outward on their journey. These cars are not by any means dust proof; they are built of oak planks, with spaces between, both in bottom and sides, consequently, as soon as the cars begin to move the coal dust commences to filter through these spaces and keeps on running through until it has all run out or until the cars have reached their destination. Keep in mind, there are a hundred tons of dust, carried in from 500 to 750 cars, depending on their size; these cars travel on an average from one to three miles at a rapid rate and every car constantly adding its quota to the explosive death-dealing train.” (FWV 12.26.07 pg. 6)
“As I write this the tragic news is wired from Alabama of another dust explosion, caused by a blown out shot; the present information places that death list at 60. This was also deemed a safe mine and I suppose it was until a long tongue of flame was projected into inflammable and explosive dust.” (FWV 12.26.07. pg. 6)
“In the case of Monongah mine with its splendid system of ventilation, no gas explosion could have wrought one-tenth of the havoc or caused one-tenth the loss of life as the dust explosion; it would have been continued to one portion of the one of the mines, to one of the portions ventilated by a split, but a coat dust explosion is a different thing. It is a devouring monster, traveling with incredible rapidity, transforming almost instantly with its fiery tongue the accumulations of coal dust into countless millions of cubic feet of deadly poisonous gas, which expands which such irresistible force that nothing built by human hands can withstand it.” (FWV 12.26.07 pg. 6)
“The plan I wish to suggest is that in every mine life-saving stations or chambers of refuge should be established.” (FWV 12.26.07 pg. 6)
“I will venture to say there is not on explosion proof telephone system in any mine in the United States. How invaluable this would be to those imprisoned below and to those frantic with grief about I need not say; just imagine what a blessing it would have been to many of the men entrapped in that large French mine making it the most disastrous mining accident in all history. There is evidences that hundreds of these men lived for days, some of them for over two weeks, even then still alive, living on the bark off props and off putrid horse flesh. When one reads of their awful sufferings the heart turns sick with the horror of it all.” (FWV 12.26.07 pg. 6)
“In order that the miners should have a guide to the safety station arrows pointing in this direction should be made on the side of the entries with luminous paint, beacons pointing the way to present safety and eventually to wife, home and children.” (FWV 12.26.07 pg. 6)
“At leach large mine there should be a corps of trained men conversant with methods of life saving after an explosion, who could act with intelligent and efficient promptness.” (FWV 12.26.07 pg. 6)
“Let it be said that the deathless honor of coal miners everywhere that in case of an explosion there are always volunteers ready to rush into the very jaws of death and the history of coal mining is replete with deeds of the loftiest heroism before which the boasted exploits of chivalry pale into significance. Again and again rescue parties have descended into the yawning blackness of the pit, have met death in the noblest endeavor to save their comrades; often, I am sorry to say, acting with more bravery than judgment, unnecessarily and unavailingly sacrificing their valuable lives.” (FWV 12.26.07 pg. 6)
Clarksburg Daily Telegram:
“After Easter, 1908, members of the Roman Catholic Church cannot elope and marry and have union recognized by the church.” (CDT 12.26.07 pg. 1)
“Senator Sam Montgomery is displeased over the fact that some of the State papers recently said he was an expert coal miner. He himself says he was only a mule driver in a coke yard and a tippleman. The correction should be cheerfully made by all the papers who held him up in a false light. Even his own paper owns him an apology.” (CDT 12.26.07 pg. 4)
“At 13 o’clock on the night preceding Christmas the Greeks are expected to assemble at their churches where religious services are conducted by the priests until 5 o’clock in the morning when the people return to their homes.” (CDT 12.26.07 pg. 8)
“They celebrate December 25 simply by giving presents and resting.” (CDT 12.26.07 pg. 8)
The Advocate in West Virginia:
“With a committee in every ward organized for the purpose of making a systematic campaign for the relief of the destitute at Monongah, it is believed that Charleston can not fail to do her part. Although both the meetings held at the court house last Friday night and last night have been characterized by a lack of interest, there have been sufficient members of the committee present to formulate plans for the work.” (TA 12.26.07 pg. 5)
“On last Friday night Mayor Holley appointed a committee, consisting of one from each ward, to form the plans and make the main organization and allow these committeemen to appoint sub-committees. Last night four of the committeemen were present, but two sent reports, but owing to other employments could not attend. However, there was present last night some who were not in attendance at the previous meeting and several new ideas were advanced to collect money, food, and clothing for the destitute.” (TA 12.26.07 pg. 5)
“Secretary Swisher was present at the meeting last night and offered several valuable suggestions. With Recorder Shirley Ross he was appointed a committee to see the proprietors of the moving picture shows and have them contribute one days proceeds to the Monongah relief fund.” (TA 12.26.07 pg. 5)
“Mayor Holley reported that Mr. Floyd Payne had informed him that is Charleston desired to send a car load of provisions to Monongah, the Kanawha and Michigan railroad would furnish the car and deliver it to the Ohio River railroad without compensation.” (TA 12.26.07 pg. 5)
“Rev. Murrill was present and was appointed a committee of one to see the ministers of the city and have them appoint a lady from each church to form an organization to provide relief of some sort for the benefit of the suffering women and children at the stricken mining town.” (TA 12.26.07 pg. 5)
“A meeting will be held next Monday night for the purpose of hearing the reports of the various committees. It is believed that by that time the work will be progressing in an excellent manner.” (TA 12.26.07 pg. 5)
West Virginia Argus:
The Labor Argus in West Virginia:
“The national organization of the United Mine Workers of America has contributed $1,000 towards the relief fund for the Monongah sufferers.” (TLA 12.26.07 pg. 1)
“This donation was purely an act of charity on the part of the national organization, for the Monongah miners being unorganized, it was under no obligations to render assistance.” (TLA 12.26.07 pg. 1)
“Editor Labor Argus: Since my letter last week I have been waiting for our daily papers to give some further particulars of the Monongah disaster. But there seems to be an unexplainable (*) upon the part of the daily press to make bare the facts.” (TLA 12.26.07 pg. 1)
“A State Senator has exonerated the company. The governor has requested the W.Va. U.S. Senators at Washington to ask Congress to investigate the cause of the record explosions in the coal mines of three states, W. Va., Ala., Pa.” (TLA 12.26.07 pg. 1)
“Human life and property must be protected at the cost of political ambition and the destruction of party machinery, and, if need be, of political parties.” (TLA 12.26.07 pg. 1)
“This little ‘Mountain State’ is fully awake to the honors, duties and privileges guaranteed by her constitution and epitomized in her motto: ‘Montani Semper Liberi.’” (TLA 12.26.07 pg. 1)
“This is quoted from a veteran and scientific expert; I may say a life-long practical man. And if we could take and present the evidence of men who are familiar with the fact in the Monongah explosion and record of the mine as a fire damp producer, the public would be startled at the deliberate and willful disregard of the law and of the oppression of these men even unto DEATH.” (TLA 12.26.07 pg. 1)
Plymouth Tribune in Indiana:
Mexico Missouri Message in Missouri:
Monroe City Democrat in Missouri:
El Independiente in New Mexico:
The News Herald in Ohio:
Salt Lake Tribune in Utah:
Wood County Reporter in Wisconsin:
The Cumberland Evening Times in Maryland:
The Raleigh Herald in West Virginia:
“It is the intention in this way to test all powers and dynamites and set forth to the mine owners just what sort of explosives can be used with safety in the mines.” (TRH 12.26.07 pg.)
“So, the rule ought to be: No person other than the fire boss can fire a shot during the time that the mines are in operation, and only after an inspection of same.” (TRH 12.26.07 pg.)
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in Pennsylvania:
“Inspector T.K. Adams of the Third district said that he had encountered falls in the left main entrance which were seven feet high, leaving but a few inches of space above for the passage of air. These piles of slate must be removed before the large number of bodies in the inner workings can be removed. Mr. Adams claims the ventilation is as good as could possibly be expected and that the air is being brought to the men by the fans as rapidly as possible.” (PPG 12.26.07 pg. 1)
The Evansville Press in Indiana:
More on How Death Gloated!
The Monongah Disaster 