“Up to midnight 50 bodies had been prepared for burial, while more than 30 are at the bottom of the slope ready to bring out.” (PDP 12.24.07 pg. 1)
“Work of exploration on the right of the main entry is practically completed and it is believed that most of the bodies have been located.” (PDP 12.24.07 pg. 1)
“Several of the hours were required to change the air currents so that the work could be carried into the left section. It is on this side that most of the bodies will be found.” (PDP 12.24.07 pg. 1)
“Scarcely had the change in air been effected when the men had to be called from the mine because one of the blades of the big fan became loosened. Telephonic communication has been established between the mouth of the pit and the rescuers and they were notified to come out immediately to wait for repairs.” (PDP 12.24.07 pg. 1)
Morning
In Fairmont:
A “committee of assistants to Santa Claus” spends all day getting names and “over 300 packages, each package containing toys, dolls, mechanical toys, games, books, fruits, candies, nuts, and most everything else that would be appreciated by the children” ready for distribution at Monongah tonight. (FWV 12.26.07 pg. 1)
“The work was too much for [Santa] so he had the assistance of Mrs. C.W. Watson who took personal charge of the distribution of the Christmas presents. Mrs. Watson was assisted in this work by Mrs. J.E. Watson, Misses Lucy and Elizabeth Watson, Miss Helen Tuttle and Miss Lucile Ruckman and Master Edwin Watson.” (FWV 12.26.07 pg. 1)
“Mrs. A.J. Ruckman, who has been so deeply interested and so painstaking in her work of relief lent valuable assistance. She did not rely entirely on the census for the names of the needy ones but made a personal house to house canvass of the neighborhood to make perfect the list of names and with her precaution it is hardly probable that a single person was missed.” (FWV 12.26.07 pg. 1)
10:00 am
In Fairmont:
The Fairmont West Virginian reports that the weather will be: Light snow or rain tonight and tomorrow. (FWV 12.23.07 pg. 1)
A meeting of Monongah Miners’ Relief Committee commences in the city council chambers. There is “…much work to do in the next few weeks and it is very important that proper plans for that work be laid out.” (FWV 12.23.07 – pg. 5 – extra)
“The report of A. Howard Fleming, secretary of the subscription committee, and the report of the executive committee were made and the work of the committees were applauded by the general committee and were urged to pursue the course that they have.” (FWV 12.24.07 pg. 8)
Hon. J.M. Jacobs introduces a motion directing that a letter be written to the head of each relief fund that is raising money and inform them to send the money received to Mr. Sands or place it in a bank to Mr. Sands’ credit so that he can draw on the bank for the amount placed in it. (FWV 12.24.07 pg. 8)
“Many suggestions were offered in the meeting as to how the future work of the executive committee should proceed…Rev. J.C. Bloomfield moved that a committee of three, composed of members of the present executive committee, should draft bylaws and rules to govern action of executive committee.” They also determined that “…the number to constitute a quorum of the committee was reduced from thirteen to nine.” (FWV 12.24.07 pg. 8)
They collectively agreed that this committee “should report at a meeting to be held in the council chamber on next Tuesday at three o’clock.” They also decide that the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month at 3:00 pm will be the regular time the MMRC will meet and report. (FWV 12.24.07 pg. 8)
The committee acknowledges that, “So far there has been no census taken of the number of dependents that will have to be cared for. This matter will be looked after. This work will largely be done through the priests and pastors of the churches.” (FWV 12.24.07 pg. 8)
“The name, age, nativity of each victim of the explosion will be taken; the name of the wife, the names and ages of the children whether in this country or in their native land will be taken. Also the future intention of the dependents as to what they will do or expect to do. This complete record is necessary so that the distribution of the funds may be done with the precision that it should.” (FWV 12.24.07 pg. 8)
Bishop Donahue is appointed to prepare a census form (blanks) “which will contain questions when properly answered will give all the information necessary without being a conglomerate mass. These blanks will be printed so that the work will be comparatively easy.” (FWV 12.24.07 pg. 8)
At some point during the morning:
At the Darr mines in Pennsylvania:
“Even though many of the widows have been left practically without money with which to buy Christmas present for their children, a number of voluntary contributions along this line in the form of candy and toys have been made. There will be distributed by the committee on Christmas morning. The last donation to be received was large pails of candy from a Pittsburgh confectioner, and it is said that several hundreds loaves of bread will be received tomorrow.” (PDP 12.24.07 pg. 1)
This image is often used in association with Monongah, however, this is a photo of victims of the Darr mine disaster either being “stored” until burial or of being placed in the potter’s field. The key noticeable difference is the type of coffins pictured.
“That many a home which was to have had a Christmas tree will contain a coffin during the happy hours of yuletide was demonstrated today when Henry Grossman delivered but three of the 26 Christmas trees which had been ordered from him. Grossman came into town this morning to deliver his trees, but at almost every door he was met by a sad faced woman who countermanded the order.” (PDP 12.24.07 pg. 1)
In Butler, WV:
Charles Simonel, aged 65, says, “I am going to spend Christmas with my God,” and kisses his small grandson goodbye. An hour later his wife finds him “dangling at the end of a rope from the attic. In a pocket she found a note which read: ‘Have not been at church for 32 years, but have made my peace with God and want to go to him.’ He leaves a widow and three children.” (FWV 12.24.07 pg. 5)
“No accident in the entire history of coal mining in America compares with this holocaust. It would be hard to picture a more complete scene of sorrow and desolation than that about the pit mouth. Everywhere are the blown and broken timbers, everywhere the blackened wreckage, showing the fearful force of the explosion. And over the wailing, desolate women and the gaunt, hard featured men working about the ruins, the black smoke hangs like a pall.” (TLA 12.12.07 pg. 1)
~Noon
“Governor Dawson today announced that he will personally attend the inquiry…” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 1)
“Two hundred and eighty-five bodies were recovered at noon from the Monongah mines and twenty-five more were ready to be brought to the surface.” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 1)
“Up to noon today 285 bodies had been recovered from the Monongah mines. They are being brought out more rapidly now and many more will have been recovered by night.” (ES 12.12.07 pg. 2)
“More than 400 bodies, it is expected, will have been recovered by Saturday night, by which time the rescuers hope to have found every body.” (ES 12.12.07 pg. 2)
2:22 pm
In Monongah:
The body of Timothy Lyden was taken from the morgue “to his home at Monongah to remain three hours and at 2:22 this afternoon accompanied by relatives and friends it was shipped to [Clarksburg] for burial.” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 4)
“Mr. Lyden’s body will be at the home of his mother, Mrs. Ellen Lyden, on Jackson street tonight and until 10 o’clock tomorrow morning, when it will be taken to the Catholic church where funeral services will be held and interment will be in Holy Cross cemetery.” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 4)
During the Afternoon
In Pittsburgh:
“Officials of the coal company were in Pittsburgh this afternoon, conferring with those familiar with hospital maintenance, and it is understood that $50,000 will be spent by the coal company in erecting a suitable orphan asylum building. After it is finished, the children will be taken care of and educated. It is understood that certain wealthy men have expressed a desire to assist in endowing such an asylum, making it permanent for use of orphans of those who lose their lives in the mines of the company.” (WH 12.13.07 pg. 1)
“A woman’s sympathetic heart coupled with her ability to accomplish her purposes has solved the distressing problem of the thousand children who have been made orphans by the mine explosion at Monongah, in which several hundred lives went out. The woman is Mrs. Clarence W. Watson [Minnie Owings Watson], wife of the president of the Fairmont Coal Company which owns the property in which the calamity happened. She is a social leader in Baltimore and New York, but since the explosion she has demonstrated that she can be notable for other things besides driving fine horses for prizes in show rings and planning cotillons. Acting on Mrs. Watson’s suggestion her husband came to Pittsburg today to make contracts for the erection of a $50,000 asylum for the homeless little ones at Monongah. Mr. Watson said that it was the one practical suggestion which had come to him or any of the members of the Fairmont Company.” (RP 12.14.07 pg. 4)
“Mrs. Watson took a prominent part at this season’s horse show in New York. She was a prize winner, carrying off ribbons with her famous Lord Baltimore and My Maryland. Lord Baltimore is considered one of the finest harness horses in America. Mrs. Watson and her millionaire husband carried off several prizes with them in the international show in London.” (RP 12.14.07 pg. 4)
“Bishop Donoghue, of the Wheeling district has been at Monongah leading in the relief work, and Mrs. Watson has been, perhaps, his most able assistant.” (RP 12.14.07 pg. 4)
“The day of the explosion Mrs. Watson hurried to Monongah with her husband. She plunged into the work of relief with her heart open for the suffering and destitute. In a few hours she was recognized as good spirit of the place. Wherever she goes in the stricken town she carried light with her.” (RP 12.14.07 pg. 4)
“It was the children who made a special plea to her sympathy. Their helplessness, their absolute dependence overwhelmed her. After the first couple of days she went to her husband and demanded that he do something. He was at a loss and asked her for her suggestions. She said that the one thing for him and his company to do was build and asylum for the little ones.” (RP 12.14.07 pg. 4)
“How to care for the children of the explosion victims has been and will be a problem until Mrs. Watson’s home for them is built.” (RP 12.14.07 pg. 4)
In Fairmont:
“The body of Charles Wise of Fairmont, one of the best known men, was…brought here for interment this afternoon.” (ES 12.12.07 pg. 2)
Frank A. Wilmot and George A. Campsey from the Carnegie Hero Commission arrive in Fairmont. “After looking over the ground a while Mr. Wilmot decided to go to the Fairmont Coal Company offices at Monongah and make known his mission. Before going, however, he met Col. A.H Fleming of Fairmont whom he knew personally…” (FWV 12.23.07 pg. 1 – extra)
Mr. Harry H Stock, E.M. editor of “Mines and Minerals” of Scranton PA is visitor in the city. He procured copies of the West Virginian for every day since the mine disaster. (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 5)
In Monongah:
“The ladies of the relief corps are continuing their noble work and much food is being dispensed to the workers. Soups, meats, sandwiches, vegetables pie and coffee constitute the mean which is served night and day in a little building near the company office. Hundreds are thus fed every day.” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 1)
C.W. Watson will not give a statement about the number of victims to the press until the “total number of miners is known…census of miners had not yet been completed. Three or four miners lived in the country and their families would have to be seen before the statement could be made. Mr. Watson said that the number would be between 328 and 334.” (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 1) (FWV 12.13.07 pg. 1)
He provides this statement instead:
“The work of removing bodies from the mines progressed very rapidly today and at the rate that the dead are brought out now the search work will be completed sooner than it was thought. The work in mine No 6 is practically done. The searchers have explored all the rooms of that mine.” (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 1)
Rumors of epidemic begin to surface and are attributed to the many maimed and decomposing bodies and carcasses about the town and still inside the mines. (McAteer) (News)
Mr. Fleming and Wilmot arrive in Monongah and go to the office where Wilmot is introduced to General Manager Lee. L Malone. “Mr. Malone at once placed the records of the company relative to the census of miners being taken at Mr. Wilmot’s disposal and after verifying the newspaper reports he hunted Mayor Moore to take some active steps for relief work.”
“Mr. Wilmot found Mayor Moore surrounded by a crowd of about 50 people engaged in relief work, but he gave Mr. Wilmot a hearing and very kindly consented to do whatever was thought best in the matter of organizing the committees.” (FWV 12.23.07 pg. 1 & 4 – extra)
At the mines:
The removal of livestock begins.
Marion County Board of Health issues a 2nd order: “…imminent danger of epidemic of disease breaking out…scores of men working in recovering dead are prostrated…so urgent…all of the streets of Monongah were heavily sprinkled with lime…odors emanating…unbearable.” (McAteer)
At #8:
1st full search is completed in #8 and a second search immediately begins. (McAteer) (Inquiry)
“Patrick Louchney’s remains were found in mines No. 8 and taken to the morgue this afternoon. His body was terribly mangled and mutilated. It will be taken to Clarksburg for burial.” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 1)
~3:30 pm
CDT 12.12.07 pg 1
“A great many bodies remain unidentified as yet and probably most of these will never be identified or claimed by relatives. The number of the unidentified reached fully sixty so far and doubtless many of those yet to be recovered will be in the same class.” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 1)
~4:00 pm
In Fairmont:
The 24 members and 2 guests of the Ladies Aid Society of the Diamond Street M.E. Church complete “40 pieces of clothing” and enjoy a dinner “for the small sum of $.15”, the proceeds intended to go to the relief fund. (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 2) (FWV 12.13.07 pg. 2)
~4:30 pm
In Wheeling:
The Wheeling Board of Trade holds special meeting of directors about the Monongah relief fund. Labor Commissioner I.V. Barton (who went to Monongah shortly after the disaster and stated he would bring a report of conditions to Board of Trade) “spoke at some length”.
“There are, Mr. Barton stated, from a thousand to twelve hundred orphans and at least 350 widows it has been estimated. The children have been born since the disaster and there are 60 expectant mothers among the widows. The Fairmont Coal Co. and the local relief committees are doing nobly, and are caring for the situation.” Mr. Barton stated that if the Board of Trade was to contribute, now is the time to do it. “The aid is not necessary now but in the future relief will be needed.”
The Board of Trade contributes $1,000.00 to the relief fund. (FWV 12.13.07 pg. 1)
In Monongah:
In the earliest days after the disaster, various relief committees were formed by well-meaning individuals and groups but there is no representation for the immigrants and their various nationalities among them. Bishop Donahue was added to the initial general relief committee when he pointed out a lack of representation for the Italian and Polish-Slavic Catholic churches and the committee expanded to incorporate immigrant representation. (McAteer) (News)
Manager/Secretary of Carnegie Hero Fund Commission Frank M Wilmot combines the majority of these relief committees into one: the Monongah Mine Relief Committee. (McAteer)
The Carnegie Hero Fund donates $35,000 to this relief committee and takes charge of the organizing. (McAteer) (News)
Wilmot then has a meeting with Watson, Fleming, and other company officials to discuss their role in the relief efforts. Watson and Fleming are cautious about endorsing notion of public appeal for funds. They are concerned about the effect such an appeal would have politically, particularly on the general public. Wilmot convinces them the response would be well received. Following the meetings with Wilmot and others they soon became supportive of the relief committees and assigned “various employees in the offices of FCC & others to work nights, Sundays, and other extra time helping the Subscription Committee to address envelopes and send out appeals”. Eventually, officials of mine, like Cunningham, serve as members of committee. (McAteer)
The Union Relief Association Committee, made up entirely of women from Fairmont and surrounding areas, is the only one not included into the MMRC.
~5:00 pm
Cunningham sends Watson a list of names along with morgue numbers. Bossilo Pillelo and Petro Frediro are listed with a note: “Italians were in #8. Selecting place to work. Chief Paul found their order copy x of mine laws.” (McAteer)
Roy Yaeger, 28 year old engineer for Western Maryland railroad, detects an odor of gas in his home and starts to investigate. He quickly finds that a rubber hose has come loose from a stove and “just as he was in the act of turning the gas off the gas was ignited from an oil lamp in another part of the house and the explosion followed.” (FWV 12.13.07 pg. 2)
“Yaeger was ablaze in an instant and jumping out of a window he rushed up street, his clothes burning fiercely. Before he could be succored his clothes were all burned off and was a mass of charred flesh.” (FWV 12.13.07 pg. 2)
Yeager “met with a terrible death”. His wife and little child were severely burned and the home in where they lived was practically blown to pieces. (FWV 12.13.07 pg. 2)
~3:00 am
“The body of Timothy Lyden was found in mine No. 6 at Monongah at 3 o’clock this morning, taken to the morgue and prepared for burial.” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 4)
“Relatives identified the body by his clothes and the back of his head. The body was well preserved but the face was badly mutilated.” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 4)
“Mr. Lyden was 38 years of age and leaves a widow and five children. He was a brother of Patrick J., Michael and Margaret Lyden and Mrs. P.F. Tiernery.” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 4)
~3:30 am
“Henry Martin’s body was found in mine No. 6 at Monongah at 3:30 o’clock this morning and identified by his brother, Patrick Martin, of this city. Mr. Martin has another brother here, too, Thomas Martin.” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 1)
“Mr. Martin was 42 years of age.” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 1)
“Mr. Martin leaves a wife and five children making his death particularly sad, as they were dependent upon him for support.” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 1)
“Accompanied by relatives and friends, the body will leave Monongah at 8:22 o’clock tomorrow morning for Clarksburg, and will be taken to the Catholic church, where at 10 o’clock funeral services will be held at the same time that the Timothy Lyden obsequies are held. It will be a double funeral at the church—all at the same mass. Interment will be in Holy Cross cemetery.” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 1)
At some point during the early morning hours
The body of John T. McGraw, pitt boss at Monongah mine No. 8, “was recovered from the mine early Thursday morning”. (CDT 12.13.07 pg. 1)
~4:30 am
“The body of Charles Wise of Fairmont, one of the best known men, was recovered at 4:30 o’clock…” (ES 12.12.07 pg. 2)
Wise was personal surveyor for Senator J.N. Camden. He surveyed inside of mines to ensure Camden and others were properly paid by Consolidated Coal Company. (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 1)
The 37 year old Chief Engineer “went into the ill-fated mine only a short time before the explosion.” (ES 12.12.07 pg. 2) (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 1)
Despite early reports announcing that only his jack and shoes had been found, leading people to believe Charles had been “blown to atoms”: “The body was in a good state of preservation and easily recognized. Besides in his pockets were his B&O mileage book, street car book, watch, ring and pipe, which were means to identify him.” (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 1)
Wise was found in #6 near the main heading, in a sitting position ½ mile away from his jacket. He had wrapped his waistcoat around his head indicating that he had survived the explosion and attempted to find his way out but got lost in the darkness and was eventually overcome by afterdamp. (FWV 12.12.07 pg.1)
Charles becomes body #258 to pass through the morgue. (Amos)
He leaves a widow, Pearl Reed Wise, and 2 sons: Thomas Reuben, 2 years, and Lorin Turney, 2 months old. (McAteer) (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 1)
~6:00
In Fairmont:
All mines in the Fairmont Coal Field are up and running to almost full capacity except those in Monongah. (FWV 12.11.07 pg.1)
The Fairmont West Virginian reports the weather as: Partly cloudy tonight and Friday, nearly stationary temperature (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 1)
In Monongah:
The remains of Charles D. Wise are taken to Musgrave’s undertaking parlors “just as they were taken from the mine” on 6:15 street car. (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 1)
At the mines:
“Officials…feel hopeful that the large force of rescuers, entering the mines at Monongah this morning will be the last necessary to send into the workings to recover the bodies…” (ES 12.12.07 pg. 2)
~8:00 am
In Clarksburg:
“The body of Thomas Killeen was brought here Thursday morning from the Monongah mine horror. The funeral was held in the Catholic church and burial in Holy Cross Cemetery.” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 5)
In Fairmont:
Tom Donlin’s funeral is held at St. Peter’s Catholic church under the direction of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Services are largely attended by friends and relatives following with interment at Holy Cross cemetery. Pallbearers were: Messrs. M.J. O’Neil, Anthony McDonough, John Kelley, John D Barry, Michael Ford and Jas. Erwin. (FWV 12/12/07 pg. 5)
In Monongah:
Women and children are still standing guard by the morgue.
At the mines:
Ventilation is restored to 8 miles of room headings, 550 rooms have been explored and tracks in 5.5 miles of main headings are cleaned up enough to allow hauling of bodies and materials. (McAteer)
1st full search completed in #6. The search parties have explored all the rooms of the mine and 20 searchers transfer from No 6 to No 8. “…the work in No 8 will be practically completed tonight when all the men will have been removed except those under falls.” (McAteer) (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 1)
The bodies taken out this morning are in “pretty good condition” so as George Gibbon, who has been able to identify most of the miners, was very successful. (FWV 12.11.07 pg.1) (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 1)
Among them is body #287—Ellis V. Herndon, this author’s great-great grandfather. Ellis’s son, Ira Herndon, was unable to go to work Friday morning due to his wet boots, and has had no need to take part in the rescue efforts as “they had other people who did that”. Ira is able to stay with his family throughout the whole ordeal and mourn their elder. Ellis was found in excellent condition and buried in the cemetery “on the back of Tower Hill, in the hollow.” (Loss)
The mass grave donated earlier this week due to inclement weather is by the Catholic cemetery. However, the original potter’s field, which was used and became full within the first few days after the disaster, is currently unknown/lost. This author has quite the theory as to its potential location and this will be discussed later in an “Issues” post.
~9:00 am
In Belle Vernon, PA:
Coroner Hagan commences the official inquiry into the December 1st Naomi mine explosion. A number of officials testified and it was heavily discussed whether or not electricity should be used in mines.
In Fairmont:
Ladies Aid Society of the Diamond Street M.E. Church meets at the home of Mrs. Priscilla Merrifield on Wilson St. between 9am-4pm. 24 members and 2 visitors spend the day “sewing or doing any other work that may be done for the Monongah sufferers. Clothing or anything which will be donated for the cause will be gladly received by the ladies.” (FWV 12.10.07 pg. 2) (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 2)
“A Pittsburgh man said this morning that he was surprised at the small contributions being sent in for the Monongah relief fund. He thought the big cities were taking too little interest in the matter and that the papers ought to take the question up with a view to creating a larger fund. He thinks there ought to be a fund of at least $200,000 to properly care for 300 widows and 1,000 orphans.” (FWV 12.12.07 pg. )
In Monongah:
2 men try the same trick from day before of posing as workmen to get food and goods. They are caught, arrested, and put in the Monongah jail. (FWV 12.11.07 pg.1)
“About 100 men are digging graves for the dead and as fast as the bodies are prepared and identified they are taken to the cemeteries or shipped to the places designated by friends.” (FWV 12.11.07 pg.1)
Messrs. S.E. Jenkins and J.A.C. Prickett, representatives of the Setting Sun Tribe of the Improved Order of Red Men, accompanied the body of one of the Monongah victims to the home at Connellsville, PA. (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 2)
~10:00 am
“Two hundred and eighty-five bodies were recovered at 10 o’clock today, and 25 more were ready for removal to the surface.” (LET 12.12.07 pg. 1)
~11:00 am
In Pittsburgh, PA:
“C.W. Watson…will, in the name of his wife, erect an orphan asylum at Monongah in which will be cared for and educated the children of the men who lost their lives in the disaster. Today representatives of Mr. Watson visited this city, where they inspected various orphan asylums, and announced that work on the new asylum at Monongah will be started at once.” (NYTb 12.13.07 pg. 5)
In Charleston, WV:
“President Craigo called at the office of the Mail, where a relief fund is being collected and was advised that it would be better to have the contribution from the Wellston miners sent direct from that point to Mayor Moore, at Monongah, rather than have it come to Charleston and then be remitted from here to Monongah. Mr. Craigo adopted the suggestion and wired the convention to the that effect.” (TA 12.12.07 pg. 1)
In Monongah:
“R.H. Spahr went to Monongah this morning and spent a few hours viewing the mine horror.” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 8)
“At 11 0’clock this morning 256 bodies have been waiting for transportation. It is estimated that there are still 145 bodies in the mines. Eighty-five bodies are unidentified. The greater number of these have already been buried.” (WT 12.12.07 pg. 3)
“The deaths of the three Morris brothers in the mine disaster wipes out a family of father, mother and 11 children with the exception of one small girl within the past ten years. The Morris family were former residents of Eldora and the sad incidents connected with their history are recalled by their neighbors and friends although there is but one member of the family left to relate the bereavement and she is most too young to remember all.
“Ten years ago, Mr. W. E. Morris and wife and 11 children settled at Eldora and there they lived happily for some time. Sickness of a pulmonary nature entered the family and soon the mother and six children were claimed within the course of a few years. One son was killed instantly while working in a coal mine on the Lowe farm, and last spring Mr. Morris contracted typhoid fever and died. For some time preceding his death Mr. Morris resided on the Harrison Manley farm above Monongah. Just four children were left out of the family of eleven and three of these, W.L., Cecil, and Marion met death together in the Monongah fatality. Mr. W.L. Morris leaves a wife, who was formerly a Miss Boone. His two younger brothers worked in the mines with him and resided at his home. The brothers were all found Monday night.” (CDT 12.11.07 pg. 1)
~12:00 am
At the mines:
Rescue crews have been working around the clock for almost 6 days. Every section of the mines has been entered – no survivors found*.
“Much progress was made by the rescue parties yesterday, despite the rain, snow and mud.” (CET 12.11.07 pg. 1)
“At a late hour 142 bodies had been prepared for burial. Many more have been located and will be brought to the morgue today. If, as the mine owners declare, there were less than 400 victims, nearly half of the bodies have been recovered.” (CET 12.11.07 pg. 1)
“There were reports last night that some of the miners entombed are yet living, but they are not generally believed. One workman claims to have heard knockings or raps in one section of a room cut off by debris. While it is believed he was mistaken, efforts are being redoubled to reach the spot.” (ES 12.11.07 pg. 1)
“The arrival of extra undertakers from Wheeling and the increase of morguers has lightened the work for those who have been on duty from the beginning.” (FWV 12.11.07 pg.1)
Water from the downpour rains and overflowing creeks have gotten into mines through the enlarged portals, fissures and toad holes.
~2:30 am
At #8:
“The body of Thomas Killeen, one of the victims of the terrible mine disaster at Monongah, was recovered from Mine No 8 Wednesday morning at 2:30 o’clock. It will be brought to Clarksburg Thursday morning for burial. Killeen’s body was badly mangled; one side of the face being crushed and the abdomen was also crushed. The body was also scorched from the explosion. The body was taken to the morgue and identified and after it was prepared for burial it was removed to the home of the family in Monongah. Mr. Killeen was 43 years old and leaves a widow and five children. The oldest child’s name is Martin and he is about twelve years old. Mary and Kate are the next two older children. Killeen was a son of Patrick Killeen who makes his home with the family at Monongah and a brother of Martin Killeen. He was a brother-in-law of Patrick Martin of this city.” (CDT 12.11.07 pg. 1)
Through the night
Inside the mines:
“Horrible sights greet the working party.” (ES 12.11.07 pg. 1)
“In one room there were found two arms neatly severed from the body, of which there was not the slightest trace.” (ES 12.11.07 pg. 1)
“In other rooms are found missing limbs and a few heads.” (ES 12.11.07 pg. 1)
“One body was found seated with a lunch basket before it, while one arm was raised in the act of delivering a spoonful of beans to the mouth. Death came so quickly that the body grew instantly rigid in that position.” (ES 12.11.07 pg. 1)
At the morgue:
CDT 12.11.07 pg 1
“Reports to the office of the Fairmont Coal Company here from mines Nos 6 and 8 at Monongah, the scene of last Friday’s death-dealing explosion, Wednesday morning state that the rescue work continued all last night and was without special feature or incident.” (GDS 12.13.07 pg. 4)
“A number of bodies brought out did not bear the brass checks used in the company’s system of records and accounts of a majority of its employees, thus sustaining the statements that a large number of men and boys in the mines were not included in the checking rolls on which estimates of the dead were largely based. There is reason to believe that the number will not fall short of 500.” (FCT 12.13.07 pg. 1)
In Monongah:
Rain and snow continue to fall, casting the entire valley in gloom. “The snow is quite welcome today after an experience with rain and mud for a day or two.” (FWV 12.11.07 pg. )
~6:00 am
“Most of the mines in the Fairmont and Clarksburg regions have a full run of empty cars for loading and the work has about resumed its normal condition. The independent mines are working although at some points all of the men are not back at work. The Fairmont Coal Company mines have resumed work except mine No. 2 and the ill-fated mines, Nos 6 and 8.” (CDT 12.11.07 pg. 1)
“When Wednesday’s force of rescuers went on duty there had been a total of 225 bodies taken out, most of which have been buried. Others were brought out in groups of two and three at short intervals.” (FCT 12.13.07 pg. 1)
In Monongah:
A number of men are sent up from New England and Gaston mines as well as about 20 miners from Frostburg to assist in the search work. (FWV 12.11.07 pg. 8)
“There are few people around today and this aids the men at work. The big crowds that rushed to the scenes were a hindrance to every part of the work.” (FWV 12.11.07 pg.1)
“Twenty-three bodies which were unidentified were buried in potter’s field. All the bodies were hauled to the cemetery in road wagons through mud. Fifty-five grave diggers are kept constantly busy.” (RP 12.11.07 pg. 1)
Inside the mines:
“A number of bodies were brought to the surface and others were located in the mine. The exact number recovered during the night has not been reported to the officers here.” (GDS 12.13.7 pg. 4)
South side of #8 has been entirely explored and all bodies from this section have been removed. Efforts shift to the North side to do the same. (FWV 12.11.07 pg.1)
“The carcasses of horses and mules in the mines will not be taken out but destroyed by the use of chemicals.” (CDT 12.11.07 pg. 1)
“Strange noises heard in the mine late last night gave some color to a report that there were living men in some part of the mine, but the workmen this morning found nothing.” (EJ 12.11.07 pg. 7)
At the morgue:
“At the morgue the scenes are pathetic. Many relatives wait about—in fact, many have stationed themselves in front of the door—hoping every dead cart will bring the body of the missing one who was so dear to them. In the driving snow and rain little parties of Slavs and Italians, among the women and small children, stood for hours. One at a time the crowds dwindled down as bodies were identified and sent on to one of the man’s forlorn homes.” (CET 12.11.07 pg. 1)
“Inside the deadhouse the undertakers worked as rapidly as possible and when six or seven bodies were brought in at a time their systematic work was wonderful to see. Even while the embalmers worked on the bodies other men were searching the pockets of the victims clothing for trinkets, valuables and marks of identification.” (CET 12.11.07 pg. 1)
“Nothing, no matter how insignificant, escaped the notice of the men who examined the clothing. Every little trinket was stored away and many strange things have been collected. In the collection are false teeth, whipstocks, pipes, whistles, old coins, all sorts of strange looking knives and about every kind of trinket poor people could have.” (CET 12.11.07 pg. 1)
“In the pocket of an unknown man a match box containing 13 matches was found. When they were counted there was significant silence.” (CET 12.11.07 pg. 1)
~9:00 am
In Fairmont:
The local German Beneficial Union announces it will cancel the 90-day clause of their contract and “will pay the policies taken out by men who were killed in the mine disaster immediately.” (FWV 12.11.07 pg. )
In Clarksburg:
“With his strength about exhausted, William G Osborn, of the Clifford-Osborn undertaking firm, returned Wednesday morning from the scene of the Monongah mine disaster where he had been at work almost continually since last Friday assisting in preparing the dead for burial. From Thursday night last until Wednesday morning he had but five or six hours of sleep. After resting up he will return to Monongah and help the other undertakers.” (CDT 12.11.07 pg. 1)
In Monongah:
“The scene at Monongah today is but a repetition of the scenes of Monday and Tuesday except that the bodies are being brought out at shorter intervals today.” (FWV 12.11.07 pg.1)
“Over fifty funerals were held Wednesday.” (FCT 12.13.07 pg. 1, McAteer)
“On each casket there was a bunch of American Beauty roses or white carnations. Miss Elizabeth Watson, daughter of S.L. Watson, treasurer of the coal company, sent them.” (FCT 12.13.07 pg. 1)
Rev. Father McEligott of Grafton is here giving words of comfort to the distressed and helping in any way that he can. (FWV 12.11.07 pg.1)
“The relief work is progressing in a satisfactory manner. A dozen relief stations are now in operation and supplies of all kinds are coming in rapidly and being as quickly disbursed.” (ES 12.11.07 pg. 1)
The company doctors are assigned to deal with shock among the widows. (McAteer)
“One Italian, whose body had not been found, is said to have had $300 in his possession when he left home.” (CET 12.11.07 pg. 1)
Inside the mines:
“The installation of additional fans has much improved the ventilation.” (ES 12.11.07 pg. 1)
“In the caverns penetrated today conditions were found to be much better. There was an absence of gas and the deadly black damp to interfere with the searchers and the wreckage was not so great.” (ES 12.11.07 pg. 1)
“Members of the rescuing party stated that the average conditions of the bodies recovered is bad, heads being blown off, arms and legs broken and twisted, and fine pieces of coal imbedded in the bodies showing the terrific force of the explosion.” (PES 12.11.07 pg. 8)
~10:30 am
In Clarksburg:
“The body of Leslie Spragg, one of the victims of the mine disaster at Monongah, was brought to this city from that place on the 10:30 o’clock interurban trolley car Wednesday morning and buried in Holy Cross cemetery after services were held over it at the Church of the Immaculate Conception.
“Spragg’s body was recovered Tuesday night from Mine No 8 and after being taken to the morgue, prepared for burial and identified, was taken in charge by relatives and removed to the home of the family at Monongah and from there it was brought to Clarksburg. The body was burned from the explosion but not mangled.
“The dead man leaves a wife and two children. He formerly resided in Clarksburg but at the time of the disaster was making his home at Monongah. He was a son-in-law of John Hyland, of Monongah, who also resided here formerly, and was 32 years old.” (CDT 12.11.07 pg. 1)
In Fairmont:
“Telegraphic service at Fairmont has been under a heavy strain the last week. Monongah has no telegraph office and the fifty correspondents on the scene have to go to Fairmont, eight miles distant, where they file their copy. The Western Union is the only services here, the local manager being Mr. W.T. McWhorter. Under ordinary circumstances there is only one operator, but five extra men have been at work day and night. Over 150,000 words have been sent out. There is appreciation among the newspaper men of the promptness with which their copy was handled by the Fairmont office.” (ES 12.11.07 pg. 1 – 2)
In Monongah:
“The excitement of the first few days…has about subsided and the situation has settled down into a steady systematic search for the bodies of victims.” (ES 12.11.07 pg. 1)
At the mines:
“The officials of the Fairmont Coal Company have been constantly on the scene working as hard as the men with shovels and picks. In many instances they have gone thirty-six hours at a stretch without sleep, while President Watson and Vice President Wheelwright have been on duty day and night. Mr. Wheelwright, clad in a miner’s togs, with rubber coat, boots and hat, was out in the rain nearly all day.” (ES 12.11.07 pg. 1)
J.H. Wheelwright
C.W. Watson
“Two men who have rendered good service are Messrs. T.H. Bennett and J.R. Buckingham, who have handled a vast volume of detail associated with the direction of the rescue work.” (ES 12.11.07 pg. 1)
“Large pumps arrived at the mines from Pittsburg and were installed to remove water that had gotten into the mine from the river. The fires which at first threatened, and for a time did stop the work of rescue, have been controlled by shutting off the supply of air in the burning portions of the mines. However, all danger of further explosions is not past and no attempt will be made to reopen these sections of the mine until it is definitely ascertained that the fire had been extinguished.” (ES 12.11.07 pg. 2)
At the morgue:
“Although the bodies that are now being found are not so badly mangled or decomposed as the ones found in the main heading, they are not kept at the morgue long. Just as soon as the bodies are embalmed, they are sent to the room, where relatives of missing men can see the for the purpose of identification. If not claimed or identified they are hurried to the graveyard as known.” (CET 12.11.07 pg. 1)
*= Technically, one more survivor was found: John Tomko. John was found alive and responsive in #8 and fought off his rescuers, similar to Peter Urban. Though he was alive on his way out of the mine, he did not survive to make it to the surface. John’s brother, George Tomko was found “nearby”, but already deceased. George is body #56, John is processed through the morgue during the early hours of today and is listed as body #114. As of now, the Tomkos have not been included in this timeline as the entire timeline of their events is very unclear. The Tomkos will be discussed later in an “Issues” post in an effort to troubleshoot this event and try to get a more clear understanding of John’s experience.
“This is the day of ‘little mothers’ in Monongah. The little girls tend the babies, wait on the sick and get what bits of food there are.” (NCH 12.10.07 pg. 1)
~7:30 am
The Fairmont West Virginian predicts even more rain for today and tonight, followed by snow and slightly cooler weather (12.10.07 pg. 1)
“It has been raining here steadily since last evening and wretched conditions prevail throughout this section today.” (WED 12.10.07 pg. 1) (ES 12.10.07 pg. 1)
At the mines:
“The stench from decomposed bodies in the mines is becoming almost unbearable to rescuers. The stench is made worse because thirty-six horses were also killed in the mines.” (GWA 12.12.07 pg. 7)
“Many rescuers have become sick. One hundred and fifty miners from the mines in George Creek district have been summoned here to assist in the rescue work.” (GWA 12.12.07 pg. 7)
“The health officers fear an epidemic of fever, due to the decaying bodies of the men and the animals caught in the mine, and have prepared to enforce heroic measures if it becomes necessary. Quicklime will be taken into the mine and scattered over the bodies if conditions become much worse.” (ES 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“The crowds of idlers who surged about the pit entrances…have been dwindling ever since the rainstorm last night…” (AR pg. 1) (LAH 12.11.07 pg. 2) (SFC 12.11.07 pg. 1)
“The mud at the opening of the mines is several inches deep and has been trodden by the great crowds into a perfect quagmire, through which the men with the stretchers have to carry the dead. In conveying one of the recovered bodies down to the railroad tracks this morning a stretcher bearer slipped and the inanimate burden, which was wrapped in a blanket, was thrown into the mud. The sight of it gave the crowd a convulsion.” (RP 12.10.07 pg. 1)
At the morgues:
“Bodies brought from mines Nos 6 and 8 …during last night carried the list of victims beyond the hundred mark, and others are being carried into the morgue in intervals.” (WED 12.10.07 pg. 1)
2 men taken out this morning had some money on them: #101 – Salvadore Lobbs had $150 in a belt strapped around his leg and #110 – Andy Morris had $23.19 in his pocket-book. This brings the total amount of money found on the miners to $200.19. Money is in the hands of the coroner as are all other things that are found. (FWV 12.10.07 pg. 1)
In Fairmont:
J.E. Sands, cashier of First National Bank, receives a check for $500.00 from the City Bank of Wheeling and a check for $100.00 from the Second National Bank of Cumberland, MD and $100 through Mr. Zack Robertson from a friend in Wheeling. (FWV 12.10.07 pg. 1)
In Grafton:
Floyd Parsons “came up from Fairmont” and gives the Grafton Republican newspaper his statement “concerning the horror…”. Floyd was employed as chief engineer in the mines that exploded at Rush Run some months ago and in which he narrowly escaped death. Later he entered into special examinations of mine disasters for the journal he now represents. (FWV 12.10.07 pg. 2)
~8:00 am
“Carrying out orders from officials of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, a force of between forty and fifty trackmen that have been working on the railroad between this city and Parkersburg, left Clarksburg Tuesday morning on the interurban trolley line for Monongah to assist in digging graves for the dead that are taken from Monongah mines Nos 6 and 8. The men took picks, shovels and other tools with them and as soon as they arrived at Monongah they proceeded to the cemeteries and began work digging graves. The men were called to this city from various points along the railroad between Parkersburg and this city where they had been working.” (CDT 12.10.07 pg. 1)
In Monongah:
Milroy “Toy” Watkins is taken from Monongah to Montana for burial. The brother of Will Watkins, “…hearing that his brother was in No 6 mine went to work to help find him and he did not give up until he had found him and recognized him by a pair of black patent leather shoes and a black sateen shirt.” (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 2)
The Marion County Board of Health issues an order to advance the burial procedures. Viewing and ID opportunities for families and friends are limited to 4 hours maximum, no matter the condition of the body. The new accelerated ID and burial process cause many burials to occur immediately, without funeral masses. Catholic parishes hold whatever services they can at graveyards. (McAteer)
~9:00 am
On the far east side of Fairmont:
“Impressive were the services conducted by Rev. Hess” for Toy Watkins which takes place at the United Brethren church at Montana. He was the son of Mr. Willis Watkins and was a grandson of Mr. and Mrs. John Freeman, “an aged and respected couple residing at Montana and was related to many people living in and around Hoult and Montana.” Toy is survived by “4 brothers and 2 sisters; his mother having died about one year ago.” He is also survived by wife, Gettie Hyson Watkins, of Simpson, “who is very poorly in Cook Hospital, she being almost prostrated by the awful shock and untimely end of her husband.” (FWV 12.11.07 pg. 2)
In Monongah:
“Shock and grief have already destroyed many of the little unborn lives. Many women are so distraught with suffering that they forget all about their children.” (NCH 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“Funeral after funeral is being held at the churches in Monongah. The funeral cars are on the move most of the time. The unknown dead are being buried in the potter’s field near the Polish Catholic church.” (FWV 12.10.07 pg. 1)
Over 70 bodies are interred throughout the day. Some of them get funerals at the church, particularly those who could be preserved, but due to the condition of so many of the bodies brought out in the past hours, more frequently they are simply taken to one of the cemeteries. If identified, a small prayer is said; if not they are just buried. (McAteer) (news)
“The relief work is well under way and will soon be systemized. There is now plenty of food but there is urgent need of clothing in many families. Cash funds are being raised in many places and installments have already been forwarded from some points. The coal companies of this district have contributed $20,000 cash.” (WED 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“Thirty-seven funerals were held Monday and a number today. One body was sent to the cemetery followed by one lone woman, the widow, who had stood for days at the mines waiting for it.” (GWA 12.12.07 pg. 7)
At the mines:
“Every day since the explosion, hands, legs and arms have been removed. The stench from the decomposed bodies in the mines is becoming almost unbearable. This is one of the greatest difficulties which the rescuers have to overcome.” (RP 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“Up to nine o’clock this morning one hundred and one bodies have been removed from the Monongah mines, thirty-one having been taken out since midnight.” (CET 12.10.07 pg. 1)
~10:00 am
In Clarksburg:
“Charles McKane, aged 28 years, one of the Monongah mine victims, was buried in Holy Cross cemetery here at 10 ‘clock Tuesday forenoon. McKain’s body was found in one of the rooms of No. 8 mine and was taken from the mine shortly after midnight. With others it was conveyed to the morgue at Monongah and prepared for burial. It was then sent to his late home in that town arriving there at 2:30 o’clock, and Tuesday morning it was brought up on the interurban and buried. Relatives and friends accompanied the body. Mr. McKain’s body was not mutilated. It is evident he smothered to death. He leaves a wife and one child.” (CDT 12.10.07 pg. 3)
“Mayor L.C. Crile announced Tuesday morning that all moneys received at the council chamber in response to his proclamation calling for donations for the relief of the Monongah mine suffered, would be turned over to the Telegram relief fund, and due credit will be given to each donor. The donations will be published in the Telegram daily. A list of all the donors who leave supplies, provisions, clothing, etc., at the mayor’s office for the Monongah mine sufferers will be published each evening in the Telegram also. Donations are coming in freely and they should continue so for there are many unfortunate women and children left in destitute circumstances by the awful disaster.” (CDT 12.10.07 pg. 1)
In Monongah:
“Quite a number of Bridgeport people today went to the scene of the great mine disaster at Monongah. Some went for the mere sake of seeing, while others went with the hope of getting tidings from relatives and friends who were employed at the ill-fated mines.” (CDT 12.10.07 pg. 7)
“There is no change in the demeanor of the people of the stricken town except that the gloom of sadness and sorrow deepens all the time. Funeral after funeral was held today, mostly at the Catholic cemeteries, where scenes are most sad. After loved ones have been identified at the morgue and prepared for burial, hundreds of women and children gather at the cemeteries on the hill instead of going to the churches and await the arrival of the dead.” (CDT 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“Women were found today weak from pain, who are also suffering from lack of proper nourishment. Some of the Fairmont women have depleted their own stores of winter supply food in relieving the distress.” (RP 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“Ever since the explosion the most heroic action has been displayed on all sides by the women who despite their great stress and suffering, clung to their children. From the start they realized that the little tots were to becomes a serious burden, but on all sides could be heard the same sentiment, they would rather die than give up their children.” (CET 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“Some of the widows have no relations in America, for many came to Monongah with their husbands from the old country. Others came as sweethearts, years ago, after the lovers had made enough money to send for them. And while their married lives began here, they apparently prefer, in their distress, the old homes far away.” (CET 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“There are not many of the women who can now find any charms about Monongah, and although foreigners, most of them want to return to their native country, feeling that the few short years of the country of liberty has brought them nothing but grief and suffering.” (CET 12.10.07 pg. 1)
Special correspondent for the United Press, Dorothy Dale, and her photographer are approached by “the brightest Italian girl in the settlement”, Faustina Davia (last name reported as “Daria”).
Faustina Davia
Faustina is the oldest child and only daughter of Victor and Catherina Davia (DaVia). Victor was a “day man” working in #6 at the time of the explosion and was recorded as the 15th body recovered from the mines and to go through the morgue. He was identified by George Gibbons at the Italian Catholic church in Monongah sometime on Monday, though it is generally known that none of the family got to actually view and confirm that the body which was buried in Row A Grave 9 of the Italian Catholic cemetery contained Victor’s actual remains. (Tropea) (News) (McAteer) (Loss) (Amos)
“’Please you get something for me, I can do.’ A little hand touched my arm. A curl-framed face of a girl of 10 looked into my face. ‘You know mans all dead. Boys all dead. Only girls left to work.’ Do you know the half apologetic half appealing look of the trembling old man who shoved out of his life’s track by younger men—the man who begs you to buy matches or shoestrings? Well, that was the expression in the old young eyes of little ten-year-old Faustina Daria. Faustina was in the sixth grade the day before the explosion. That is ages ago to her.” (NCH 12.10.07 pg. 1)
At the mines:
“With 112 bodies on the surface at 10 o’clock today, 25 more ready to be brought out of Mine No 6 and 4 awaiting removal from Mine No 8. It was expected that the total number of bodies recovered from the wrecked mines by noon would be 140.” (CDT 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“The rescuers are working the right side of mine No. 8, where, it is thought, a majority of the bodies yet in the mine will be found.” (ES 12.10.07 pg. 1) (RIA 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“The rescue work is being pushed and before night it is expected that most of the bodies will have been taken out.” (WED 12.10.07 pg. 1) (ES 12.10.07 pg. 1)
~11:00 am
In East Monongah:
The General Relief Committee holds a meeting at the First National bank, which is currently operating as the primary morgue, and passes an order that the receipts and disbursements of the committee be published in the Fairmont papers from day to day. (McAteer)
Bishop Donahue of Wheeling and Judge Mason are added to the General Relief Committee. (FWV 12.10.07 pg. 1)
Donahue has “visited many of the homes of miners and found so many children made orphans by the disaster that he immediately took up the work of providing homes for them. He will arrange to have as many as can be accommodated sent to the orphanages maintained by the church at Huntington and Wheeling.” (WED 12.10.07 pg. 1)
In West Monongah:
Faustina Davia has taken Dorothy Dale and her photographer to her family’s three-room house on Walnut Avenue.
“‘See my Ma, Resta, Kipling, Georda and Ojgenia to work for,’ as she pointed at the group on the steps. ‘My pa make $2 a day,’ she explained. ‘And wasn’t it awful; three days he was home with a hurt on his back, and Friday he went in again and—and—’. But even the brave lips of strong hearted women of ten sometimes give way. The little figure crouched against the wall and quivered with sobs. ‘You know we paid $5 rent and had lard and cheese and bologna,’ she said with pride. The child spoke as rich people spoke of automobiles and theatre parties. And there was little Faustinas in almost every house in Monongah.” (NCH 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“I tell you there is nothing that makes one’s heart go out more to that stricken people than the way tiny girls put their little shoulders to the burdens that their mothers can not bear.” (NCH 12.10.07 pg. 1)
Photo taken of the Davia family on the porch of their home.Photo of Davia family at Ellis Island. Catherina and her family is the focus of this author’s historic fiction, therefore, there will soon be areas of this site which will be dedicated solely to her story.
~11:30 am
“At eleven thirty, one hundred and thirteen bodies have been taken from the mine by rescuers. The bodies of those taken out since daylight are in good condition, and many were identified.” (CET 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“Every decade has had its horrors and every decade will have them until the end of time. It seems sometimes that the decades that have passed and gone were angelic compared to the present, but such is not the case.
“The terrible mine disaster at Monongah is still fresh in our minds, and it will remain fresh for many days for the parties of rescuers have scarcely begun to find the bodies of the victims of that catastrophe.” (AC 12.10.07 pg. 4)
~12:00 am
At the mines:
“At midnight a total of sixty-six bodies had been brought from the two wrecked mines at Monongah.” (BEB 12.10.07 pg. 7)
“The bodies taken out…were for the most part in bad condition, being maimed and blackened, and besides, many of them were far advanced in decomposition.” (ES 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“The work of rescue is daily becoming more difficult and dangerous. To the dangers of fire damp and explosive gases generated by the fire in Mine No 8 are now added the odors peculiar to decomposing bodies. The health of the rescue parties is endangered, and it is with the utmost difficulty that they are able to face these new terrors of the mines.” (LCT 12.10.07 pg. 8) (RP 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“…men who were unafraid to work 12, 24, 48, or 72 hours at a stretch if there were hope or help in it. This mustering of the minute men of the coal pits is one of the finest things in industrial life in America today. Some come because of the good pay there is in it, and some because of the adventure, but for many it is the response of working men to a human call stronger and more stirring than either of these.” (Kellogg)
“Now, it having been determined that there can be no living men in the mine, the state and federal authorities have ordered a cessation of the rescue work. They rightly cannot see the necessity of sacrificing the living for the dead. But it is a notable fact that the work would have gone on, regardless of danger, if the authorities had not intervened. The men were willing and anxious to risk their lives, even though they knew they could not save lives by so doing.” (SLH 12.10.07 pg. 4)
“The coroner and his deputies remain constantly upon the scene, viewing the bodies as they come out, but no date has been set or other arrangements made for taking testimony or other features of the inquest.” (ES 12.10.07 pg. 1)
Inside the mines:
“Men are working incessantly.” (WH 12.11.07 pg. 3)
“They carried pick and shovel, but the weapons that for the most part they had to rely on were boards and canvas and cement and a spinning fan at the mine mouth.” (Kellogg)
These men “…must go ten feet ahead and try; must hold canvas barricades against the after-damp till their arms ached, while the brattices slowly went up; and all the time must forage for death in that breathless sweater, finding it in a disemboweled mule, or the charred, crushed thing that had been a miner, or a headless trapper boy, or an empty shoe.” (Kellogg)
“After the bodies are located, the rescuers say the most difficult part of the work is encountered. The bringing out of the bodies, a distance of a mile or more through the underground workings, it is tedious on account of meager facilities.” (WH 12.11.07 pg. 3)
“There has been considerable apprehension that the work of rescue might be stopped on account of the many carcasses of horses and mules in mines Nos 6 and 8, but so far there has been little trouble from this source, and the stench has not been sufficient to overcome the workers.” (CDT 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“The official reports show that there were eleven horses and mules in No 6 mine and 38 in mine No 8. All were killed.” (CDT 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“Health authorities fear an epidemic of fever due to the decaying bodies of the men and the animals caught in the mine and have prepared to enforce heroic measures if it becomes necessary.” (WED 12.10.07 pg. 1)
At the morgues:
By an order of the County Board of Health, mutilated bodies are to be kept 3 hours for ID and at the expiration of that time shall be interred. The order has increased the anxiety of relatives of the victims who are eager for the news concerning the recovery of bodies. (FWV 12.10.07 pg. 1)
At #6:
“There was pathos enough in the scenes at the mines while the bodies were taken out to make a nation weep.” (AC 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“Early in the morning they took the body of a small boy about eleven years old from Mine No. 6. He bore on his begrimed little face a look of peace and happiness that doubtless never marked it in life.” (LCT 12.10.07 pg. 8) (RP 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“The little body they took out was that of a weakling, a mere child, who in life probably did not possess enough strength to lift a bushel of coal. But his hands were knarled and his shoes were those of a man laborer, rough and tough and hobnailed.” (LCT 12.10.07 pg. 8) (RP 12.10.07 pg. 1 & 2)
“It was identified as John Yaconis, and taken to the tumble-down shack up in Red Row over the mine, where a stony faced little woman kissed it till her face was black from the charred flesh.” (NCH 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“’Devil Johnny’ they called him, but there was nothing devilish about him. At 12 the stunted little overalled figure trudged every morning to the mines where he was a trapper. At 13 he died in those mines.” (NCH 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“Another body, that of the boy’s father, Franco Yaconis, is still concealed in one of those underground rooms.” (NCH 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“There are other little trapper boys, they say, in the hideous catacomb back under the hills, boys that have never known the delight of tops and marbles, and whose best comrades are the slow and patient mules that haul the black cars down the drifts.” (LCT 12.10.07 pg. 8) (RP 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“’My man ask for boy getta job. Company give it even to so little boy.’ Said the mother. The labor law of West Virginia requires a child to be 14 before he may work, and the white faced Monongah woman says that Johnny’s case was many a boy’s case. At any rate there are no boys of that age on the Monongah streets.” (NCH 12.10.07 pg. 1)
~6:00 am
At the mines:
“Seventy-six dead bodies had been taken from the ill-fated Monongah mines when work was resumed today.” (WT 12.10.07 pg. 11)
“Mothers, wives, sisters, and children gathered at the entrance of the mines until driven away by the company’s police.” (AC 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“It is believed that the preliminary work of the rescuers has at last been completed…brave fellow workingmen to the number of hundreds have been risking their lives for nearly 96 hours.” (WED 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“There is now no fire in either mine and the air is such as not to materially interfere in the work. The order at the mines is perfect and the rescue work goes systematically on, notwithstanding the steady downpour of rain and deep mud.” (CDT 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“The company issued a statement yesterday saying later developments lead them to believe only 260 men were in the mines when the explosion occurred, but the miners insist that 406 men were checked…besides many having duties in the mine who are not under the checking system.” (OES 12.10.07 pg. 4)
“No man can write down in words the story of the pitiful grief and mental suffering that was witnessed during the hours I stood surrounded but those whose loves ones lay cold in death far beneath their feet in the workings of those wrecked mines.” (AC 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“Monongah is today a fatherless, husbandless village. In a moment the largest mining village in West Virginia was shorn of its bread-providing population as lint is swept by a white hot tongue of flame.” (AC 12.10.07 pg. 1)
~7:00 am
“Today dawned with the bright prospects for bringing to the surface a majority of those still in the workings, deep in the bowels of the hills and far from the entrances.” (WED 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“A story started last night that rats were in the mines gnawing the bodies of victims, but it was too ridiculous to receive much credit. Doubtless there were numerous rodents in the mines at the time of the accident, as there always are in mines, but that even a rat escaped the awful death strike, when the explosion came is not at all possible. There has not been any opportunity since for rats to get into the mines as the entrances have had men constantly at them and hence there could be none within. Besides the bodies recovered shows no sign of the presence of rats in the mines.” (CDT 12.10.07 pg. 3)
“It is beyond the human pen to describe the spectacle presented, when bodies are brought up from the bowels of the earth whither courageous men day in and day out were wont to toil for the support of their loved ones. Fathers, brothers, husbands and sons, are carried from the slope leading to the fatal regions of the earth. Their bodies are as black as the coal itself. The experienced eye of the undertaker cannot detect their color, whether white or black, until after the bodies have been washed. Even then the mutilation in some cases make it difficult.” (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 4)
~7:30 pm
At the mines:
“Rain began falling early in the evening and continued almost incessantly throughout the night.” (WED 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“Last night they took out two bodies from No.8. Tonight, they will take out many more dead who have already been dug out of the wreckage and are lying along the catacombs ready for removal.” (RP 12.9.07 pg. 1)
“When darkness came tonight a total of sixty-six bodies had been brought to the surface from the two wrecked mines at Monongah.” (DASB 12.10.07 pg. 1) (LODD 12.13.07 pg. 3)
In Fairmont:
The Union Relief Association is formed by local women who were among the first responders to the disaster. Mrs. F. E. Nichols, President & Mrs. R. T. Webb, Secretary hold a meeting at M.P. Temple – “all ladies urged to be present.” “All women interested in the relief work are earnestly requested to be present. Committees will come prepared to report the progress made today.” (FWV 12.9.07 pg. 8)
Walter Zirkle is located safe and alive. He had been employed at the Gaston mines in Fairmont, not the Monongah mines. “The wish of his sister and mother were at once communicated to him and he has no doubt reached his home…” (FWV 12.10.07 pg. 2)
“Over $25,000 was added to the various relief funds during the day.” (BME 12.11.07 pg. 6)
In Monongah:
The General Relief Committee meets in Mayor Moore’s office. The first members are: Mayor Moore of Monongah; Mayor Arnett of Fairmont, chairman; Father Boutlou, Rev. J.C. Broomfield, Rev. H.G. Stoetzer; J.E. Sands, treasurer, and J.M. Jacobs, secretary. “Five responsible men will handle large gifts.” All checks will be payable to J.E. Sands, who will see that the funds are properly distributed. (FWV 12.10.07 pg. 1)
Paul Kellogg is talking with the children of a grieving family at their home. One of the oldest daughters tells him of the father they call “Pap” and brother, referred to as “George” who was a machine man:
“…and as we stood there on the door step, the sisters showed me his picture that of a clean cut young fellow, taken with his dog in a field. ‘Many’s the woman was dependent on each day’s wages,’ they said, –‘nothing at all ahead—and now that’s cut off. We’re not that way—not quite. Pap was all we had and he was getting’ old and couldn’t do so much. But George—soon as he’d get through cutting, he’d come help him load and so Pap’d make more. That was the way with George—5 girls, the only brother we had, and he that good to us! And such a good wife.’ One after another, the sisters broke in parts with the story. ‘Pap was singing the morning he left when he went to work—we heard him as far’s it carried. It was Nearer My God to Thee. That’s what he was singing. They worked 3 miles in—Pap and George—r-right under us. Two of the girls broke off there and ran into the house, and a third, who had come out and was combing her hair while we talked, gave it a savage twist that would have brought tears to her eyes if they hadn’t been there already. ‘Oh, we know we’ve got to give him up. We know he’s dead; but if we could only get his body out of the pit.” (Kellogg)
In the morgue:
George Gibbons is very successful in telling who victims are as they are brought in through the night. (FWV 12.10.07 pg. 1)
The first money found on any of the victims is found on the 69th body to be taken out, Dan Dominico Jr.* He had $27 on him when found. (FWV 12.10.07 pg. 1)
*The paper reports that this is “Dan Domico”. However, body #69 on the Coroner’s List is actually Dan Dominico Jr.—the son of the injured miner who was among the 4 men to escape through a toad hole the morning of the explosion. Despite being seriously injured, his father ran to the mouth of the mine after escaping and wanted to go back inside in an attempt to save his son. Dan Domico did not attend work on Friday and is, in fact, still alive.
At the mines:
“The rescue work, while slow, is progressing smoothly and as rapidly as due precaution for the rescuers would permit. It is believed that close to a hundred dead will be recovered by daylight tomorrow.” (News)
~8:00 pm
In Monongah:
Paul Kellogg visits the Italian Catholic priest, Father D’Andrea. Kellogg writes that, “it was raining heavily and a hearse was ploughing up through the mud when I reached the little Italian church…where last year alone he [D’Andrea] baptized 170 American born children.”
Kellogg describes D’Andrea as “a young, spare man with a quick smile on his dark face. His beard had gone 3 days without shaving and his eyes were hollow for sleep.” D’Andrea has been so consumed with his duties as a priest and to his brother’s family that he has had no time to personally grieve his brother.
“It was only one cry all day until now,” he said and turned his palms out and dropped his shoulders. Then in answer to the door, he directed a driver who for 2 hours had been searching for the right house, and was going back with the body. (Kellogg)
~10:00 pm
C.W. Watson issues statement:
At the mines:
“The heavy rainfall caused a veritable mortar of mud more than shoe top depth in many places through which the workers and the anxious watchers could make their way only with the greatest difficulty.” (WED 12.10.07 pg. 1)
The body of Charles McCain is finally reached. McCain was a well-known man of his city and had many friends here. Despite numerous early accounts of Charles being found “blown to bits”, his body was in good condition. There were no marks on it showing that he was a victim of the after damp. His remains were brought to his home. (FWV 12.10.07 pg.1)
~11:00 pm
At the mines:
“Heavy rain storms make the conditions around the mine worse than any time since the explosion. Only a few stragglers are now keeping the gruesome vigil.” (DASB 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“Milder temperatures today resulted in a thaw which converted the soil near the entrance into a sticky, dirty mortar…now almost knee deep in places.” (SLH 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“It dispersed, however, a very large portion of the great, impatient surging crowd that from the first has hovered as near the entries as they could get, a constant handicap to the rescuing forces whose work they retarded.” (WED 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“The rain has also interrupted the makeshift telephone and telegraph communication between the mines this city and the outside world.” (AMJ 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“Twelve bodies have been taken from the mines tonight, bringing the total number up to 11 p.m., seventy-eight.” (DASB 12.10.07 pg. 1) (CB 12.10.07 pf 1)
“At a late hour, …the officials of the company said they had reached a point where there were a great many bodies. From this time on the work of bringing out the dead will be done more rapidly.” (CET 12.10.07 pg. 1)
At the morgue:
“The rapid recovery of the bodies is making lively work at the morgue and at a late hour…thirty-five more undertakers were telegraphed for besides the several who arrived early in the evening from Grafton and Fairmont. Spring wagons bringing the bodies from the traction station across the river, to which they are conveyed from the mine openings by an ambulance street car, are followed by throngs of men, women and children, who gather around the morgue and remain in the rain until the bodies are placed in the caskets and laid in state in the bank building for viewing and identification.” (CDT 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“Over the heartrending protests of the widowed and orphaned, it has been necessary for the authorities to act to preserve the health of the living and orders for immediate burial of the victims has been issued. The only exception will be in cases of bodies that are fully preserved and can be embalmed. These will be taken care of and taken to the morgues for identification. Failing this, all will be buried in the common grave…”
(WT 12.9.07 pg. 5)
~8:00 am
In Fairmont:
Lawrence E Sands sends a message from Wheeling that “citizens of city are planning a relief fund for Monongah…thinks Wheeling will contribute at least $1,000.” (FWV 12.9.07 pg.8)
In Monongah:
“The fourth day was a repetition of its three predecessors in the matter of pathetic scenes. Hundreds of women remained near the mines all day screaming and crying until they almost collapsed. As on former days hot coffee was served at intervals by the company to keep the unfortunate women from falling to the ground from exhaustion.” (News)
Bishop P.J. Donahue arrives by train from Wheeling joined by St. Peter’s of Fairmont priest Father Arsenius Boutou to assist the Monongah priests, Father Joseph Lekston & Father Joseph D’Andrea. Both Lekston and D’Andrea have been working nonstop since Friday and are close to exhaustion.
Father Joseph D’Andrea has also lost his brother, Victor D’Andrea, in the disaster. Victor was a father of 3 and his wife is 6 months pregnant. D’Andrea had worked for 3 days and nights, never stopping to sleep or bathe, continuously ministering to the bereaved and guiding coffin carts to correct homes.
The priests did services in the mornings and visited with families in the evenings.
Priests on the scene:
FWV 12.9.07 pg 1
At the mines:
“The work of rescuing bodies was resumed this morning…”
52 bodies have been recovered and the remains of 43 have been identified. (FWV 12.9.07 – pg. 1 – extra)
“Most of the bodies found have been those of foreigners and nearly all have been identified by their pay checks. [Th]ree large fans are pumping air into the mines and a pipe line 2.500 feet long was put in on the advice of Chief State Mine Inspector Paul as a precaution against fires.” (CET 12.10.07 pg. 1)
Weekend crowds and sightseers are gone. Only somber groups of men—relief workers, explorers, brothers and men waiting their turn to go in—remained around mines.
At the churches in Monongah:
Church basements became make-shift funeral parlors.
Many came early to the Polish Catholic church, St. Stanislaus, “…a-foot, with bowed heads, sorrowing in low voices, sometimes a woman half held up by her companions, to that basement where the coffin lids closed in on blistered, swollen faces and parts of men.” (Kellogg)
“4 or 5 widows wept compulsively.” (Kellogg)
“An older woman read from a religious book held to the flickering light of a candle at the head of a closed coffin.” (Kellogg)
“A peasant, ugly with her pitted face, but beautiful in her great sorrow, bent often and kissed the lips of her husband.” (Kellogg)
“All of a sudden there was cry more piercing than the others. It was from an older mother who has lost 7—her husband, a son, 2 sons in law, and 3 nephews. She had come upon one of them, and the people with her could scarcely hold her. She threw her head on the casket and spoke to the boy fondly, trying to caress the crumpled face with poor, wrinkled hands. She had moaned all the way that morning from her lonely house to the church door, giving infinite sorrow to those who heard, and here her grief at last found vent.” (Kellogg)
~8:30 am
CDT 12.9.07 pg 3
~9:00 am
The court of inquiry convenes in Monongah. (FWV 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“Coroner E.S. Amos, of Fairmont, is personally engaged in looking after the identification of bodies and is having a complete list kept, as well as recording the circumstances of identification and the disposition of the bodies. In this he is ably assisted by the several undertakers of this town, Fairmont and Clarksburg and other places. The jury organized by him will meet in Fairmont this morning at 9 o’clock to begin its work of investigation. Such representative men as W.S. Hamilton, Festus Downs, and W.E. Codray are members of the jury. Their work it is announced will be thorough and complete.”
The jury with Coroner Amos and Prosecuting Att. Scott C. Lowe went to No 8 and then visited No 6.
At the morgue:
“There is no more room in the morgue and the bodies are prepared at the mouth of the mine for burial.” (CET 12.9.07 pg. 1)
“In the case of complete identification, the bodies, after being viewed by the coroner and jury, are not held, pending further action of the coroner, as it is established, they all came out of the mine and met death by the same cause.” (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 1) (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 10)
Widows and family members were permitted “ample time” to view the bodies and attempt to ID them, but the time allotted for the body to be identified has been drastically diminished since the decision of the Marion County Health Board last night.
“After the identification of the bodies and they are claimed by friends, Coroner Amos holds the inquest and permits the relatives to remove them to their homes. The bodies of all Polish miners are being removed to the Polish church just above Monongah as fast as they are identified and are being placed in the basement of that edifice.” (US Dept of Labor-mine disasters-Dispatch article)
When ID is not possible, the body is taken directly from the mine entrance to the graveyard and buried immediately.
“Work of burying the dead that have been taken from the mines is in progress and because of the many bodies they have to be interred with dispatch and little ceremony.” (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 1) (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 10)
In Fairmont:
“All organizations in the city are taking steps to institute relief measures” (FWV 12.9.07 pg.8)
In Clarksburg:
“The body of Patrick McDonough, the miner who was killed in the Monongah disaster, was brought to this city Monday morning on the 9 o’clock interurban car. Funeral services were held at 9:30 o’clock at the Catholic church and interment was made in Holy Cross cemetery. McDonough was a brother-in-law of Pat Connell and Thomas Gill.” (CDT 12.9.07 pg. 1)
The remains of Patrick McDonough were taken to Clarksburg. Patrick is brother of townsman, Policeman Anthony McDonough. (FWV 12.9.07 pg. 1)
At the mines:
Miners linger outside waiting to go into the mines. “The knot of silent mine workers in boots and corduroys and overalls could be made out from the rim of the bluff…; and at its edge sat in heavier silence a group of shawled women, waiting. Behind them ran a little street, thick in mud, with domino shaped stepping stones at the crossways with colorless little houses and propped walks and here and there dove-cotes nailed under the eaves or reared on poles.” (Kellogg)
TES 12.9.07 pg 4
“The body of W.H. Byse will be taken to Roane county Monday for burial there.” (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 1)
“Quite a number of Clarksburgers attended the funeral of John Howard Preston, at Monongah, Monday. Preston was a victim of the horrible mine disaster which occurred at Monongah Friday.” (TA 12.12.07 pg. 2)
“In the town families were mourning inconsolably the death or absence of a loved one and on all sides were little groups of weeping women and children. Thousands of strangers thronged the streets all day. They came from towns and country within a radius of many miles and by every means of travel.” (RP 12.9.07 pg. 2)
Some 30 – 40 funerals are performed throughout the day. “They were merely repetitions of those of Sunday, the crowds being almost as large and the scenes and incidents just as distressing.” (ES 12.10.07 pg. 1)
A majority of today’s funerals are held in the little Polish Catholic Church located between the two mines. 5 priests directed funerals.
Father Boutlou held short funeral services for the Irish Catholics. (FWV 12.9.07 pg. 1)
“Services were held over several of the bodies at one time.” (CDT 12.9.07 pg. 1)
“The people gathered above, the men on one side and the women on the other, as is the custom in the Polish church. The candles of the little altar lit up the chapel as they had done on other Sundays and the familiar intonations of the mass brought a brooding quiet. Then the priest addressed his people in Polish and with his first words, they began to weep aloud.” (Kellogg)
A service preached by Rev. Father Emil Musine, of St. Ladis Las Church of Wheeling was of “a very effective discourse. Sobs and wails went up from the wives and children of the unfortunate. After Father Emil Musine’s sermon Bishop Donahue of Wheeling spoke words of consolation promising relief to the orphans.” (FWV 12.9.07 pg. 1)
In English, Bishop Donahue told the congregants that he empathized with them and how much “the whole world laments” the terrible disaster which “robbed them” of their loved ones. He concluded in assuring that he would do his “utmost” to help the people and if any of them found that they could not support their children that he would see that they “all were sent to orphanages” where they “would be well cared for”. For those who could not understand his words, they were soon told by their fellow congregants that could. Though his words “cheered” them to a degree, there was not a single woman in the church “who would part with a child, no matter how many she had, even if the pangs of starvation tempted her.” (CET 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“Outside, an Italian laborer offered his services for carrying the dead to the church yard. He spoke to a Slovak and said that everyone is the brother of the other, no matter what nationality he belongs to. He said it in broken English.” (Kellogg)
“The ministers refrained from making any reference to the catastrophe and the commitment services at the graveyard were as short as possible. There were no carriages and no flowers. The caskets were hauled for the most part in undertakers’ wagons. Large crowds of pedestrians followed and the church was crowded almost to suffocation. Several of the services were interrupted by women fainting, causing momentary excitement, but this was soon dispelled.” (RP 12.9.07 pg. 2)
~10:00 am
“Up to 10 o’clock the list stood at 53.” (OTC 12.10.07 pg. 1)
At the morgue:
The temporary morgue inside the First National Bank is getting overwhelmed; coffins and bodies begin lining the streets in front of the bank.
On the west side of Monongah:
The National Guard, called in by Governor Dawson, arrives and sets up on the north side of the Italian side of the largest graveyard. (McAteer)
They set up their large white tents in typical military fashion with graves in front, resembling military trenches.
These tents will act as a secondary morgue and will serve the needs of the gravediggers.
“Captain M.M. Neely furnished a big tent that has been pitched near the Catholic church. The tent is being used for the Italian morgue. The bodies are first identified at the morgue proper and are then taken to the tent. So far there has been a change in the name of one man.” (FWV 12.9.07 pg. 1)
On the east side of Monongah:
Paul Kellogg has wandered over to the corner of Main street, where the morgue has begun to lay coffins with prepared bodies out for identification. “At the end of the street were store buildings, and the Italian woman who kept one had let them leave a coffin box on her steps until the right household should be found.” Kellogg talks with this woman at length. “Standing at the head of the street, she pointed out with stretched finger the houses in a row on the bluff where the shawled women sat and waited…and she raised and lowered her arm in a counting of the houses, one after another.” She describes the condition inside several houses where losses have been felt:
Of the man and 7 boarders killed at house No 151— “All married. Old country. No see ‘tall, no see. He can’ find. All burn.”
“Woman cry all time,” she said of another house with three boys killed. (Kellogg)
“A hearse drove up to the corner house and the driver beckoned to me and to a workman who had come up. There was a coffin to be taken away and he needed help lifting it. The women had to be pushed back while he worked at closing the lid. Their cries rose and fell in that half unison of Slavic people which makes almost a ritual sobbing. The wife stood on the porch as they drove off; bare armed, stupid in her loss, her face knotted with two little, open-mouthed children whimpering and plucking at her apron and behind them a grandmother.
“A little red-cheeked Irish boy had poked his way into the Slavic house as they lifted the body out. He was going for the doctor, he said; the baby had been sick all night. ‘Got heem pap yet?’ asked the Italian woman. ‘Nope,’ said the boy.” (Kellogg)
“Across the street the tears were running down the face of the Italian storekeeper and she was giving herself up to the impetuous crying of her race.” (Kellogg)
~11:00 am
In Columbus, Ohio, Governor Andrew Harris has “ordered the chief state mine inspector, Harrison and deputies to Monongah, to make a careful investigation of the circumstance surrounding the explosion there. The information secured will be applied to correcting any shortcoming in Ohio mines. Inspector Harrison left for Monongah today.” (RP 12.9.07 pg. 2)
“It is a low estimate to say that the recovery of the bodies of the victims of the mine explosion will cost the coal company at least $75,000 and possibly a great deal more. But this is an item the company has not even thought of and it will spare no effort or money to recover every body from the mine.” (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 1)
“The property loss will be very heavy, as the artificial interior work of the two mines was entirely destroyed to the extent of the tracks being torn all to pieces in the mine No. 8 especially where the rails broke and curled themselves up into rings.” (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 1)
“Not taking the loss of life into consideration and the out lay that may result from that, the company’s loss will reach at least a quarter a million dollars, and, unless No 8 can be saved from fire, the loss will reach many millions.” (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 1)
“The task of taking out bodies from Nos 6 and 8 mines will not be completed before the end of the week. Sixty-six bodies have been taken out of the mine heading of No. 6 at 11 o’clock. It is still impossible to reach many in the rooms leading off from way headings, owing to afterdamp which continues there.” (CET 12.9.07 pg. 1)
In Monongah:
“No more touching spectacle could possibly be witnessed by human eyes than to see the bereaved women and children of Monongah walking the streets wringing their hands and crying grief for loved ones…” (FWV 12.9.07 – pg. 7)
Women wander the streets aimlessly, wailing in the pouring rain. (Scalabrinians)
“Two Slav women, with big boned grief wrenched faces, were walking up and down the street, going nowhere. They wore great shawls, and diagonally across their breasts were the papoose-like bodies of their babies, wrapped in with a knack which is handed down by the mother wit of the old country.” (Kellogg)
“Part way along an angling road, lined with older company houses, I came upon a woman of perhaps 55 and her daughter. They walked spiritlessly as if climbing a long hill. 5 other daughters and a son’s wife were waiting for them in a house beyond, –8 women and 2 men gone. These were West Virginians, I took it; at least they had seen the settlement grow up about the mines and knew its people as only villagers do. What were just door steps and dull windows to me, were individualized to them…the mother counted them off as we went.” (Kellogg)
“Farther on was a little 5-year-old girl, playing by the fence. ‘We’ve got two dead in our house,’ she said, smiling.” (Kellogg)
“At the home of Mrs. John Hearmans, at Monongah, is one more little soul needing the care which the dead father cannot give. Yesterday at about the same time that the body of her husband was brought from the mines Mrs. Hearmans gave birth to a fifth child. Her condition is serious. ‘He shall never be a coal miner,’ she sobs of her little son, as her wet eyes rest upon the casket of her husband.” (CET 12.9.07 pg. 1)
~10:00 pm
“It seems that casualties and disasters follow so closely upon each other that events which in former years would have thrilled the country in when they happened now excites only conventional expressions of pity.” (TBS 12.8.07 pg. 4)
“… the city council sent messages for aid and quick response is expected from surrounding towns.” (TES 12.9.07 pg. 4)
At the mines:
“62 bodies have been taken from the mines late tonight. This number will be augmented by at least 30 more by daylight.” (US Dept of Labor-mine disasters-Dispatch article)
“A young volunteer in a smudged grey sweater, turned out to be the son of a Michigan judge. He had been a mine superintendent at one time and as he had taken a hand in rescue work following 3 explosions they had put him at the head of the exploring work of a party—the most ticklish job of all. ‘These are picked men,’ he explained, ‘at the same time, some hang back when it comes to going into the chambers. If a man goes in there with you, then he’s more than picked. Some like to feel that so we sort of pass the chance around.’ (Kellogg)
“While more headway has been made, the herculean task of recovering scores of the bodies in any recognizable shape has been abandoned, according to the opinion of mine experts on the scene.”
“It was reported yesterday that the undertakers have ceased to embalm the bodies but it was stated at the morgue that these men will not shrink from their duty however unpleasant it is. The company is desirous that the bodies be made as presentable as possible but if the board of health decides that the decomposition is in a stage too far advanced for convenience and safety the bodies will be removed from the mines, identified at the mouth so far as possible, then buried immediately. It is quite likely that this will be done so the chances are that the majority of the women who saw their husbands or sons go down into the mines alive and happy Friday morning will never again gaze upon their faces that are now cold in death, battered, many of them into and unrecognizable mass” (CET 12.9.07 pg. 1)
“I talked with an Irishman from PA who had ‘come to help.’ Beside him was another Pennsylvanian, a rescue man, who had worked 5 days the week before in Naomi mine, where 36 had been killed.” (Kellogg)
“An old miner, with red cheek bones and dusty wisps of hair at the ears, had carried out two dead men who had been overcome by blackdamp while cementing.” (Kellogg)
“Hope has gone that there can be any living soul in the mines, but there is a burning desire on the part of relatives to obtain possession of the bodies. If this cannot be granted their grief will know no bounds. Thus in gloom and doubt and despair passed the saddest Sunday Fairmont has ever seen.” (CET 12.9.07 pg. 1)
In Monongah:
“One of the many sad occurrences of the disaster and its consequences was the death Sunday night of Mrs. Lawrence Heinerman, widow of one of the victims of the disaster, whose body was among the first taken out of Mine No. 6. She died of childbirth and doubtless her delicate condition was aggravated by the mine horror.” (CDT 12.9.07 pg. 1)
Mrs. John Hinerman, wife of one of the first victims that was found gives birth and dies in labor. Her death leaves 5 small children without any parent. The child died also. (FWV 12.9.07 pg. 1)
“75 men digging graves on the hillside, a depot platform piled high with pine boxes, a row of coffins in the main street stacked 3 high and nearly a block in length, a corps of undertakers as large as a regiment’s hospital corps, women whose eyes could weep no more, with orphaned children clinging to their skirts—these were some of the evidences that there would be no Christmas in Monongah for another year.” (Forbes)
~ Noon
In Monongah:
“Many newspaper men, including photographers, from all over the country are at Monongah. All of the nearby cities have special reporters on the scene and there are newspaper men from Pittsburg, Wheeling, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Washington and other cities.” (CDT 12.8.07 pg. 1)
“Probably never before on any occasion have the interurban cars carried as many people as they have in the last few days since the mine disaster. All along the line hundreds of anxious people are found at every station eagerly trying to get on a car to go to the scene of the disaster. Many of them are foreigners who had relatives working in the two mines. Sunday the interurban station in this city was crowded all day and many people visited the scene of the disaster. The street cars were run double all day and every one was crowded to its utmost. Many people took advantage of it being Sunday, to go to Monongah.” (CDT 12.8.07 pg. 1)
Inside the mines:
“The farther into the mines the workers proceed the greater the destruction is found to be. Many side entries and rooms are completely blocked by falls of slate. One room where it was known two of the miners were working was entered but instead of finding the blackened bodies of the two miners tons and tons of slate were found burying them so that it will be several days before their bodies can be recovered. The same condition of affairs is reported at many other points in the mine.” (US Dept of Labor-mine disasters-Dispatch article)
Outside the mines:
“Finally, a horse came out of the hill and behind it a train of empty mine cars but the last car was loaded and covered with stained canvas and blankets. The coverings were thrown off and one by one the blackened and mutilated bodies of what had once been men were carried to the waiting wagons to be hauled over the bridge into the town and delivered to the undertakers.” (Forbes)
“They all looked as if they had been par-boiled, they were so red. Many of them were mutilated and in several cases the eyeballs had been split by the force of the explosion. The bodies were beginning to decompose.” (CET 12.10.07 pg. 6)
~2:00 pm
Col. J. H. McDermott arrives in Fairmont as representative of Gov. Dawson, who was unable to come to the scene of the Monongah disaster. Judge J.W. Mason and Clerk W.T. Black met him at the train station. (FWV 12.9.07 – pg. 1 – extra) (FWV 12.9.07 pg. 1)
“I am here to look over the situation,” said Col. McDermott, “and will advise Gov. Dawson from time to time what I learn. I am not here to interfere with any department of the mines, as each representative of every department will adhere strictly to his own work.” (WH 12.9.07 pg. 1)
“At the last meeting of the State legislature Col. McDermott, in his capacity as President of the Senate, appointed a committee to investigate the mines of West Virginia and the mine disasters. This committee had visited both the mines at which the explosion took place, about two months ago, and pronounced them as being as finely equipped and managed as any they had ever seen. It is quite probable that this same committee will arrive here shortly for another examination of the Monongah mines.” (WH 12.9.07 pg. 1)
At some point during the afternoon
In Fairmont:
“This town has some plucky girls, and it is a question as to whether their equal can be found. …Sunday there were 4 of them walked to Monongah, across the hill, taking all the near cuts and making the distance as short as possible. That’s game, that is.” (FWV 12.16.07 pg. )
“Headed by the churches, relief work was well started yesterday and a general appeal to the public is being made. Many West Virginia towns have already acted and others are ready to do so. The work will be thoroughly organized and systemized.” (ES 12.9.07 pg. 1-2)
“Relief corps were organized by the women of Fairmont today. Already hundreds of dollars are pouring in.” (WH 12.9.07 pg. 1)
In Morgantown:
Collections from all Morgantown churches are handed over to relief funds. (FWV 12.9.07 pg. ?)
At the morgue in Monongah:
“R.L. Cunningham, of Fairmont, who is one of the undertakers who have charge of the band of fifteen caring for the bodies brought out of the mines, preparing them for burial and placing them in coffins, met with an accident that has laid him up. While hurrying from the morgue in the First National Bank building on Main street to one of the branch morgues, he slipped and fell, spraining a weak knee joint so badly that he cannot walk. He is confined to his room in the Curry hotel under care of a physician and his work has devolved upon another undertaker. Messrs. W.G. Osborn and Sleppy & Warne, of this city, are still with the undertakers assisting in the work of taking care of the dead.” (CDT 12.8.07 pg. 1)
At the cemeteries:
“About twenty victims were buried today in the three cemeteries near the town.” (AMJ 12.9.07 pg. 1)
“The bodies of fifteen Italians were buried in Holy Cross cemetery Sunday afternoon. The cemetery is located on the hill over the mines. The bodies of two Polanders were also buried the same afternoon in the Polish cemetery which is on the same hill adjoining Holy Cross cemetery. The bodies of two Polanders are lying in the Polish church where services will be held over them.” (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 1) (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 10)
In Monongah:
“Another woman, the mother of five little children, whose husband was killed in mine No. 8, became so distracted at her home that she began throwing household articles about the house and then to tear her clothing from her. She became so violent that friends had to tie her to a chair and stand watch over her until she became quieted.” (CDT 12.8.07 pg. 1)
“The body of Fred Rogers was taken to Fairchance Sunday afternoon and buried there.” (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 1) (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 10)
“…3 men who were thought to be victims but escaped are Ross Morka, Marie Bagenealla and Anebra Spaw. The 2 former went to Clarksburg to visit some friends early in the morning of the explosion but did not notify their boarding boss of their intentions. They were given a royal reception when they appeared today. Spaw, one of the men supposed to have been blown into the river at the entrance of No 6 was not at work that fateful morning. When he learned that his friends were mourning him as dead he lost no time in returning from a visit to Grafton.” (US Dept of Labor-mine disasters-Dispatch article)
At the mines:
“But 3 bodies have been removed from No 8 mine this afternoon, two being those of a motorman and a brakeman found near their car at the first left entry of the north heading near where the third body was found. All were badly burned about the face and hands but friends were able to recognize them at the morgue.” (US Dept of Labor-mine disasters-Dispatch article)
“A thrilling incident occurred on the bridge on which the mine cars were pulled from mine No. 8 in which an aged Polish woman nearly lost her life. Her only son, and the bread winner of the family, was killed in the awful explosion. She wandered out on the bridge and was climbing on some planks used as a temporary walk and was viewing the workers about the wreckage in front of the mine. Suddenly she staggered and fell. Several men ran to her side and caught her just as she was falling into the river. Friends carried her away in hysterics.” (CDT 12.8.07 pg. 1)
In McKeesport, PA:
Lester E. Trader and his brother are at their father’s home in McKeesport when General Manager Frank Haas “… called up and said he wants us to get back here. Frank and I couldn’t leave the company that way. I went back and they gave me a job in the auditor’s office in Clairmont.” (McAteer)
Victor told Trader that in return for being given an office and a job in the accounting department, he would be quoted as official spokesperson for company. (McAteer)
In Fairmont:
The Union Relief Association is organized at the Methodist Protestant Temple for the purpose of receiving and distributing aid of all kinds to the stricken families in and about Monongah and is rapidly shaping plans through the various committees, to do the necessary work in a thoroughly business-like way. (FWV 12.9.07 pg. ?)
Collections from the morning’s church services are turned over to Mrs. Thomas W. Fleming, “who will see that it does the most possible good to lessen burdens that the grief-stricken ones are bearing.” (FWV 12.9.07 – pg. 1 – extra)
“Donations of money can be handed to any member of the following committee and receipt for the same will be sent to the donor by Mrs. Thomas W Fleming, chairman.”
~2:30 pm
Chief Mine Inspector J.W. Paul goes into #6 to inspect conditions. (McAteer)
“At both mines members of rescuing parties are being taken from the mines weakened and unconscious condition but after being out for a few hours they have fully recovered. None of the rescuers who have been overcome is now in serious condition.” (US Dept of Labor-mine disasters-Dispatch article)
At the morgue:
“One thing that is considered strange is that few things of value are being found among the effects of the dead. From information received from the company officials Coroner Amos was of opinion that large sums of money would be found in the clothes of the foreign miners and working upon this supposition a careful search was made of every garment removed from the body. It was known to be a custom of the foreigners to carry their money with them, but the most valuable article so far found was a silver watch in the pocket of Peter Alexander, who was removed to the morgue Sunday afternoon.” (CDT 12.9.07 pg. 1)
~3:00 pm
At #8:
“All Sunday until 3 o’clock in the afternoon, when the searching parties were ordered out so that the mine inspectors make a test and experiment with the new fan at No. 8, there were sixty men engaged in the work of recovering bodies and nearly a score were taken out during the day.” (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 1) (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 10)
*For the past 32 hours or so, all of the local mines owned by Fairmont Coal Company have been shut down and those miners have been reporting to Monongah for work. 2 small fans on loan from local smaller mines have been circulating air into #8. With rescue and recovery work now formally systemized under Inspector Paul and the other state inspectors and a plan to regularly change out volunteer crews, Fairmont Coal Company intends to restart regular work in their other local mines tomorrow.
*A replacement fan is currently is on its way from Pittsburg and scheduled to arrive on a special train around 4 pm. One of the fans is to be switched out and sent back to its original mine so that regular work may resume there tomorrow.
*Around 3 pm General Manager Frank Haas, who has been in charge of overseeing work at #8, begins to put their devised plan for switching out the fans into action. A majority but not all miners are ordered out of #8 just before one of the 2 fans is switched off. The outside crews are prepared to begin unmounting the fan from its temporary housing and get it across the trestle to the railroad line.
*Inside #8, small “hot spots” in explored and still unexplored areas of the mine (where coal is smoldering and radiating heat but there is not enough oxygen to ignite flame or smoke) become fully deprived of air. As the coal burns, it continues to release methane gases, but the air circulation is not powerful enough anymore to disperse or dilute these gases. Those who are permitted to remain in the mine during the fan switch are more than likely those who are working near or in the direct path of the 2nd fan which is not turned off.
*At #6, men are also ordered out at this time as the air current from #8 will likely push dangerous gases into the workings of #6.
“The work at No 6 progressed rapidly owing to the conditions of the powerful fan there, until the rescuers were ordered from the mine because of the temporary cessation at No 8.” (US Dept of Labor-mine disasters-Dispatch article)
“After the men were ordered to cease temporarily from the rescue work at No. 6 the opening was closed and late in the day the big new fan was set to work at No. 8. One reason for the ordering of the men out was the discovery of some gas at the connection of the two mines, and another was that it was the purpose to divert the air-course from No. 8 into No. 6, thus making it dangerous for men to work in No. 6. While this was going on a heavy guard was placed on the city side of the bridge running across the river to the tipple and no one was allowed to cross there, lest there might be a deadly current of air out of No. 6 at any moment.” (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 1) (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 10)
~4:00 pm
In Monongah:
The Company hires 3 Fairmont undertakers to manage the bulk of transporting the dead: Musgrove & Sons, R.I. Cunningham, and Jones & Co.; these 3 hire on 20 more undertakers from Fairmont and surrounding towns. (McAteer)
Unfortunately, the undertaker transport drivers are not very familiar with area of Monongah. Much confusion occurs over the next days in the transport of bodies to the correct homes. Priests will end up helping with most. (McAteer)
“The rapidity with which the remains began to be recovered late this afternoon and evening necessitated the coal company pressing into service a number of transfer wagons. These were filled with straw and the gruesome work of carting the charred remains across the river through the dense crowd began. Scenes that were sublimely pathetic transpired. The weeping of the bereaved ones as they madly chased after the vehicles was heartrending. They overwhelmed the morgue in their clamors for a look at the dead and it was necessary to drive them back by force and draw ropes across the main street. Pickets were stationed and the crowd thus held in check. It would only separate when the carriages of death were forced through to take the bodies to the cemeteries.” (US Dept of Labor-mine disasters-Dispatch article)
At #8:
*The anticipated 4 o’clock B&O special train arrives carrying very important materials for the rescue efforts and, more than likely, Paul U. Kellogg and several others who will become key figures over the next few days
“The victims at Monongah were working with open lamps on their caps; it was 2 days after the explosion before a supply of safety lights sufficient even for the exploring parties reached the mine.” (Forbes)
“A big mine fan, with auxiliary machinery arrived here on a special train from Pittsburg this afternoon at 4 o’clock, for use at the opening of Mine No. 8. Machinists and other workmen at once began work on installing it at the mine entrance and as soon as possible the machinery was in operation.” (CDT 12.8.07 pg. 1)
*When the train arrives, crews load the uninstalled fan onto an empty car or flat bed. The train pulls up slightly and crews unload the new fan and begin to haul it back across #8 trestle. The train continues on southbound to return the old fan to its proper mine in the Shinnston area.
*It takes approximately 45 minutes for this very experienced and driven crew to complete this task and get the fan running ventilation through #8 again. As far as Haas and the other onlooking reporters who may have known of this plan in advance, everything is going splendidly. Once ventilation has had some time to work its way through the mine, the state inspectors will perform the first formal fire and air check of #8.
“As soon as the fan was in operation the work of rescue was stopped at both Mine No. 6 and at Mine No. 8 for the purpose of testing the fan and ascertaining the result of the air current it would make.” (CDT 12.8.07 pg. 1)
*It does not take long for the new burst of air flowing through #8 to begin feeding these small “hot spots” throughout the mine. Smoke begins to fill the galleries and headings of the mine.
“New difficulties and complications have confronted the rescuers on every hand, but with only brief interruptions the work was continued until 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon. Then the fire drove all from the unexplored regions and the search had to be abandoned for the remainder of the day and for the night.” (TEW 12.9.07 pg. 7)
* = Author’s description of events. There is much conflicting information over the next 24 hours for several reasons and there will be an “Issues” post about this event and this author’s choices in the future. See ‘Dislaimer and Guide’ for more insight on this process.
“The body of Timothy Lyden was found in mine No. 6 at Monongah at 3 o’clock this morning, taken to the morgue and prepared for burial.” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 4)
The Monongah Disaster 