Catholic – Page 8 – The Monongah Disaster

Saturday, December 7, 1907, Early Afternoon – Dusk, 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm

At the morgue:

“Nearly 400 coffins reached Monongah today from Pittsburg and from West Virginia cities.” (ES 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“Many coffins have arrived and more have been ordered and as fast as identification is made sure the bodies are being taken away by their friends for burial.” (FWV 12.7.07 – pg.1)

At the mines:

“The galleries are still filled with poisonous gases and it is impossible to open them till the main entries are opened and the fans can clear them.” (TBE 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“Working conditions are terrible, owing to gas and the wrecking, shifts can work less than an hour at a time.” (ES 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“While only sixteen bodies have been recovered or brought out of the mine, members of the rescuing parties stated that eighty bodies have been located.” (ES 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“Only sixteen of the dead bodies have been removed from the shaft entrance of No. 6, but 100 others are in the first level and are being kept in the mine until the authorities can get the half-crazed people away from the entrance.“ (TBE 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“Preparations are being made to bring the bodies from the mines in electric cars, with which the mines were equipped.” (WT 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“The rescuers in mine No. 6 report so many bodies that it will take hours to get them all out. In No 8 mine the rescuing parties are just getting started as poisonous gases there were worse than in No 6 mine.” (TEP 12.7.07 pg. 1)

~1:00 pm

At the mines:

“Up to 1 o’clock today but sixteen bodies have been brought to the surface…” (ES 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“A dozen undertakers are also in waiting in one of the buildings near the entrance to take charge of the bodies as soon as they are brought out and make them as presentable as possible.” (WT 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“A thousand men are working…” “About 130 corpses had been found in the wrecked Monongah mines here at 1 o’clock this afternoon.” (Pitt. Press. 12.7.07, Sparks)

In Monongah:

The body of Fred Cooper (one of first men found in the shanty of #6 mine) has been fully processed through the morgue and his body is brought into Fairmont on the one o’clock car. He is taken to his father-in-law’s home, Mr. Shingleton, at the corner of Locust Ave and 11th St. (FWV 12-7-07, pg. 1)

~1:30 pm

Clarksburg Daily Telegram puts out a special, extra edition:

The local newspapers are correcting their previously published information on the location of the mines. Though the Clarksburg Daily Telegram puts out far more accurate information now that they have their own reporters on the scene, their original source—the Associated Press—never corrects their original inaccurate information at any point and it continues to circle around the country for the next several weeks.

The results of just some of these inaccurate reports have already made their way back to Monongah. For the next several days, Watson and other officials will struggle with the press. They have little to no experience with mass swarms of reporters nor with managing a catastrophe of such magnitude. They will make several mistakes in their attempt to control the release of information over the next week, including the most devastating mistake of making it obvious to the press that information is being controlled.

Quietly tucked away on page 3 is an update on Sam Furk, reported leader of the local Black Hand, which would have taken front page status had the disaster in Monongah not occurred:

~2:00 -2:30 pm

Inside #6:

Search parties find only 5 men between the bottom of the slope of #6 to the connection of the 2 mines – distance of about ¾ of a mile, over 4,000’. Only the main heading has proper ventilation and cleared wreckage that far back, but not the rest of the mines proper (rooms, hallways, etc.) where most of the victims surely lay. Ventilation systems “will have to be rebuilt throughout the mine” starting “this afternoon”. (FWV 12.7.07 – pg.1)

“The resources are being reinforced as men are needed, so that as soon as one man is overcome his place is taken by another.” (FWV 12.7.07 – pg.1)

Though it is quite clear that the town is teaming with news reporters all day based on the sheer number of events accounted throughout the afternoon, few reporters managed to note the time of when certain events occurred. The best this author can provide at this moment is a list of these events in what is the most likely order in which they occur, trying to keep in mind that some of these may have been occurring simultaneously.

At some point during the afternoon,

“…with hysteria in all its devious forms rampant among the populace.” (RIA 12.7.7 pg. 1)

At the mines:

Several rescuers enter the mines “only to return to the open much more dead than alive.” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“The first emergency hospital is crowded with men who have been overcome with the mine gas…” (FWV 12.7.07 – pg.1)

“The rescuers as they come out report that men to the right and left of them are lying all about the mine…” (FWV 12.7.07 – pg.1)

“A foreign woman whose husband was in the mine, rushed to the entrance but the gas forced her back. Realizing that she could do nothing toward aiding her husband, she tore the skin off her face with her finger nails and pulled out large twists of hair.” (WT 12.7.07 pg. 1)

At the morgue:

“The following bodies were identified in the morgue today: DOMINICK, who worked for John Preston. MIKE ____, also one of Preston’s men. FRANCISCO LORIA, who is horribly mangled. CARMO ZEVOLA, who was identified after some time by his [whole line of text is missing]. Much doubt existed in the authenticity of her identification but the small tobacco sack which he carried was the means of making the identification sure.” (FWV 12.7.07 – pg.1)

“Another body that has been positively identified is a man who is known as Louis, his other name not being known. Mr. Caldara says he is from Naples.” (FWV 12.7.07 – pg.1)

In Monongah:

Lorin Wise, brother of Charlie Wise, and Mabel & Edith Wise, his sisters, arrive from Canton, OH. (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 1)

A wagon load of bodies is trying to get from #6 mine across the Iron Bridge and to the morgue. Before it reaches the bridge, the crowd rushes the cart from all angles, pinning in and frightening the horses. The horses panic and bolt, racing through the crowd, overturning the cart, and dumping the bodies onto the ground before running over the embankment. The crazed horses continue down the river bank and run straight into the icy waters of the West Fork River, taking along the driver and his assistant. As the cart hits the water, the driver is violently thrown out and seriously injured. (McAteer)

“As the day advanced, [the widows] became almost crazed through grief and suspense. One pulled out her hair in handfuls at a time and another tore all the skin from both cheeks with her fingernails. Some lay down on the frozen ground and cried themselves asleep, and in this condition, many were carried to homes nearby without awakening.” (RIA 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“The company has provided clothing, food, and supplies for all who are in need and charity on every hand is being observed.” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)

The body of a young man is brought to his home and placed inside. 2 hours later and one room away, his wife gives birth to their child. (FWV 12.9.07 – pg.8)

At the mines:

“The workers at both pits are being cheered and helped in their heroic task by the presence and good words of their bosses.” (FWV 12.7.07 – pg.1)

“Everything possible has been and is being done to recover the bodies of the dead miners and to take out any who might be alive. The coal company officials have given their best energies to the work and are yet grimly at work sleepless and hungry without thought of rest until all has been done to reach any miner possibly alive and to recover the bodies of the dead ones.” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“Late today the deadly blackdamp became more pronounced as the more farther recesses of the mines were approached…” (DASB 12.8.07 pg. 1) (LODD 12.12.07 pg. 1)

At #8:

“One hundred men are working in mine No 8, where the damage was greatest…” (WT 12.7.07 pg. 1)

In Charleston, WV:

Gov. William M.O. Dawson calls out the National Guard: Company H of First Infantry under the direction of Col. M.M. Neely. Despite Watson’s telegram earlier in the day, the Governor is concerned about potential disturbances among immigrant families and the throngs of sightseers. (McAteer)

At #6:

“Some bodies have been brought to the mouth of #6 but have not yet been made known.” (FWV 12.7.07 – pg.1)

“In No. 6 there are 150 workers. Though the interior of this mine is not so badly damaged as the other, the gas in the tunnels is more troublesome, and it is necessary to come frequently to the surface for fresh air.” (WT 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“As the rescuers groping and dazed came from the mouth of the mine they were besieged by anxious ones and bringing no tidings or news of the unfortunate men below there were fresh outbursts of sobbing and cries of grief went up for their loved ones.” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“Now and then rescuers came staggering forth, gasping for fresh breath but to hear from the women gathered near the pit renowned cries of distress and sorrow.” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“And to add further to the mine horrors the wails and moans of the wives and daughters of the entombed miners were heartrending.” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“In the great crowd one or two women would scream, perhaps faint, and be carried to their homes while the undertakers put the bodies in coffins and followed the bereaved ones to the little miners’ cottages. This scene was repeated again and again all day.” (TEP 12.7.07 pg. 1)

~4:00 pm

All saloons and bars in Marion county are closed by order of the mayors and the Marion county Sheriff and no liquor sales, anywhere, are permitted. “The saloon keepers willingly consented and will not open their places again until Monday.” (FWV 12.7.07 – pg.1)

As the main morgue in the bank overflows, bodies are taken directly from the mouth of mine to tent morgues at the cemetery or to church basements (McAteer)

If no ID has been made on a body within several hours, the dressed body is placed in a coffin and buried in the potter’s field as unknown.

“Foul gases in the No. 8 mine prevented any attempt at rescue until late this afternoon and even now it is impossible to make any headway. At this time the force of the explosion was so great that holes were blown through the side of the hill in several places along the river bank.” (TBE 12.7.07 pg. 1)

~5:00 pm

Newspapers are just beginning to hit the streets and stands. A majority will sell out within the hour.

Saturday, December 7, 1907, Midday

In Pennsylvania:

12.7.07 - pg 1 - Naomi — CET 12.7.07 pg 1

In Baltimore:

“A dispatch from Vice President Jere H. Wheelwright, of the Consolidation Coal Company, was received at the offices in Baltimore yesterday.” (TBS 12.8.07 pg. 2)

“Mr. Wheelwright has been at the Monongah mine since Friday…”(TBS 12.8.07 pg. 2)

“His dispatch, which was sent to Mr. A.G. Dunham, the general auditor, was brief. It merely said that his worst fears had been realized and that the dead miners would number between 350 and 400.” (TBS 12.8.07 pg. 2)

“Further than this the officials here knew nothing more of the disaster than was told in the press dispatches.” (TBS 12.8.07 pg. 2)

Wheelwright-findagrave — J.H. Wheelwright

In Clarksburg:

12.01.07 - pg 1 - Xtra - disaster 13 — CDT 12.7.07 pg 1 – 1:30 extra

Noon

In Monongah:

“Even nature seems to dumbly feel the horror of the day and the sun has held its face behind leaded clouds since the fire damp did its fatal work.” (EO 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“There is no home in the village that is not stricken. Each one will harbor a dark coffin if not several after the last body is extricated from the covering of earth and bodies of fellow victims.” (EO 12.7.07 pg. 1)

In Fairmont:

A Fairmont undertaker places order for 100 coffins with Muskingum Coffin Co. in Ohio. The company goes into emergency production, working around the clock. (McAteer)

“The newspaper offices are kept busy answering specials in all directions.” (FWV 12.7.07. pg. 1 – noon)

The Fairmont West Virginian releases a special, 14-page, Noon edition:

12.7.07 - pg 1 - headlines — FWV 12.7.07. pg. 1 – noon

In Monongah:

“The four hundred and twenty-five checks that were given out yesterday morning hardly represent all the men that were in the mines at the time their ill fate overtook them. Other men not having checks likely to have been ushered into eternity by the same cause.” (FWV 12.7.07. pg. 1 – noon)

“Yesterday the people of this city and of Monongah were sort of dazed but today the realization of the enormity of the explosion and the terrible results following it.” (FWV 12.7.07. pg. 1 – noon)

“The women whose husbands and near relatives are among the entombed are taking it as cooly as possible. There is little excitement and all that there is to see today is the removing of the bodies.” (FWV 12.7.07. pg. 1 – noon)

“The number at the morgue up to this time is 12.” (FWV 12.7.07. pg. 1 – noon)

A new force of workers makes a new opening at #8 and “have now gone to a distance of 1500’ in the mine, or about half the distance to where the 2 pits, 6 and 8, meet.” (FWV 12.7.07 – pg.1)

In Fairmont:

“Photographer Busy: Mr. Marvin D Boland has been one of the busiest men in town since yesterday. City papers in all parts of the country are calling for photographs. In the absence of a picture of the fated mines a Pittsburg afternoon paper ran a stock cut of Otis Watson, the original coal operator of the Fairmont region.” (FWV 12.7.07 pg. 1 – noon)

“All day today knots of people have been on the street discussing the scenes of the disaster. At the corner of Jefferson and Main streets there was a big group of men and women all day who with eager ears tried to catch every syllable of news…the whole city has been listening, every scrap of news was gobbled up with a craving almost insatiable.” (FWV 12.7.07. pg. 1 – noon)

12.7.07 - pg 1 - media list — FWV 12.7.07. pg. 1 – noon

In Monongah:

“About 50 newspaper men are on the ground today many from Pittsburg, Cleveland, Baltimore, and New York.”

“G. Girosi of the Italian New York Herald is one among the number as well as L. Friedel, of the Cleveland Zabadsag, a Hungarian paper.” (FWV 12.7.07 – pg.1)

A list of the dead and suspected dead is also published to the public but it is purely American miners only, with the exception of Francesco Loria and Stan Urban who were taken from #8. The list contains about 50 – 60 names though it is not known yet if these men are dead or simply missing, including the name of coupler, Bill Sloane. Bill’s two sons, Scott and Dennis Sloane, are also included in the list though neither has likely been found and identified as of this point.

Saturday, December 7, 1907 Dawn – Late Morning (6:00 am – 11:00 am)

“Stunned by the terrible swiftness of the wings of the angel of death over the little coal mining village, Monongah is today dumbly counting its dead.” (EO 12.7.07 pg. 1)

Dawn

In Monongah:

“The excitement of the day was no less keen, but not of the noise and demonstration of the morning, the people awakening to the awful loss of life and being ready to offer everything within their power to aid the work of rescue.” (CDT 12.7.07. pg. 1)

“With the dawn of day there began a heartrending march up and down the aisles along which these bodies have been laid, by sobbing wives and mothers and sweethearts, orphaned children and strong men, each seeking a near relative or beloved friend.” (News)

“Tomorrow or the next day the numbed nerves may again perform their functions and in the reaction the survivors may writhe in grim agony and grief, but today there is no sorrow—only dull interest that lights up eyes of mothers, wives, and brothers as each limp and blackened form is tenderly passed up from out of the hell pit, where in one brief moment 400 lives were snuffed out as a candle light in a gale.” (EO 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“All with the exception of a few have given up hope and accept it as a foregone conclusion that none survive the disaster. Relatives still cling to the ray of hope, however, that their loved ones may have been spared and eagerly seek the reports of the searchers as they come above to get fresh air.” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)

~6:00 am – ~ 8:00 am

At #8:

“Fire…in south side of #8 was extinguished about 6 o’clock this morning.” (FWV 12.7.07 – pg.1)

Rescue and recovery work can finally begin in #8.

At the mines:

Rescue work has become thoroughly systemized and progresses rapidly. “Hundreds of men are at work this morning clearing away the debris for the removal of the 425 unfortunate men whose lives were snuffed out without a moment’s warning.” (FWV 12.7.07 pg. 1 – noon)

“With unabated energy, five rescuing parties, working from every possible point to enter and explore mines numbers 6 and 8…are this morning putting forth every effort to reach, dead or alive, the remainder of the 400 or more men who went into the mine yesterday morning. There is little hope that any have survived the terrific explosion and the resultant poisonous gas…” (WED 12.7.07 pg. 1) (ES 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“Near the mine entrance, when the rescue work began, were nearly 300 caskets indicating the least extent to which the company believe the loss of life in the mine will reach.” (TEP 12.7.07 pg. 1)

In Monongah:

“Men are now working in relays to reach the miners entombed in the two great shafts. On the hills overlooking their work are the weeping wives and other relatives of the imprisoned men. Among them are the three women whose husbands lie in the improvised morgue.” (WED 12.7.07. pg. 8)

“The scene at the wrecked mines is a repetition of the sight yesterday. The grief-stricken ones is deeper than manifested yesterday. The hopeful anxiety that characterized the people looking for the rescue of loved ones has changed to a sorrow well-nigh inconsolable. Yesterday there was hope today there is despair. The hope for loved ones to escape from their imprisonment to be recognized by their friends gave way to the thought of not knowing them when brought to the surface.” (FWV 12.7.07 pg. 1 – noon)

~8:00 am

In Monongah:

“Hundreds of people have been attracted here from Fairmont, Clarksburg and other places in the valley, many of them having friends and relatives among the ill-fated miners and at the scenes of the horrors are seething masses of people.” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“Mine officials, railroad men, newspaper men of the big city dailies, craftsmen of every trade are mingling with those who are anxious about those whose lives are sure to have been snuffed out.” (FWV 12.7.07 pg. 1 – noon)

“Hundreds of visitors are at Monongah today viewing the wreckage and watching the bringing of bodies to the surface…” (FWV 12.7.07 pg. 1 – noon)

~8:30 am

“Mr. R.M. Hite offers services of a large number of experienced miners from Kingmont mines (operated by the Virginia and Pittsburg Coal Company). This was a very kind offer…for the men who have long searched for the missing are getting weary. They have searched diligently and there is an end to their endurance.” (FWV 12.7.07 pg. 1 – noon)

~9:00 am

At #6:

Another rescue party including John Hallan and Carl Tarlton enter #6, still hoping to find survivors in the very recesses of the mine.

Not long into their exploration, Hallan and Tarlton find the body of a motorman, “jammed back in the motor where he had been sitting with one arm thrown about 30’ away” (McAteer). As this motorman was clearly dead, they did not stop for long to examine him and continued on their search, looking for any dangerous gases and any signs of life.

At #8:

Rescue parties also prepare to enter #8 with the same purpose: find survivors.

“In mine number 8 the rescuers are just getting to work as gasses have delayed them.” (EO 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“Six bodies are all that had been found in No 8 until this morning. One man was found in the manway.” (FWV 12.7.07 pg. 2 – noon)

In Monongah:

25 more miners arrive in Monongah from the Tunnelton mines to help rescue efforts. (FWV 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“The King’s Daughters and committees of women started a work of visiting homes of the miners, leaving baskets of food where needed…” (Kellogg)

Restaurants in Fairmont and Clarksburg made soups and sandwiches for rescue workers and victim’s families “…and two blacksmith shops were turned into kitchens where great pots of stew and coffee were set boiling.” (Kellogg) People from all around have been bringing whatever they have for donations.

Father D’Andrea of the Italian Catholic Church, Our Lady of Pompeii, is certain by now that his own brother, Victor D’Andrea, is among the victims of the disaster. However, he gets no time to mourn as he and other religious leaders have been overwhelmed with the grief-stricken families for the last 24 hours. Father D’Andrea is only now beginning to survey victims among his parishioners while Father Lekston of St Stanislaus Catholic church has already counted at least 110 victims from his Polish congregation.

In Fairmont:

A little after 9 am, C.W. Watson telegraphs J.N. Camden, “…have lost all hope of finding any men alive.”

~10:00 am

“At ten o’clock today, a total of one hundred bodies had been found in the Monongah mines. These will be removed to morgues at once. Four hundred coffins have been ordered by the Fairmount Coal company. All will be used sooner or later, as it may be weeks before all victims of the explosion are recovered.” (RP 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“The remains of the dead are being carefully handled and prepared for burial in the most decent way even as well as could be done at a well-regulated undertaking establishment.” (FWV 12.7.07 – pg.1)

~11:00 am

In Monongah:

“The eleven o’clock car was one hour getting through the dense crowd between Nos 8 & 6.” (FWV 12.7.07 – pg.1)

“There is an immense concourse of people all anxious to see what there is to be seen. While the situation has not reached that point yet it may be possible that it will have to be brought under military control.” (FWV 12.7.07 – pg.1)

“President C.W. Watson wired Gov. Dawson this morning that he did not think military control would be necessary as the crowd is a very orderly one.” (FWV 12.7.07 – pg.1)

Outside the mines, Doctors Hill and Cook along with a few dozen nurses realize their services won’t be needed for survivors but for the rescuers instead. A second emergency hospital is set up by #8 and equipped “at 11 o’clock today with cots, bedding, and etc.” (FWV 12.7.07 – pg.1)

At #6:

“Up to 11 o’clock today sixteen bodies had been removed…Four are Americans. About eighty bodies have been found, but only sixteen have been brought to the surface.” (WED 12.7.07 pg. 1) (RIA 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“The rescuers are now within 1,500 feet of the end of the mine. They are working in two parties of about thirty men each with reliefs every hour.” (WED 12.7.07 pg. 1) (RIA 12.7.07 pg. 1)

Outside #8:

2 members of rescue crews, Milton Coburn and James Kane, are taken out of #8 to the emergency hospital set up just below the opening of the mine. Both were overcome by the gasses they inhaled while inside. (FWV 12.7.07 pg. 1)