disclaimer – Page 8 – The Monongah Disaster

Monday, December 9, 1907, Morning

“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:

12.9.07 - pg 1 - Priests on ground — 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

12.9.07 - pg 3 - McDonough — 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)

12.9.07 - pg 4 - Funeral day — 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)

More on How Death Gloated!

Monday, December 9, 1907, Midnight – Dawn

“Semi-officially it is stated that the street cars hauled fully 35,000 people both ways yesterday, making it a record-breaking day in the history of the interurban line. Many thousands were here from Clarksburg and, owing to the lack of facilities on the upper end of the line to handle the immense crowd, they did not all get away until 9:30 at night. Many spent as many as three hours in attempts to board the cars. On the Fairmont end cars were more numerous and ran more frequently, but the crowds from that terminal of the line were much larger.” (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 4)

~12:00 am

Outside the mines:

“Sixty hours after the explosion of black damp…, fifty-three bodies, or only about one-eighth of the total number of victims, have been brought to the surface and less than one-fourth of the total number have been actually located.” (SFNM 12.9.07 pg. 1)

“But, at midnight there was no indication that the work of rescue would be resumed so early, as the condition of mine No. 8 was very perilous, the heat there being registered at 110 degrees, and thus making it impossible to penetrate the mine. Most of the work of the night at this mine was in preparing to place brattices in No. 8.” (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 4)

A majority of rescuers have not been home since Friday nor have they slept or rested. Doctors stand outside at the entries of the mines and give the men some “tablets to stimulate their over-worked hearts and lungs.”

“All night long hot soup was served to those who were exploring the mines in hope to find some fellow workman.” (FWV 12.9.07 – pg. 1 – extra)

“Several relatives from Clarksburg of entombed miners have been here since Friday evening awaiting the bringing of their loved ones from the ill-fated mines, with the result that to date but one—Patrick McDonough—has been recovered from the mine. They will continue to remain here as long as there is hope of getting their relatives out.” (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 4)

“Here for 60 hours men had worked, feverishly and unafraid, to wrest blackened bodies out of the ground that they might be counted and put back; and here at this same pitiful commission they were to work for a week to come.” (Kellogg)

Inside the mines:

“The deadly black damp hinders the work of rescue quite as much as the broken rock and timbers. It is this which most exhausts the men.” (RP 12.9.07 pg. 1)

“Most of the bodies are decomposing and this renders the work of the searching parties doubly hard.” (WT 12.10.07 pg. 5)

In Monongah:

“During the night, guards employed by the owners have been greatly increased until each piece of property looks like a fortress. Pedestrians passing through the mining camp were held up by mine guards and compelled to account for themselves before they were allowed to proceed. This action was resented in a number of instances, but didn’t deter the guards from carrying out their instructions.” (PES 12.9.07 pg. 1)

~2:00 am

At #8:

Search given up for a while but resumed in early hours. “The fire, which broke out afresh in No. 8 shaft, was extinguished soon after 2 o’clock this morning. Almost before the smoke had ceased arising from the ruined workings a relief party had started down the shaft and were striving to clear the passage into the farther recesses.” (WT 12.9.07 pg. 5)

~2:15 am

At #8:

“At 2:15, however, another fire broke out beyond the third entry, accompanied by an explosion. The explosion did no additional damage but the fire once more drove the workers out.” (CET 12.9.07 pg. 1)

“Fire, which began yesterday, was extinguished early today in mine No. 8, but a second fire occurred, which delayed rescuing.” (PES 12.9.07 pg. 1)

“The fire in No 8 shaft broke out again this morning, followed by another explosion, which fortunately did little damage and hurt none of the rescuing party. It took three hours, however, to get the shaft in such condition that the workers could continue.” (WT 12.09.07 pg. 5)

~3:00 am

“At 3 o’clock this morning the rescue party had not resumed work. It is now accepted that mine No. 8 is on fire and the effort to divert the air current from No. 8 into No. 6 has not as yet been successful. Activity will be renewed at daybreak to get the fans in successful play on No. 8.” (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 1) (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 10)

4 bodies are taken out of #8. 3 bodies are taken out of #6 (FWV 12.9.07 – pg. 1 – extra)

~4:00 am

“The fire which started in mine No 8 this afternoon is now under control and is said to have done little damage. Rescue work will be resumed as soon as the federal and state authorities finish an investigation they are making and pronounce conditions safe.” (SLH 12.9.07 pg.1) (LAH 12.9.07 pg. 2)

All headings are explored and no active fire is found. Smoke fumes are present at all times but no fire. (McAteer)

~5:00 am

At the mines:

“A large force of skilled miners, volunteers for the hazardous task of rescue work are on the scene, ready to re-enter the mines and take up the work where they were forced to leave it yesterday when fire broke out in mine No 8. These men await only the word from Clarence Hall, the expert of the federal government, and J.W. Paul, West Virginia’s chief mine inspector. These men are now in charge, superseding officers of the mining company and others who directed the rescue work.” (ES 12.9.07 pg. 1)

“Moving steadily about the ground at the man-way, meeting them on equal terms, was Lee L Malone, who they tell you, worked his way up from digger to general manager and has always stood close to his men. I heard him speaking to J. H Wheelwright, VP of the company, during a lull in relief work while the state inspectors were investigating the localization of afterdamp to the left and south of No 8 mine. These two had been at the mine almost continuously since the disaster and they were going over some of the men who had been killed, calling many of them by their first names—the ‘best pit boss in the state’ and so on.” (Kellogg)

“Volunteers who had worked with them other years came up to shake hands and others to tell how old Jerry Nicholas had for a second time saved his skin in a mine disaster by going on a spree the night before.” (Kellogg)

“’We never thought we’d live to see the like of this in this country.’ Wheelwright stamped his feet with cold and impatience. ‘It seems so slow,’ he said, ‘when you aren’t taking men out and pushing ahead.’” (Kellogg)

Kellogg meets a “young foreigner with two checks pinned on the breast of his overalls, which showed that he had been working on the rescue shifts in both mines. He was an explorer and he had been out and in since Friday evening, 3 days and 3 nights without a break long enough to lie down.”

In the Monongah offices:

“Equally approachable was Pres. C. W. Watson, at the office of the company at Monongah, where relief workers and reporters were finding their way through every door and where 2 of the secretaries acted as a bureau of information. The general attitude of none of the public’s business, adopted by some corporate officials at such times, was entirely lacking.” (Kellogg)

Outside the mines:

“The fire in No 8 mine, which started late yesterday afternoon, was walled in this morning, and following an examination by… Inspector Paul the rescuing parties again began their quest for the dead.” (ES 12.9.07 pg. 1)

“From 5 until 7 o’clock this morning the bodies of John Coney, Andy Stee, and K.D. Ryles were taken out of Mine No. 6 and the bodies of Melroy Watkins, Richard Farmer, Patrick Kearns, Andrew Majeska, and Victor Neviskey were taken out of Mine No. 8.” (CDT 12.9.07 pg. 1)

These men will make up bodies #44-#51 of the Coroner’s List.

“All through last night the work of recovering the men entombed in the mines here went steadily forward, shift followed shift into the black opening of the man-ways, and shift after shift dragged themselves into the fresh air, reeling and exhausted. These, as they appeared were forced into the temporary hospitals, but they refused to take rest.” (RP 12.9.07 pg. 1)

At the morgue:

“Outside the morgue in the mud stands a shivering mass of humanity, many of the people have been there for hours, braving the cold to get a chance to once again gaze on the face of their dead loved ones.” (US Dept of Labor-mine disasters-Dispatch article)

Coroner Amos has this notice posted to the door:

Dawn:

In Fairmont:

“At dawn began the struggle of thousands of people to reach Monongah from Fairmont. The transportation facilities are meager and it is common sight to see persons boarding the cars through the windows.” (ES 12.9.07 pg. 1)

“There was a group of Italian laborers before the fog hung court house in Fairmont, where we took the car in the early morning. They were huddling, dark-skinned little men from South Italy, such as stand unnoticed; but my fellow traveler was Naples born, big-hearted in his love for humble folk, and his ears caught judgements being passed by these peasants from the Abruzzi, from Terra di Lavoro and Calabria. Now and then their words broke off in sighs—signs, he told me, ‘for the fate met by their brother workers and for the destitute condition in which so many families had been left.’ Today, tomorrow, and God knows till when, these laborers are to be grave diggers.” (Kellogg)

In Monongah:

“Guards have been placed about Monongah, and the town is practically under martial law, though good order has prevailed.” (WT 12.9.07 pg. 5)

Undertaker Cunningham is still confined to bed at the Curry hotel. (FWV 12.9.07 pg. 1)

“The details for the transportation of friends to the place of burial has not been worked out yet but will soon engage the attention of the officials. All the arrangements for the transportation of the corpses have been made.” (FWV 12.9.07 pg. 1)

At the mines:

“Here and there among the debris were groups of twinkling lights, the lamps of the dead miners. As the dawn brightened the car tracks became black with moving processions of people, which halted and bunched around the mine.” (RP 12.9.07 pg. 1)

“The hammers of a score of men working on a temporary morgue rang out sharply. Cots, beddings, blankets and stretchers were stacked here and there. Special officers kept the crowd beyond a barbed-wire barricade.” (RP 12.9.07 pg. 1)

“Though the rescuers have been practically through the main heading of mine No. 6, yet the larger portion of the mine has not yet been penetrated. There has been virtually no progress at the other mine, though a small number of men have been taken out at some of the hill openings. The main heading has not yet yielded to any appreciable extent to the work of the men engaged in trying to enter it.” (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 1) (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 10)

General Manager Malone said this morning that the searching parties are unable to find the ill-fated men. “Whether the men have been blown to atoms or whether they are still farther back is not apparent at this time.” (FWV 12.9.07 pg. 1)

Outside #8

“Suddenly out of the lark mouth of the slope came one of the night shifts, a dozen men in all, roped together like steers. Their faces were black and gleaming with sweat. Their eyes rolled whitely. The leader seemed strong enough but number 4 staggered and hung to his rope. The last man out, a huge Norwegian cursed savagely. “No use,” he said, “It’s hell in there. What’s the use anyway. The mine is on fire, look.” (RP 12.9.07 pg. 1)

~6:00 am

In Fairmont:

Fairmont mines back up and running. “There was little coal loaded. It is thought that in a few days that practically all the mines will be running about normally.” (FWV 12.10.07 pg. 1)

In Monongah:

“Double rows of brown trenches in the little cemetery will soon mark the last resting place of the 400 victims of the explosion…” (WT 12.9.07 pg. 5)

“On the hillside above the mines where there is a hamlet, women have stood and sat from the very hour of the catastrophe. Hunger and cold wake them not from care and grief and they have not been persuaded as yet to return to their homes or to take nourishment. Others lie at their homes prostrated. Some in delicate condition have been thrown into grave sickness since the news of the disaster reached them, and the unborn have been born but not to live to learn of the terrible fate of their fathers.” (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 4)

“All business is suspended and the town and its surviving inhabitants have assumed an attitude of mourning and melancholy. All the stores and business places have been closed since the explosion occurred and those who are not prostrated with grief are making efforts to rescue the perished miners and comfort those who are stricken with grief.” (FWV 12.9.07 – pg. 7)

“While the coal company and others have furnished a great many food supplies, every car coming into the city, yet there is more than a well-founded belief that universal hunger and physical distress will soon prevail, in fact, there is already crying need for help.” (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 1)

At the mines:

(By United Press) “Fire which broke out in No 8 mine, stopping the rescue of the bodies of the entombed miners yesterday, was extinguished at 2 o’clock this morning. At 2:15 a.m., however, another fire broke out beyond the third entry. This fire was put out at 6 o’clock and at 9 o’clock eight more bodies were brought out.” (TEP 12.9.07 pg. 1)

“The rescue forces at work at Mines Nos 6 and 8 have been augmented by men from Enterprise and Georges Creek and Frostburg, Md. These men kindly volunteered their services and have gone in work with the rescuing party with vim and willingness.” (CDT 12.9.07 pg. 1)

“It is expected that 100 bodies will be recovered today, if there are no more fires.” (PES 12.9.07 pg. 1)

“Cars have been stationed at the mouths of the shafts and as quickly as the bodies are taken out they will be cared for.” (Wash. Times 12.09.07 pg. 5)

“Trouble has arisen between the board of health and the mine officials.” (Wash. Times 12.9.07 pg. 5)

“Health authorities and the mine officers are now in a clash. The health board wants to bury the dead bodies in a trench without identification, while on the other hand, the mine officials wish to turn them over to friends. This argument between the two interested parties is doing much to increase sorrow of the immediate families of the dead miners. It too, is delaying the work of rescuing parties.” (RP 12.9.07 pg. 1)

At #8:

“While the company does not admit it, there is a general feeling that No. 8 is afire, and the intense heat would indicate it. The blaze it is believed is inside the mine a considerable distance. Owing to this work there will likely progress very slowly.” (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 4)

“This morning a gaunt old miner named John Morgan came staggering out of the hole at No. 8, gasping for breath. He was noted for his bravery. He had been a miner all his life and his face was shot blue with oil burns from the blasting. ‘I have been back a mile and a half,’ he said. ‘I went in as long as I could get any air. I had to crawl out with my mouth to the ground to get breath. There is no hope. They are all dead. They are at least two miles in.’ Outside the crowd, gazing over the sunny hills, measured a mile and a half with their eyes. ‘Why it must be away over there,’ said one, indicating the far-off sky line. Yes, just beyond that sky line there were hills and hills outside the range of vision under which the dead were lying in hundreds.” (RP 12.9.07 pg. 1)

Inside the mines:

“…between 300 and 400 in number, lie in unknown sections of the vast workings in the bowels of the great hills that overlook the town and extend two miles and more back from the main entries to the mines. These unlocated bodies…are seriously menaced by two destroying elements—by decay in the overheated, humid and vapor-poisoned atmosphere of the mines, and by fires that are smoldering here and there in the workings, and from time to time, bursting into flame. Steadily the chance is ebbing that these bodies will be brought to the surface, identified by friends and relatives and given Christian burial.” (ES 12.9.07 pg. 1)

At the morgue:

“The body of Patrick McDonough, the Clarksburger, who was killed in the mine disaster, has been prepared for burial and will be taken to Clarksburg for burial Monday morning. Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of the people.” (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 1)

Bodies are getting to point of unidentifiable; “Many were brought forth with their heads literally torn off, others are without arms or feet. One was entirely naked, another had only a small part of the underpants, still another nothing but the heel of a shoe. Motorman Ford, only the arms and legs, which were found at the motor where he was stationed at the time of the explosion. His body has not been found and probably will not be. Many were terribly burned.” (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 4)

“An undertaker is authority for the statement that of the fifty-three bodies handled only three were intact. Some were headless, arms were missing from some and legs or other members from others.” (ES 12.9.07 pg. 1)

~7:00 am

In Monongah:

Weather worsens. “It was drizzling and a heavy mist hung over the river, shutting off the bare hills that bunch close at #6 mine and blanketing the trestle work. Seemingly, from every pore of the earth there rose a white cloud which wrapped old objects in new meanings—a broken wheel, the dirty white of some clothes left in the corner, the gleam of the rails.” (Kellogg)

At the morgue:

“The reports here are as unreliable as they are numerous. The undertakers have lost about fifteen hours sleep on account of the fake reports of bringing in more bodies.” (FWV 12.9.07 pg. 1)

“Of the 43 bodies recovered from the mines, all but 9 have been identified. All of these bodies were horribly mutilated by the force of the explosion.” (Wash. Times 12.9.07 pg. 5)

At the mines:

“The scene at the mines has not changed much since Friday.” (FWV 12.9.07 pg.8)

The body of Charles McKain has been located and will soon be brought out. His remains will be interred at Clarksburg. (FWV 12.9.07 pg. 1) (FWV 12.10.07 pg.1

The body of Mike Cosic has been recovered and identified. (FWV 12.9.07 pg. 1) Mike is body #52 on the Coroner’s List.

More on How Death Gloated!

Sunday, December 8, 1907, Night

“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)

More on How Death Gloated!

Sunday, December 8, 1907, Late Evening/Night

Stories told of a man working his first day in the mines on the 6th; he was a carpenter who leaves a wife and 6 small kids. Another miner had arranged to move away but decided not to move until Monday. An unknown young man from Cleveland came in a few days ago, saying he wanted to earn some money – family may not know of his whereabouts. (FWV 12.9.07 – pg.8)

Late Evening / ~ 7:00 pm

In Monongah:

Members of the County Board of Health, including Dr. C.O. Henry the county health physician, arrived at Monongah during the evening and held a session in the Curry Hotel and after the meeting this notice was issued:

Inside #8:

“The mines are on fire again tonight and the work of rescuing the bodies of the dead cannot proceed further until the flames have been extinguished.” (WH 12.9.07 pg. 1)

“The flames have been fought by every possible means, including the laying of a water pipe driven far into the mine. This was the second fire since the explosion. The first fire started Saturday morning but caused only a short delay.” (ES 12.9.07 pg. 1)

Outside of the mines:

“Rescue worker talking to crowd, ‘The people who are on the outside of the mines know nothing at all of the conditions in the mines. At one place we found 17 cars piled in a heap and legs of men could be seen but it was impossible to remove them.’ He said in places the rescuers had to crawl through small holes to get back to men.” (FWV 12.9.07 – pg.8)

“The scenes round about the entries to the mines and throughout the town are even more pathetic and heartrending than those that usually attend a mine disaster, because of the larger proportion of citizens, native and naturalized, than is usually found in a purely mining settlement.” (MD 12.11.07 pg. 2)

“Wives and mothers and sweethearts, together with children and members of the stronger sex, moving from place to place, vainly seeking information and making no attempt to conceal the grief that overwhelms them.” (MD 12.11.07 pg. 2)

In Monongah:

“An unknown boy was run over by one of the trolley cars Sunday evening and had a leg cut off. He was rushed to a hospital in Fairmont.” (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 1)

“John A. Clark, coal operator, was injured in a runaway Sunday evening, but not seriously. He had a shoulder hurt and was badly bruised up.” (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 1)

Nightfall / ~7:30 pm

Relief Committees are named and organized (FWV 12.9.07 pg. 8)

“But 53 bodies had been recovered…when darkness closed over the little town of Monongah Sunday night.” (News)

“Officials of the Fairmont Coal Company issued a statement Sunday night saying that 406 men were listed on the payrolls the day of the disaster, and that of these, so far as is known, 371 were victims of the explosion. Of the total listed on the payrolls, 35 have been accounted for. Two of these were injured, 18 located the day of the explosion and 15 accounted for Sunday. The number of victims according to the first report was placed at 391 men, but 7 men later reported at the company’s offices, swelling the number accounted for to 35 men.” (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 1) (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 10)

“It is now believed that the number of dead will not be over 400. A thorough investigation was instituted by the company today and it was discovered that many miners believed to have been entombed escaped because they had not gone to work Friday, after Thursday’s holiday. A score or more of these men reported to the officials during the past 24 hours.” (SLH 12.9.07 pg.1) (SFC 12.9.07 pg. 2)

~8:00 pm

“On account of fire in mine No 8, and imminent danger of an explosion in mine No 6, all rescue work has been suspended for the night.” (News)

Clarksburg Daily Telegram:

“At Monongah it is impossible to get any place to sleep or anything to eat. All the hotels are crowded and running over and most all of the restaurants are out of anything to sell. One is lucky to get a cup of coffee to drink and a chair to sleep in or a board to lie upon is the best that can be obtained. Many of the doctors, undertakers, and newspaper men sleep anywhere or upon any thing when the chance comes to get a wink of sleep.” (CDT 12.8.07 pg. 1)

“It is estimated that fully half of the English-speaking miners were at work in No. 6 and No. 8 when the disaster came.” (CDT 12.8.07 pg. 1)

“The Telegram men stayed at Monongah sending reports to this paper and as soon as they became exhausted, they returned to Clarksburg and were relieved by others from the office, who are now on the scene. Many newspaper men can find no place to sleep save in chairs and on boards and the find their work quite strenuous. Some of them stayed up working for forty hours at a stretch and then after a few hours nap they are up again and hard at it.” (CDT 12.8.07 pg. 1)

~9:00

“All twelve of the deputy mine inspectors in this State arrived last night and under direction of State Mine Inspector James Paul spent several hours testing the air in the mines. The work of searching and recovering bodies was suspended on that account until morning and the undertakers were all directed at 9 o’clock to retire for the night, but to be ready at 4 o’clock this morning for duty.” (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 4)

“The coming of the county board of health reveals a troublesome situation.” (CET 12.9.07 pg. 1)

“The bodies recovered are in such an advanced stage of decomposition that they are regarded as dangerous to handle, in addition to being a menace to the community.” (CET 12.9.07 pg. 1)

Outside #8:

“Two arc lamps lighted up the manway and the bright tin tags of a new checkboard.” (Kellogg)

“By Sunday night, the crowd of watchers had thinned out, but a fire blazed in the roadway below the ropes, and a nondescript group sat about on kegs in the warmth of it and watched. I remember a middle-aged man with a seamed forehead and a heavy neck. He had big pads of hands and sat with them on his knees, gazing in the flame stolidly.” (Kellogg)

“There was a group of Fairmont boys who were there with the zest with which they would have gotten up to see the circus come in…2 or 3 Negroes with muddied shoes and torn clothes…a spare woman with a shawl over her head, pinched shoulders and the suggestion of approaching motherhood in the set of her figure. When she turned her back to get warm, you saw that she was twisting her thin fingers behind her and she kept it up indefinitely.” (Kellogg)

Italian laborers are piling cots for stretchers and pushing carts of lumber across the trestle for brattices. There was a “flare of torches part way over the trestle across the river, where they were pushing hand cars of lumber for brattices. (Kellogg) (McAteer)

More on How Death Gloated!

Sunday, December 8, 1907, Late Afternoon – Evening

“Tonight, the work of the rescue has been turned to a struggle to the death with the fire demon.” (US Dept of Labor-Dispatch)

~5:00 pm

“When the fire broke out forty-two bodies had been recovered, forty-two out of the 391 who were known to have been in the mine. Add these to those who worked outside who were hurried to death by the force of the explosion or struck by the flying missiles, and it makes a total death list of 406. The list may even be larger than that.” (WH 12.9.07 pg. 1)

“It is not known just how long a man can stay in the foul air of the mines and relays of fifteen minutes have been provided. With clock-like precision the relief appears and good progress was made all day until halted by the fire.” (RP 12.9.07 pg. 2)

At #6:

The fan is stopped and all are ordered out of the mine because of developments at #8.

Inside #8:

“Shortly after 5 o’clock Sunday afternoon fire broke out again in mine No. 8 and the rescuers were at once ordered to the surface.” (FCT 12.13.07 pg. 1) (AMJ 12.9.07 pg. 1)

*As #8 fills with smoke, all miners abandon for the surface.

“For the first time since Friday morning the heroes in the rescuing parties turned their backs on their dead comrades in the mines. If the flames are not soon extinguished there will be little hope of recovering many of the bodies which are hidden in the recesses of the frowning hill.” (US Dept of Labor-mine disasters-Dispatch article)

*As they emerge from the mine mouth, many miners report smoke and “fire” in parts the mine to the first officials or leaders they find, though no sign of burning is yet visible to the outside. To an experienced miner, “fire” can mean may more things than ‘flames’. But to the average onlooker, the word “fire” conjures only one meaning in their minds. These leaders at the mouth of the mine have the authority to take initiative without reporting to any other company official like Haas and so they do. They order immediate evacuation and send word directly to #6 to do the same.

*Even the reporters who are lingering about the mine mouth hear these reports before Frank Haas who is watching on (probably from the other side of the trestle) and sees only what he expects to see: a new fan installed and the remainder of the crews evacuating both #6 and #8 mine, just as planned.

“The fire was located by one of the rescuing parties which had penetrated 1,500 feet into No 8 mine.” (US Dept of Labor-mine disasters-Dispatch article)

The fans are stopped and “Efforts were then directed toward extinguishing the fire and it is thought it will be subdued within a few hours when the work of rescue will again be taken up.” (FCT 12.13.07 pg. 1) (LAH 12.9.07 pg. 2)

*Some people—either reporters, workers, visitors, etc.—rush to the company offices in the middle of town to announce that the workers have found “fire” in #8.

In the Monongah offices:

“When the report of the fire was first received at the offices of the company at Monongah, an official denial was made and the same explanation given of the stopping of the fans as had been made at the two mines.” (US Dept of Labor-mine disasters-Dispatch article)

“A second explanation was that it was feared the gas in some of the sidings and rooms bratticed off might escape and imprison the rescue parties in No 8, who were farther in the mine.” (US Dept of Labor-mine disasters-Dispatch article)

Inside #8

*3 smoldering areas discharging smoke are found and the water line is moved up to 1st south.

“…it was believed that another fire existed to the left of the main entry in No 8 and Chief Inspector Paul thought it advisable to withdraw all men from both mines and concentrate attention on this fire before carrying rescue work further. This plan was followed out…” (FWV 12.10.07 pg. 2)

“Later conditions became much worse and it was impossible to longer conceal the fact that fire had been discovered.” (US Dept of Labor-mine disasters-Dispatch article)

In Monongah:

*Word once again reaches the offices about “fire” in #8.

“It was declared that there was no fire in the mine and that the reason the fan had been stopped at that mine was to allow the installation of the second motor fan and to prevent fresh air reaching any possible explosion that might occur. Orders had been sent to No 6 mine to stop the big fan there for fear of an explosion.” (US Dept of Labor-mine disasters-Dispatch article)

At #8:

“Through the air holes leading to the surface and through fissures caused by the impact of the explosion smoke began to escape. The fire is in one of the left side entries of No 8.” (US Dept of Labor-mine disasters-Dispatch article)

Outside the mines:

*When smoke is visible in the air around #8, it is obvious to every one in the area that something within #8 is burning.

“Everyone was warned to be as far away from the mine as possible but this appeared to make people more anxious to approach the mine. The rumor spread like wildfire that No 8 was on fire and an explosion was feared in No 6 from gas communicating with the flames.” (US Dept of Labor-mine disasters-Dispatch article)

“It was necessary to have a large force of mine guards, special officers, and police from Fairmont to aid in holding the crowds in check at this point owing it to being situated near Fairmont.” (US Dept of Labor-mine disasters-Dispatch article)

At #8:

“Thousands of sightseers from the surrounding towns had gathered about the openings. Through megaphones the crowds were notified of the fire and the danger of another explosion, but they refused to leave, and it was with great difficulty that the special police, assisted by many miners, forced the people to seek places of safety.” (News)

“Tonight C.W. Watson, president of the company, stated that the serious were pressed back and left the scenes reluctantly until the guards announced that another explosion was liable to happen at any moment. Instantly the crowd scattered along the trolley tracks, over the hills and some ran pell mell across the bridge to the town.” (US Dept of Labor-mine disasters-Dispatch article)

“There were some about the mine entrances, however, who did not join in the panic. These were men and women who had dear ones in the smoking entries. Instinctively they desired to remain, regardless of their own danger. Some had to be driven back from the fatal site.” (US Dept of Labor-mine disasters-Dispatch article)

~6:00 pm

In Monongah:

Bodies are getting to be so numerous that the families’ abilities to ID and the morgue’s ability to wash, embalm, dress, prepare, and present the bodies cannot keep up.

“While the workers in the mines were assailing this new terror the work of relief was going on. The morgues were crowded and upon the hillside the bodies of some of the victims were being committed to the grave.” (US Dept of Labor-mine disasters-Dispatch article)

FCC gives an official statement to the press. (FWV 12.9.07 pg. 6)

“It was said by members of the rescuing party that over a hundred bodies have been located in both mines and that they will be brought to the surface as soon as the fire has been extinguished. It is not believed the fire will reach any of these bodies.” (FCT 12.13.07 pg. 1) (LAH 12.9.07 pg. 2)

Newspapers

Daily Arizona Silver Belt reports that, “Hundreds of women widowed and destitute of whom fifty at least are prostrated and a dozen insane…” (DASB 12.8.07 pg. 1)

Los Angeles Herald:

Washington Herald:

The Pacific Commercial Advertiser in Hawaii:

The Richmond Palladium in Indiana:

The Albuquerque Morning Journal:

Salt Lake Herald:

The Baltimore Sun:

~6:30 pm

“Fifty-six hours after the terrible explosion in mines No. 6 and 8 of the Fairmont Coal company but fifty-three bodies had been recovered, and then fire broke out again in mine No. 8 and the rescuers were all ordered to the surface.” (MD 12.11.07 pg. 2)

“On account of fire in mine No 8 and imminent danger of an explosion in mine No 6, all rescue work has been suspended for the night. 56 hours have elapsed since the awful explosion and a majority of the bodies brought to the surface were in a terrible condition, necessitating immediate burial.” (News)

“Returning from a grave late in the day, a team drawing a hearse became frightened and ran away. Hundreds of people were in the path of the maddened animals and that all escaped injury or death seemed almost miraculous. The driver jumped to save himself, but was seriously, probably fatally hurt. The wagon was almost completely wrecked.” (RP 12.9.07 pg. 2)

Sightseers thin out around Monongah and the word spreads that fires are breaking out in the mines. (McAteer) (News)

* = 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.

More on How Death Gloated!

Sunday, December 8, 1907, Afternoon, 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

“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 2^nd 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)

More on How Death Gloated!

Sunday, December 8, 1907, Morning – Noon

“bright day – the sky was clear, the smoke and noxious, gaseous fumes that had hovered…since…Friday morning had vanished…” “…a more powerful gloom could be seen to cast its shadows across the doorways of most every residence and miner’s cottage of the thrifty village…” (FWV 12.9.07 pg.8)

~9:00 am

Inside the mines:

Large roof falls are found in every section but one in both mines. “The rescuers say they find great fall of earth from the roof and it is believed that tons and tons of earth, slate, coal and debris will have to be dug out of the main heading before arrangements can be made to operate this mine again.” (CDT 12.8.07 pg. 1)

“All of the young foremen in charge of the shifts and practically all of the volunteers were West Virginia mountain-folk. The mine manager had apparently excluded the aliens. ‘What is the matter with the foreign miners?’ I asked an intelligent young fellow resting in a coal car. ‘They can’t stand it,’ he said. ‘They can handle a pick all right, but when something happens, they lose their heads.’” (Forbes)

The “day of funerals” begins in Monongah and Fairmont

“At least a score of burials took place.” (Wash. Times 12.9.07 pg. 5)

St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Fairmont conducted masses and some Protestant churches in Fairmont and Monongah held services.

wagon by st stanislaus — Undertaker’s wagon hauling victims in front of St. Stanislaus Polish Catholic Church

“Many of the victims of the holocaust are members of the Roman Catholic church and a majority of the burials of these will take place in a little church yard on a hillside near the parish house about a half a mile away from the mines in which they met death. Complete arrangements for the funerals have not been made but it is probable that the priests will celebrate the mass for the dead over many of them at one time.” (CDT 12.8.07 pg. 1)

“Funeral processions were in sight in all directions during the entire day.” (News)

“On the way to the cemeteries these solemn little processions were constantly going and passing vehicles coming from the mines laden with victims en route to the morgue, there to be placed in caskets and prepared another series of funerals.” (News)

“About twenty victims were buried today in the three cemeteries near the town. The services were simple and brief and except for the grief of the mourners, which at times became almost frantic, were without special feature.” (News)

“Several of the services were interrupted by women fainting, causing momentary excitement, but this was soon dispelled.” (LAH 12.9.07 pg. 2)

“All the churches offered up petitions for the peaceful repose of the dead, and ministers spoke feelingly of the disaster. But the saddest of the prayers were those of the women, who again gathered near the entrances, and chanted their litanies.” (CET 12.9.07 pg. 1)

In other parts of Monongah:

“Miners and other citizens from all over Central West Virginia are pouring into the Monongah to offer their services in the work of rescue.” (WH 12.8.07 pg. 13)

“The crowd of people that were at Monongah today was the largest that has ever been in the town on any occasion. Hundreds were there from all nearby towns and many from far away. A great number went only for the sole purpose of getting to look at where the mine disaster occurred. In this they were disappointed as nothing but two holes in the ground greet the visitor. It is impossible to go down in the mines and also to get in at the morgue.” (CDT 12.8.07 pg. 1)

“The people of the town are stunned by the catastrophe. They had long regarded these mines as practically immune from the dangers so common to the coal mining industry.” (LAH 12.8.07 pg. 1)

“The stage has been reached where relief for surviving dependents of the victims is necessary, and such progress was made in that direction today. Several organizations have been incorporated and the work is being systemized. Churches are taking the lead in this work. The coal company is showing a liberal spirit and is using money freely to relieve distress.” (LAH 12.9.07 pg. 2)

“Great quantities of food were distributed today.” (LAH 12.9.07 pg. 2)

“An American woman who lost her husband refused to believe he is dead. She has put clean linen on his bed and insists that he will be brought to her. ‘I know he is injured, and nobody can take care of him like I can,’ she said. She prepares his meal regularly, neighbors say, as she has done for years, thinking he may come for them.” (News)

~10:00 am

Inside #8:

“It is hardly possible that all the bodies will be recovered for several days. The men were working in a territory one mile square. It will be days before a thorough search of all of this area can be made. As the searching parties advance, they must clear away the debris.” (LAH 12.8.07 pg. 1)

Rescuers find a headless body sat in the seat of a cutting machine, hands still gripping the handles of the machine. (McAteer)

By 10 am, 1st right had been explored and 1,000 feet of 1st left when all efforts are called to the surface (McAteer).

Smoke is discovered coming out of crop openings south of the pit mouth so threatening it was decided to halt all work on north side until the south fire could be located and extinguished.

“There was a slight fire inside of the slope of No. 8 mine this morning, due to the starting of the fan. It was extinguished after an hour, and the fan, working successfully, greatly facilitated the efforts of the rescuers to get into the mines.” (News)

On the way to Fairmont:

A “prominent minister” tells a representative of the West Virginian while on one of the crowded cars returning from Monongah, “You newspaper men would have a hard time to exaggerate the awfulness of this great catastrophe.”

“And the minister’s remark suggests the thought that newspapers all over the country have been very conservative in their stories, especially as to the number of dead. Most of the papers have underestimated the number rather than overestimated it. Very few sensational stories have gone out when we consider how great the temptation is under the circumstances.” (FWV 12.9.07 – pg.8)

~10:45 am

“Monongah restaurants have been almost ‘eaten out’. In spite of the fact that food supplies are being rushed to the mining town as fast as possible, there is not enough food at public restaurants, hotels and like places to accommodate the people. In the restaurants and hotel where some food can be obtained, the patrons have to take just what is on hand. Coffee is being drunk without milk and sugar and in many instances all that a hungry person can find to satisfy himself with is plain bread. Some of the residents have kindly thrown open their door to the hungry and are giving them what they have on hand to eat.” (CDT 12.8.07 pg. 1)

A majority of church services begin in and around the area of Monongah

Several church services and Sunday school lessons focus on the Book of Ruth (aka: The Widow’s Book or ‘The Tale of Two Widows’) today.

“The Presbyterian Church has asked the Presbyterian churches of Pittsburg and vicinity to come to the rescue of the widows and orphans.” (FWV 12.9.07 – pg. 1 – extra)

12.7.07 - pg 8 - churches - first baptist — FWV 12.7.07 pg 8

12.7.07 - pg 8 - churches - presb. — FWV 12.7.07 pg 8

~11:00 am

“E.C. Vandiver, of Lonaconing, was in Monongah over Sunday and tells a gruesome tale of what he saw and heard there. Van left here Saturday and returned Sunday night.” (CET 12.10.07 pg. 6)

“Van saw piles of coffins on every corner and the wailing of women and children was heartrending.” (CET 12.10.07 pg. 6)

“Thousands of strangers were in Monongah and the hotels are crowded.” (CET 12.10.07 pg. 6)

“Seven families that Van saw had lost every adult male and fifty children in those families are left fatherless. Van saw men working at No. 6 mine but saw nothing doing at No 8 and was told that no one would venture in.” (CET 12.10.07 pg. 6)

“He saw one woman identify the body of her husband by the nail on the only finger left on his hand. This finger had been injured years ago and the end was gone. This man was an American.” (CET 12.10.07 pg. 6)

“The bodies were laid out in the bank building used as a morgue and thousands of people gazed upon them. At Fairmont, Sunday, people fought each other to get on the street cars for Monongah. Van returned full of the horror of what he saw.” (CET 12.10.07 pg. 6)

More on How Death Gloated!

Sunday, December 8, 1907, Midnight – Dawn

“Acts of heroism must have been numerous within the mines after the explosion. Two corpses were found together in such a position that it was apparent that one miner was carrying another out on his shoulder when the afterdamp caught him. The bodies were found against the wall of the mine where they had been pushed by a broken car, the corpse of one still clung to the back of the other. Several corpses were found lying on cans of powder which did not explode when the disaster occurred.” (CDT 12.8.07 pg. 1)

~Midnight

“At 12 o’clock tonight a total of 25 bodies had been recovered…” (DP 12.8.07 pg. 1)

~12:30 am

“Twenty-nine bodies had been brought to the surface up to 12:30 o’clock this morning, and word comes from the rescuing party that many objects are ready to be brought out.” (AMJ 12.8.07 pg. 1)

“It will indeed be a sad Christmas at Monongah. What families have not been made fatherless or have lost some member in the disaster will have little money to spend for the festive season. There are many in the town who worked in the mines and who will be out of employment for some time. It may be six weeks or perhaps even longer before either of the mines will resume operations according to estimates made by some. It will probably be longer than that before No. 8 is cleared and repaired so it can be operated again as this one was very badly wrecked.” (CDT 12.8.07 pg. 1)

~3:45 am

#21 = Fred Rogers, aged 25, single; body shipped to Fairchance, PA; body removed from No 6 at 3:45 am Sunday; machine miner; identified by Geo. Gibbons (FWV 12.9.07 extra)

Sometime before morning shifts begin

“Nearly all of the coal mines in the Fairmont and Clarksburg region have practically closed down owing to a lack of men to continue the operations. Many of the miners had friends and acquaintances in the disaster and they were all anxious to get from their work and learn the fate of the men who were employed in Monongah mines No 6 and 8.” (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 1) (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 10)

All 64 of CONSOLs mines in the area are closed for the day and all CONSOL officers and employees, some 20,000 company miners and supervisors, from mines throughout the area are ordered to Monongah and brought into the relief efforts. (McAteer)

“Others wanted to learn of the disaster through curiosity and many left their work to go to the scene of the terrible explosions. Some of the mines will resume operations Monday morning but it is not expected that many men will report for duty.” (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 4)

~5:00 am

“Clarence Hall and his assistants, representing the National Geographic Department are on the ground and rendering heroic help and advice.” (FWV 12.9.07 pg. 6)

~5:30 am

In Monongah:

“The scenes in Monongah on Sunday were more harrowing than those of a battlefield. The first visitors from Fairmont saw a reproduction of the Inferno. It was not yet dawn in the town and the white clouds of steam from the power-house looked ghostly against the background of hills as they floated past the electric light. About the entrance waited a score of weary men, some of them exhausted, the lamps on their caps giving them the appearance of demons. Out of the pit, now and then, straggled men carrying safety lamps in their hands, the pallor of their faces showing through the coal dust that covered them; these were members of the exploring party that had come to revive themselves in the air. They came out dripping with perspiration and stood in an atmosphere that was uncomfortable even to men wearing overcoats. There was none of the tumult and the shouting. When dawn lit up the sky, it outlined the forms of shivering women high up on the hill-top, watching the mine entry.” (Forbes)

At the mines:

“All of the officials of the company are on the scene of the disaster. Mrs. C.W. Watson, who drove the blue-ribbon winners in the recent New York Horse Show, is boiling coffee in a blacksmith shop near No. 6, where the relief corps get refreshments every hour or so.” (WH 12.9.07 pg. 1)

“There are many empty stalls in the coal company’s barns located at Monongah. The stable boss reported that about fifty horses and mules were lost by the explosion. The horses that were not in the mine at the time of the explosion are being worked night and day. They are used in hauling back the dead from the mines, hauling caskets from the station and in getting supplies to each of the mines.” (CDT 12.8.07 pg. 1)

~6:00 am

Central Committee of American National Red Cross authorizes each of its branches to receive and forward contributions to Monongah.

In Monongah:

“Nearly everybody in Downs went to Monongah” (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 2)

“Heartrending scenes and incidents crowded fast one upon another in this sorely afflicted mining community today.” (LAH 12.9.07 pg. 2) (SFC 12.9.07 pg. 2) (HS 12.19.07 pg. 3)

“Mrs. Sylvia Giovanni, and old woman who lost her husband and two sons in the disaster and who is made destitute by their deaths, disappeared in the night and it is thought she has become demented and is wandering about in the cold air of the woods. A searching party of friends is now out hunting for her.” (CDT 12.8.07 pg. 1)

At the mines:

“Many women believe their husbands or sons will be still found alive and refuse to leave the vicinity of the mine. When bodies are carried from the mine these women become almost insane, screaming and pacing back and forth and calling aloud the names of their loved ones.” (SLH 12.9.07 pg. 1) (LAH 12.9.07 pg. 2) (HS 12.19.07 pg. 3)

“Chief Mine Inspector J.W. Paul arrived here early this morning from Charleston and has been at work all day directing the work.” (CDT 12.8.07 pg. 1)

“Clarence Hall…is here pursuing his investigations for the Government. He entered the mines early today and will continue his work until the end of the week.” (US Dept of Labor-mine disasters-Dispatch article)

At the morgue:

18 bodies have been identified, removed from the morgue, and taken to the families’ homes

“As fast as the bodies are removed from the mines they are being taken to the morgue and prepared for burial. After being placed in coffins they are taken to an adjoining room, where a steady stream of people files by all day long. When a body is recognized by relatives or friends the information is at once given to Coroner E.S. Amos who has been on duty since the first body was brought from the mines.” (US Dept of Labor-mine disasters-Dispatch article)

“If identified, the families were notified; if not, the bodies were placed in rows in the bank building.” (Forbes)

“The burying of the dead has begun at Monongah. Several of the unfortunate victims that were among the first found were buried yesterday afternoon at local cemeteries about Monongah. Several of the American miner’s bodies will be taken to their homes as soon as possible after they are found. Others whose homes are away from Monongah will be shipped away as soon as possible.” (CDT 12.8.07 pg. 1)

More on How Death Gloated!

Saturday, December 7, 1907, Late Night 10:00 pm – Midnight

“Mining experts pronounce the rescue work in this disaster the most thorough ever provided under similar circumstances, and friends and relatives receive every courtesy and consideration.” (NYTb 12.8.07 pg. 3)

~10:00 pm

At the morgue:

“One hundred and twenty-five bodies had been brought to the surface tonight and the dozen undertakers from this and surrounding towns, who have been on duty since the catastrophe had the bodies washed and made as presentable as possible in an improvised morgue, into which one of the nine buildings has been converted.” (RP 12.8.07 pg. 1)

At the mines:

Floyd W. Parsons spends the night working “in the wrecked mines” (FWV 12.10.07 pg. 2)

Rescue efforts shift to recovery efforts as teams enter, explore, and exit finding only dead bodies.

“The condition of the bodies thus far recovered is horrible; many are dismembered, some fearfully crushed and the rest blackened and burned beyond recognition.” (DASB 12.8.07 pg. 1) (LAH 12.8.07 pg. 1) (ES 12.8.07 pg. 1)

“A score or more of men of rescuing parties are in a critical condition tonight from inhaling black damp, and several of them are not expected to live.” (DASB 12.8.07 pg. 1) (LAH 12.8.07 pg. 1)

In Monongah:

“In certain vicinities of Monongah the newspaper representatives visited house after house in rotation and found that in every home there was grief and mourning as a result of the terrible catastrophe. In some instances, it was the father who left his family at 7 o’clock yesterday morning or a son or brother to enter the unsuspected death trap. When this grief and suffering is witnessed human tongue cannot describe the scene of horror and suffering that is being witnessed here.” (FWV 12.9.07 – pg. 7)

postcard - camden ave — Camden Avenue in Monongah

~11:00 pm

(Out of Pittsburg) “A special to the Gazette-Times from Fairmont W. Va., says: ‘That at least ten members of the heroic band of rescuers will die of gas poisoning was admitted tonight by the physicians who are attending them as they are drawn out of the mines unconscious…” (DASB 12.8.07 pg. 1)

At the mines:

Telephones are established between both mines and the company office. There is a telephone at foot of the slope in #6 and a telephone is regularly moved along the main heading as work advances in #8. (McAteer)

“The gases are still strong in the No. 6 mine and scores of rescuers have been overcome and carried to the hospitals. With the exception of Charles Cain, the company’s inspector, one of those overcome is in a serious condition.” (WH 12.8.07 pg. 1)

Chief Mine Inspector Paul and all of the State District inspectors have arrived and taken over the rescue and recovery work. 6 inspectors are assigned to each mine – 3 for each shift. They will serve in an advisory capacity, oversee the progress, and will assist in exploring and locating bodies. (McAteer)

Work forces are formally organized into 3 crews of 6 men each and rescue crews are changed out regularly. A squad of 4 men with a leader did disinfecting.

The workmen are composed of volunteers from other mines.

About 40-50 men are employed on each shift. Each man is furnished with a Wolf safety lamp to test for foul air; his name is taken down, assigned a number and he is given a tin check bearing that number. On entering and leaving the mine his number is recorded; no one is to be given a check unless he is a workman or an official. (McAteer)

Shifts in #8 were 8 hours long. Shift in #6 were 6 hours long. As work progressed in #6 it took about an hour to walk from the surface to working places, meaning the shift in all was still 8 hrs. (McAteer)

“Only the strict discipline of the officials has prevented many of the men from rushing into useless danger. The best men in the company’s employ, and under the direction of the State mine department, are watching the work with a view to protecting those who are searching for the dead.” (WH 12.8.07 pg. 1)

“Starting tomorrow, a new system of rescue work will be inaugurated at both mines. It is the intention to dispense with the services of the miners who have been employed in either of the mines. In their places there will be about 200 expert mining men from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, all of whom have volunteered. These men, under the direction of Chief Mine Inspector Paul of West Virginia, who arrived today from Charleston, will be more fitted to render effective service in the recovering of the dead. The reason for this is that conditions now existing in the mines are extremely dangerous, and it is feared, should inexperienced men make an incorrect move, a second explosion would occur, which would completely wreck the mines.” (ES 12.8.07 pg. 1) (BDT 12.8.07 pg. 1)

More on How Death Gloated!

Saturday, December 7, 1907, Night 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

“For several days frantic women grouped about the opening of the mines and their shrieks of agony were enough to move the hardest heart to pity. Grief stricken mothers, wives, sweethearts, and sisters waited and watched and wept. Some prayed, some sung, and some, in their very ecstasy of sorrow were hysterical and laughed.”

– Illustrated Monthly W. Virginian (Nurses)

~7:00 pm

“Tonight the streets of both this town and Fairmont are crowded with people, while thousands line the hills in the vicinity of the mines. Every bar room in Fairmont and Monongah is closed and throughout the territory over sixty mines have suspended temporarily and about 6,000 miners are visiting here.” (DASB 12.8.07 pg. 1) (SFC 12.8.07 pg. 20)

“Tomorrow in all the churches of Fairmont, Clarksburg and Monongah special services will be held, and it is probable collections will be taken. It is the purpose of the ministers to establish a permanent relief fund.” (ES 12.8.07 pg. 1)

In Fairmont:

A long-planned pie social is given by the M.E. church but it is “not very well attended owing to so many of our community going to Monongah.” (FWV 12.13.07 pg. 2)

In Monongah:

“It was thought that it would be necessary to call out the militia to preserve order and expedite the rescue work, but tonight President Watson wired Gov. Dawson that there was nothing in the situation requiring the presence of soldiers.” (WH 12.8.07 pg. 1 & 13)

W.H. Bice’s body is brought back to Monongah from the Miner’s Hospital in Fairmont. It will then be taken to Reedy, Roane County to be interred. (FWV 12.7.07 – pg.1)

At the cemetery in Monongah:

“All day long men have been digging graves in the Catholic cemetery, located within sight of the mines.” (ES 12.8.07 pg. 1)

At the mines:

“Most of today was spent building defenses for the rescuers against the rush of foul air from the entries that lead to the rooms where the main body of men was working, and tonight they got everything in shape for the relief to proceed, without danger to the brave men who are willing to dare anything if only left to themselves.” (WH 12.8.07 pg. 1)

Company officials ordered rescuers to store bodies at the bottom of the mine shaft. It is arranged for them to only be moved after dark when the crowds diminish for the night. (McAteer)

“The almost frenzied relatives of the dead men still surround the mine entrance eagerly looking for the forms of their loved ones and no amount of persuasion has been sufficient to make them leave for more than a few minutes at a time.” (WH 12.8.07 pg. 1)

“The wails of the foreign women, inexpressibly weird, were very pathetic and caused tears among many of the men.” (ES 12.8.07 pg. 1)

At #6:

“Air is being…rushed back in…and by dark this brattice work will be completed.” (FWV 12.7.07 – pg. 1, Davis)

“36 horses and mules are known to be in the mine (#6) and the main heading is strewn with harness but no horses have yet been seen.” (FWV 12.7.07 – pg.1, Davis)

~8:00 pm

“The Fairmont Coal company tonight gave out the following official statement relative to the recent disaster:

“There were 406 men employed in No.6 and No. 8 mines. Fifteen have been located and are known to be safe. We have hopes that of the 391 whose names are given, a number were not at work. The company desires to thank the large number of people who have volunteered to help in the rescue work, which is progressing as fast as conditions will permit. We believe that No. 6 will be practically explored during the night. No. 8 is much slower on account of the greater damage to air courses. The origin of the explosion may not be located for several days. No. 6 fan has only stopped forty-two minutes. Two small fans have been installed at No. 8 and are doing good work in place of the large fan destroyed. Chief Mine inspector Paul Hahn has arrived with many assistants and will render aid and give instructions if he find them necessary.” (WH 12.8.07 pg. 1)

“While officials are as yet unable to give any idea of the cause of the explosion one tonight advanced the theory that it was caused by electricity exploding the dust. It is supposed by this authority that the electric motor and train jumped the tracks and tore down the trolleys and electric wires, making currents that shot flames into the dust.” (WH 12.8.07 pg. 13)

“Gov. Dawson, who has been in Washington attending an important political conference, wired tonight that he would start for the scene of the disaster to lend any assistance in the State’s power. He has given the State mine departments full authority to act for the executive and will insist on the most rigid investigation.” (WH 12.8.07 pg. 1)

At the mines:

“The mines…are giving up their dead tonight—not singly, but in groups of five and ten at a time, and by morning it is expected that at least half of the dead will have been recovered.” (WH 12.8.07 pg. 1)

“Only a few men saw the victims as they came from the mine.” (Forbes)

“A majority of men who have been recovered will be buried tomorrow.” (ES 12.8.07 pg. 1)

At #8:

“The body of J.M. McGraw, pit boss, and one of the best-known mining men in West Virginia, was recovered tonight in mine No 8. It was headless and otherwise disfigured; identification having been made by the clothing and shoes he wore.” (ES 12.8.07 pg. 1)

At #6:

Relief work at #6 is “progressing nicely and with plenty of air”. (FWV 12.7.07 – pg. 1, Davis)

“Over 100 of the best men that can be had” are working “and have now reached back to the junction of the two mines which is a mile back from the entrance.” (FWV 12.7.07 – pg. 1, Davis)

It is believed that the main body of miners will be found about 1 ½ miles back from the entrance in #6, in the direction of Farmington, and the bratticing work has almost reached this distance. (FWV 12.7.07 – pg.1, Davis)

“In going back all this distance only one more body was discovered except the ones already brought out, and this was a small boy who has lost both his legs. His body was not removed.” (FWV 12.7.07 – pg. 1, Davis)

~9:00 pm:

In Cumberland, Maryland:

“There has been a great demand for newspapers since the first tidings of the great disaster reached us and although many extras were ordered, there was not a paper left on the corner at Peel’s at 9pm Saturday.” (CET 12.9.07 pg.)

At the mines:

“At nine o’clock tonight a total of twenty-five bodies have been recovered from the mines…Scores of other victims are in sight of rescuers and it is estimated that at least 100 dead will be brought to the surface before daylight.” (News)

“However, the number of bodies recovered tonight and early Sunday depends entirely upon the condition of the mine, it is said.” (LODD 12.12.07 pg 1)

“…it was stated tonight by General Manager Malone that 478 actual miners were checked off as entering the mines yesterday. This number, it is further stated, did not include fully 100 trappers, mule drivers, pumpers, and boys who are not under the check system. Should these figures be correct the death list will be over 550 persons.” (News)

At #6:

The main heading is cleared up enough to allow horse and trucks to be used within the mine. Progress proceeds rapidly.

“In No.6 mine the main headway was cleared tonight from end to end, and during the night the rescue gangs will be able to reach the rooms where the 200 men met death. They have the fans working with good effect. “ (WH 12.8.07 pg. 13)

At the morgue:

Embalming is becoming difficult because of the sheer number of bodies. Only ¼ of the estimated death toll is accounted for so far. (McAteer)

~10:00 pm

“Albert Shingleton, who has been working around the Fairmont mines for twenty-four years, said tonight that the explosion had killed the best men in the mines. These were the prize mines and only the best men were employed there. Several representatives of foreign governments arrived in Fairmont today to look after the interests of their people and offer assistance if any is needed.” (WH 12.8.07 pg. 13)

At the mines:

“A score of men of the rescuing parties are in a critical condition tonight from inhaling blackdamp. Several of them are expected to die. One of these men, John Gabbert, was carried from the mine tonight almost a raving maniac. His lungs were filled with blackdamp, which produced a condition as one insane, and the services of four men were necessary to hold Gabbert while doctors attended him.” (ES 12.8.07 pg. 1) (CB 12.8.07 pg. 1)

“The officials in charge of the rescue work had hoped that they would be able to get most of the anxious ones away from the entrance by nightfall, so that they could bring the bodies to the surface. Tonight, they decided it was useless to wait longer and the relief parties got orders to proceed with the work.” (WH 12.8.07 pg. 1)

C.W. Watson makes an order for immediate burial due to the overflowing number & condition of bodies and fears that the situations of public grief with the women will get out of control. Wives and families of some of the victims are greeting bodies with emotional outbursts (sometimes violent, often self-inflicting). (McAteer)

Though this is a standard grieving process for the majority of the Eastern European immigrants, here in the Western world of the U.S.A. these types of reactions and public displays of grief have been steadily shamed and rendered ‘improper’ and ‘undignified’ since the Civil War. As a result, Western reporters are not very familiar with this type of display as having significant meaning and interpret these reactions of women just it as their society has dictated for the past 30 years: as “weakness”,” ugliness”, and “insanity”.

“The women and children surrounding the mine entrance are more like a colony of insane tonight than ordinary human beings. Gaunt of face, and with a frenzy of despair written all over them, they make a picture that no person actually seeing could realize. Strong men turned away from the sight after a glance. The horror of that one look will remain with them to the end of their lives.” (WH 12.8.07 pg. 13)

“Up to late today many entertained high hopes that some of the entombed men might be taken out alive. As the bodies recovered today however were brought to the surface horribly mangled, all hope was dispelled by the distressing scenes following.” (DASB 12.8.07 pg. 1) (ES 12.8.07 pg. 1)