“Tonight, thousands are gathered at …No 6 and 8, aghast of the horror of the explosions…in fact, the entire town of several thousand people are crowded about the mine openings anxiously awaiting the work of the rescue party, but without even the slightest hope of seeing any of their loved ones alive.” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)
~7:00 pm
In Monongah:
“Trolley cars and trains over the Baltimore and Ohio brought great crowds of people from Clarksburg and Fairmont, many of whom have relatives in the terrible catastrophe, all anxious to learn the worst, as all hope had been abandoned that any survived and the only hope that remained was that the bodies at least might be recovered.” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)
Vice President Potter, General Manager Thomas Fitzgerald and Division Superintendent and other officials of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company heard of the horrible disaster and arrive to offer their services.
14 miners also arrive from Tunnelton, WV, to aid in the rescue (FWV 12.7.07 pg. 1)
“The general opinion in the town is that the number of dead and imprisoned will reach 500. A few persons believe this number will be exceeded, claiming that more than half the total force worked during the day, while on the other hand some think the number will be smaller. The most conservative estimates place the number of victims at 300 or more.” (DASB 12.07.07 pg. 1)
~7:30 pm
At #8:
Superintendent A.J. Ruckman finds the body of Charles Honaker. “…it was thought that Honaker had been blown in the river but he had not. He was lying about 70ft from the mouth of No 8. When he was found his watch was still keeping time and this property was the means of his identification. Mr. Ruckman still has his watch.” (FWV 12.7.07 pg. 2 – noon)
“Undertakers on the scene have converted the First National bank building into a morgue to take care of the bodies and all the caskets possible have arrived from Clarksburg and Fairmont with a special order on the way from Wheeling.” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)
~8:00 pm
At the mines:
“At this time the rescuers are hard at work digging debris, dirt, coal, timbers, and the like away so as to get further into the mine. The efforts are to rescue any live men who may possibly be in the mine and dead bodies are now being removed.” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)
“The chief efforts of rescue are at mine No 6, where the explosion was not so terrific.” “At No 8 the rescue work is difficult and proceeding very slowly on account of the afterdamp.” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)
In Monongah:
“The saloons have all been closed by order of the mayor. The great crowds still linger at the mines. The order is good.” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)
West Virginia Governor Dawson wires a message to Pres. C.W. Watson: “Inspector to arrive tomorrow. Do not hesitate to call upon me for assistance.” Watson replies, “Our accident was deplorable indeed. Very much obliged for your offer…glad to know Chief Mine Inspector Paul will be here in the morning. Impossible to tell extent of fatalities at this time. Will advise you early tomorrow.” (FWV 12.7.07 pg. 1 & 2 – noon)
~8:30 pm
Evening presses from major papers across the country are putting out some of the first words the country will read about the disaster in Monongah. At some point during the day, either General Manager Malone or someone who had talked with Malone had a telephone conversation with a reporter at the Associated Press. As a result of this too early conversation which will be reprinted again and again nationwide, much of the first and perhaps only words many people will read about the disaster over the next month are highly inaccurate.
CDT 12.6.07 pg 1
CDT 12.6.07 pg 1
(ETR 12.6.06 pg. 1)
(ETR 12.6.06 pg. 1)
~9:00 pm
Inside #6:
Rescuers begin investigating side entries and rooms further from explosions. As each crew moves forward, they stumble over material debris as well as dead bodies of miners and horses.
“Relay parties bring no work of encouragement, to the contrary their only report is the finding of dead bodies piled up in the mine pits in heaps of twenty, indicating that when the explosion occurred, many of them rushed to the openings and perished on the way—overcome by gas.” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)
In Monongah:
Another special train arrives, this one from Baltimore carrying V.P. Wheelwright of Consolidated Coal Company, President Oscar G Murray and General Manager Thomas Fitzgerald from the B&O railroad company along with more company officials, volunteers, newspaper reporters, and sightseers.
It becomes clear to company officials that many burial sites will be needed, and the existing potter’s field is insufficient.
“C.W. Watson, president of the company, is deeply affected by the accident and refused to give out a statement tonight. He only observed that it was ‘Too bad! Too bad!’” (TS 12.7.07 pg. 1)
Outside #8:
“The deadly fire damp made it impossible to do much rescue work early in the day, especially at Mine No. 8, where the explosion had completely wrecked the fan, until another fan could be brought from Shinnston, twelve miles away, and put in working order, the men labored at a disadvantage…” (WH 12.7.07 pg. 1)
Relief crews have managed to create a stable air hole about a half mile from the mine mouth. A temporary 7-foot-wide fan has arrived from Shinnston and put into place at #8 mine. But, “When the fan that was installed at the mouth of mine No 8 was started…it caused a small fire.” (FWV 12.7.07 pg. 1 & 2 – noon)
Inside #8:
“One fire was discovered to the right of the main entry in No. 8 and a pipeline was immediately laid into the mine and the fire extinguished.” (FWV 12.10.07 pg. 2 – Floyd Parsons)
~9:30 pm
“Up to 9:30 Peter Roisberg is the only man brought out alive.” (TS 12.7.07 pg. 1)
“Not less than 400 are dead and the number may run to 700, as officials have been keeping down the number as much as possible.” (FWDN 12.6.07 pg. 1)
~3:00 pm
“At 3 o’clock this afternoon it is known that the mine disaster is the worst in the history of the country.” (FWDN 12.6.07 pg. 1)
In Parkersburg:
“Mr. Watson was in Parkersburg at the time of the accident and went at once to the scene.” (TBS 12.7.07 pg. 2)
In Baltimore:
“Mr. Wheelwright left here at 3 pm over the Baltimore and Ohio for the mines. He was accompanied by Mr. J.R. Buckingham, his secretary, and some of the others of the company’s officers.” (TBS 12.7.07 pg. 2)
“Mr. Clarence W. Watson is the president and Mr. Jere H. Wheelwright the vice-president, both of whom spend most of their time here in directing the executive affairs of the corporation. Mr. Watson has a home at Fairmont, where he spends the summer. On this estate, which is just on the outskirts of that city, he has recently built a magnificent stable for his famous show horses and also a half-mile track for their exercise.” (TBS 12.7.07 pg. 2)
In Monongah:
It is “Press Time” and some of the reporters are in line to use the telegraph or telephone in the company store post office or the company office just across the river from #6 to submit their reports in time for the evening papers. A majority have had to go into Fairmont to find more communication resources. (News)
Outside #6:
Carl Tarleton arrives from the mines just down the tracks in Enterprise to help with the recovery. He works personally with David Victor on restoring proper ventilation to the mines, despite only having one working fan. By this point they have only achieved breathable air in most of the main shaft of #6, but they are almost to the area where the two mines are conjoined. David Victor decides to go ahead and make an attempt at a fire examination of #6. (Inquiry)
~3:30 pm
The two staff writers for The Clarksburg Daily Telegram make “fast time” despite taking the back roads to Monongah. “…they arrived some time before the first train and about two hours before the first trolley car arrived from Clarksburg, beating other newspaper representatives.” (CDT 12.8.07 pg. 1)
Outside #6:
The second round of rescue crews is starting to be organized just as several experienced miners arrive from the Montana mines just outside of Fairmont. As these men already work together as a congruent team underground, they are formed into a rescue crew all their own. (FWV 12.7.07 pg. 1 – noon)
Outside #8:
Someone standing near a toad hole, possibly a company watchman, happens to hear a sound like moaning coming from the ground. He calls out to nearby work crews for help. Several run off to a nearby supply house to collect materials.
~3:33-3:35 pm
Outside #8:
The rescuers have returned quickly from the supply house with armloads of rope and begin tying critical hitch and harness knots in one end to safely support the men who will be lowered down through the toad hole.
~ 3:40 – 3:45 pm
Inside #8:
The first rescuer, a long slender rail worker in the mines named Charlie “Skinny” McGraw, has been lowered over 100 feet before getting to the floor of the mine. He unties himself from the lowering lines so they can be raised back to the surface for the next man to follow down and help.
He follows the moans through the dark and soon finds the Urban brothers. Stan is lying face down in a puddle of water and Peter is sitting atop Stan’s back sobbing uncontrollably, simply staring ahead into the dark space with wide glassy eyes.
~3:45 – 3:50 pm
Inside #8:
The second rescuer, Tom Weeks, has been lowered into the room with McGraw and the Urbans. As they come upon Peter and Stan, Peter begins to shout at them and protect his nonresponsive brother. The Urbans are from Poland (their original last name is Rosebeiq) and, unfortunately, Stan knew more American English than Peter and neither of the two rescuers speak or understand Polish. (News, Ancestry, Inquiry, McAteer)
Absolutely crazed by the trauma, fear, and utter darkness he has endured for the past 5-6 hours, Peter begins to aggressively fight with McGraw and Weeks to keep them away from his brother. He shouts at them but they do not understand him and again try to grab Peter and force him away from his brother. A full-on struggle ensues.
~3:50-3:55 pm
Inside #8:
Weeks and McGraw have managed to wrangle Peter into submission. They tie him into the rope hitch and give a signal to the men on the surface to start pulling. The workers on the surface grapple with the line as Peter continues reaching and screaming for his brother on his way back up the 100’ ascent to the surface
As Tom Weeks keeps an eye on Peter from below, Charlie McGraw rushes back to check on Stan’s condition. Despite the severe head injury and 5 hours face down in a puddle, Stan is still breathing but barely hanging on to life.
~3:55 – 4:00 pm
Outside #8:
Several people grab a hold of Peter as he nears the surface and assist in pulling him out. They get him safely out of the hole, pull him away to solid ground and untie his rope when, again, Peter begins to fight off the rescuers around him. The rope is dropped back into the toad hole again as Peter continues to struggle against those trying to help him.
Inside #8:
McGraw and Weeks have moved Stan out of the puddle and closer to the toad hole. They begin to tie him into the rope harness, just as they did with Peter. Stan is still breathing but unconscious.
~4:00 – 4:10 pm
Inside #6:
“For fully two hours nothing but wreckage, such as blocks of coal mine timbers and machinery rewarded the search, but at 4 o’clock in mine No. 6, twenty bodies were found in a heap a short distance from the opening. These were not brought out at the time as the purpose of the searches was to find if any survived the awful disaster and to bring them out first.” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)
“Men who entered the mine say there are twenty dead men sitting on one bench, where they were awaiting their turns to take cars.” (TS 12.7.07 pg. 1)
Outside #8:
Peter Urban manages to break free from the rescuers. He tears through the crowd of onlookers, screaming and crying, sprints down the bank towards the river but crashes full-force into a fence. Rescuers follow and though Peter gives them quite the chase he begins to put up another brief fight as they catch up with him. Peter is simply too exhausted by this point and they manage to subdue him again with little issue.
Inside #8:
At some point during the ascent back to the surface, Stan Urban dies.
~4:10 – 4:15 pm
Outside #8:
Dr. F.W. Hill quickly looks over Peter Urban for any sign of significant injury or need for hospitalization. Though Peter is so distressed and upset that he can not even give the doctor his own name, Dr. Hill finds no reason to hospitalize him and sends Peter home to his family to rest.
At the toad hole, Stan is pulled out and taken to the side. Though he shows no signs of life, the warmth coming off his body gives them hope. Resuscitation is attempted but soon it is accepted that they are too late.
Stanislaus Urban is put onto a horse drawn cart, sent across the river to the morgue.
~4:30 pm
Word has already begun to spread through town and reaches #6 that at least one man has been found alive and rescued from #8.
Peter Urban
Outside #6:
Crowds swarm in the direction of #8. For some, especially many newspaper reporters who have arrived from out of town, this is the first notice they get that the #8 mine they have just submitted reports on isn’t actually #8 mine at all. Dozens of reporters who have been on or around the Iron Bridge all day have already gone to print and have mistakingly identifyied either #1 or #2 mine, which are across the river from #6, as being mine #8 simply because they can see smoke coming out of this mine from their vantage point.
Outside #8:
Despite the lack of ventilation and being driven out hours earlier by toxic gases, the discovery of Peter Urban alive and relatively well encourages another round of rescue crews to prepare to attempt another tour into #8. John C Thompson is in charge of one of those crews. (News, Inquiry)
Inside #6
By late afternoon, part of the broken trip that clogged the heading of mine #6 was removed and the entrance to the mine proper was clear enough to allow for the removal of bodies. “It was the blockade of broken cars that made it so difficult to get the work started.” (FWV 12.7.07 – pg. 1 – noon)
“The entry of No 6 mine, 300 feet from the mountain is piled high with wreckage of two strings of cars and two electric motors. Some of the rescuers have climbed over this and found dead bodies beyond, but have made no attempt to remove these to the surface, partly because it would be almost impossible to carry the bodies over the debris, but more particularly because they do not want to lose any time in reaching other sections of the mine where it is possible men still living may be imprisoned.” (ES 12.7.07 pg. 2)
~5:00 pm
At the mines:
By now, it has become very clear to the physicians and nurses who rushed to the scene that their services will not be needed. Some stay for the night to care for the rescue workers who are injured or overcome by the gases. Many leave on the 5 o’clock trolley car as a 3rd round of rescue crews gets organized.
~6:00 pm
In Monongah:
By this time, only Stan Urban has been recovered from the inside of #8 mine and arrangements are being made to begin bringing bodies out of #6.
Dr. Hill calls on Peter Urban at his house just to check on his condition. Peter can finally tell the doctor his name and now that Peter is around those who can understand him, he tells them that not far from where he and Stan were found, another man was also trapped but still alive.
A special train arrives on the main B&O line from Parkersburg and pulls into the center of Monongah carrying C.W. Watson, president of Consolidated Coal Company and its subsidiary Fairmont Coal Company, along with his private secretary.
In Fairmont and other cities around the country:
Newspapers are already publishing reports in their evening editions which have been circulating for about an hour now. Local papers from Monongah’s neighboring cities will put out several special extra additions over the next few days in an attempt to keep the local populace as updated as possible.
The Fairmont West Virginian publishes these headlines along with an article written by reporter L.M. Davis who was on the very first trolley to Monongah and got the opportunity to watch the action go down all day long and speak directly to some rescue workers like Fred Shaver.
They also publish a list of those “known” to be dead or injured based solely on what little information they have received from rescuers like Fred Shaver and officials who are simply too busy at the time to give in depth, detailed statements.
In the next city south of Monongah, the Clarksburg Daily Telegram publishes slightly different information.
Unlike the Fairmont West Virginian, The Clarksburg Daily Telegram is not yet publishing personal reports from those directly on the scene, though they do include a small announcement that they have reporters on the scene and will put out a special evening edition with those updates. Rather, for this first printing they rely on an article created by the Associated Press after a candid conversation with an official from either the Consolidated Coal Company or Fairmont Coal Company, or possibly a combination of both.
At this point in U.S. history, the Associated Press has a practical monopoly over the spread of news across the country and a majority of U.S. papers rely almost entirely on the Associated Press for national news at this time. To battle what many saw as a corrupt control of information, The United Press formed earlier in the year to challenge that hold. Over the next month they will both make drastic, lingering mistakes in the mad dash to be the first to publish the latest information to the country.
The Pittsburg Press is just one of the many papers that uses the United Press to collect their information. On the evening of Dec. 6, it publishes what will become one of the most notorious headlines associated with the disaster, some of the first photos of Monongah, and several articles detailing events that have taken place through the day.
Almost all of it is wrong.
The Cumberland Evening Times in Maryland also uses the United Press as a primary source and reports that, “The accident happened in Monongahela mines Nos 6 and 8 and was caused by the fan house, which supplied the miners with air, failing to work.” They follow, “The mines were idle yesterday and that is why it is thought that the fans failed to work this morning.” They will also, unfortunately, report that “Over one hundred men are known to have escaped.” (CET 12.6.07 pg. 1)
~6:30 pm
In the Monongah offices:
C.W. Watson and several other company officials hold a meeting to bring the president up to date with events. Watson decides that, “the bodies of the miners, so far as could be reached should be taken out during the night.” From here, Watson personally supervises all rescue work aided by General Manager Malone. (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)
At #8:
Word makes it back to #8 mine that Peter Urban has revealed that another man was still trapped in the mine, not far from where he and his brother were found.
General Manager Frank Haas is personally overseeing the rescue work at #8 but little progress has been made compared to #6. Nonetheless, rescue crews, again led by “Skinny” McGraw, reenter #8 through the toad hole. True to Peter’s word, 20-year-old Francisco Loria is found nearby, but it is too late.
Francisco will be the 5th body to enter the morgue.
At the mines:
By dusk, rescue crews are once again pushed out of the mines by gases but it is confirmed to those on the surface that there is no hope of finding any survivors inside of #6.
“Men and women who had congregated around the mine knelt down in the falling snow and prayed, offering a miner’s benediction.”
“The women around the mine entrance are going crazy with grief and can hardly be handled.” (FWDN 12.6.07 pg. 1)
Crowds are growing to uncontrollable numbers. (News)
Agents for the company begin to prepare for the worst.
~1:00 pm
On the east side of Monongah:
“At one o’clock this afternoon the officials of the Fairmont Coal Co. revised their figures as to the number of men at work in the mines, making it three hundred, instead of five, and they do not believe any have escaped death or injury of a serious nature.” (CET 12.6.07 pg. 1)
Coroner E.S. Amos prepares to set up a temporary morgue inside the unfinished First National Bank of Monongah (a new institution owned by the Watsons and others).
“The First National bank building…has been rigged up for a morgue and the dead will be taken there as soon as recovered.” (FWDN 12.6.07 pg. 1)
E.P. Knight brings the piece of broken coupling pin to Frank Morris in the office of the company store for safe keeping then returns to the relief work. (Inquiry)
~1:30 pm
Outside #6:
Dr. Cook sees first 3 bodies brought out of #6; the 3 men who were found in the shed at the foot of #6 slope. (Inquiry)
~2:00 pm
Outside #6:
8 bodies found near entrance of #6 “and had been taken out, but at that time dense volumes of smoke from a fire in the heart of the mine drove the rescuers to the open air and they have not since been able to return, although every effort is being made to get in.” (Pitt. Press Evening, 12.6.07 – pg.1)
“The fans were all blown out of mine No. 8 and it was the belief of some that the mine was afire.” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)
At the mines:
“Little was done…until after three o’clock when several men were rescued.” (FWV 12.7.07 pg. 1 – noon)
Within the next few days, this event will gradually become entangled in the news coming out of Monongah. With so many people and newspaper reporters in and out of Fairmont, entirely unfamiliar with the area, this is more than likely how various reports begin to spread across the country that the trolley which ran passed #8 coal mine just before the explosion was blown off of its tracks, wrecked, and that a young female passenger was injured in the process. Though there is no information about what happened to the trolley after it passed #8 nor are there personal accounts from any of its passengers, the trolley at Monongah was not thrown from its tracks and wrecked.
At the company offices, “Mr. S.L. Watson was called up by many newspaper men but was unable to accommodate them because of lack of news.” (FWV 12.7.07 pg. 2 – noon)
The Electric Theatre calls the Fairmont newspapers to make the announcement that they will give 5 percent of the entire receipts until further notice for the benefit of Monongah sufferers. (FWV 12.6.07 pg. 5)
FWV 12.6.07 pg 5
Inside the mines of Monongah:
Localized explosions, ignitions, and fires continue consuming the oxygen throughout the mines. Afterdamp has had over hour and half to work through the mines and has already suffocated many. Some miners who survived the initial explosions are putting jackets over their heads or napkins over their mouths to try and prevent breathing in gases. (McAteer, News)
In the town of Monongah:
Monongah is getting positively ambushed with all varieties of people from the area. Train/Trolley loads of volunteers, mourners, amateur photographers and macabre sightseers start pouring in from Fairmont and surrounding areas.
Undertakers begin pouring into town, ”from Fairmont, Shinnston, and Clarksburg among whom are Clifford & Osborn, Sleppy & Warne, of Clarksburg, Harmer of Shinnston, and Musgrave and Bunningham*, of Fairmont, summoned at the instance of the coal company to take charge of the frightful morgue that will present itself when all the bodies are recovered.” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1) (*should be “Cunningham”)
Transport wagons and crews are hired. W.S. Thomas Transfer Co. (Fairmont firm) sends all available wagons and teams to Monongah. (News)
Communications within town, let alone outside of town, are extremely limited and reports about the events going on in the area begin to conflict from the very start. (News)
“The bodies of three miners were recovered near the mouth of Mine No. 6 at 12 o’clock.” (CDT 12.6.07 pg. 1)
“Up to noon four bodies had been recovered. These were found at the entrance of the mine.” (CDT 12.6.07 pg. 1)
Inside #6:
“Besides the broken cars that clogged the heading much of the brattice work was demolished and this too added to the delay in bringing bodies out. Many of the brattices were constructed of brick and were supposed to be permanent, thought to be sufficiently strong to withstand any concussion that might arise from an explosion; but these went down and were but a mass of debris.” (FWV 12.7.07 pg. 1 – noon)
The rescue crew headed by Supt. Gaskill continue exploring beyond the shanty at the foot of #6. They find another body, one they assume must belong to the car coupler, Bill Sloane, based on its location. There’s just one little problem; unknown to everyone else, Bill Sloane is at home sick in bed. Fred Shaver will later tell L.M. Davis of the Fairmont West Virginian about the four men he recognized, including Bill, and all four names will be published as the first identified dead. (News)
Not far beyond here, the crew encounters more afterdamp and are forced to turn back until proper ventilation is restored to these areas. They do not take any of the discovered victims with them. (Inquiry)
Outside #8:
Someone coming across #8 trestle finds Joe Newton among the debris “more dead than alive”, gets him up, and rushes him over to the interurban car.
~12:30 pm
Outside #6:
Pat McDonald is found unconscious on the #6 trestle walkway covered with severe burns and lacerations all over his face and torso. The interurban car carrying Joe Newton is stopped just above #6. Pat McDonald is quickly placed aboard and the two are rushed to the Miner’s Hospital in Fairmont.
On the east side of Monongah:
#6 tipple foreman E.P. Knight finds a piece of the coupling pin that broke away from the train of cars and puts it in his pocket.
In Monongah:
“The first dispatches told of women who tore their hair, or clawed their nails into the flesh of their cheeks or threatened to throw their babies into the river. The wife of the Presbyterian minister told me that she saw these things. Such a woman had run back along the railroad tracks tearing at her face and hair. They quieted her. 3 sons, 3 brothers, and a husband—all were in the mines she said.” (Kellogg)
“The American miners of the town have been placed in charge of the relief work but the Italians and other foreigners are working under them most faithfully.” (ES 12.7.07 pg. 2)
“Monongah…has a population…, most of whom are foreigners although there is a larger proportion of American miners in this district than in most of the other bituminous fields. Until about ten years ago the mines were operated almost exclusively by Americans, but during a general strike of Miners in the Pennsylvania and Ohio fields many of these West Virginia miners went out in sympathy to prevent the filling of contracts at lake ports and elsewhere with West Virginia coal by the companies in Ohio and West Virginia against which the strike was directed. At that time the mine owners brought a large number of foreigners into the field to take the places of the strikers and ever since the foreigners have been displacing Americans until they are now the majority.” (ES 12.7.07 pg. 2)
In the town of Monongah:
“The banks and hills surrounding the mine are literally crowded with anxious people, many women and children who are weeping and crying hysterically for love of their fathers, husbands and brothers known to be entombed. The foreign women are indeed to be pitied for their great sorrow and their way of expressing it by tearing their hair, scratching their faces with their finger nails until the blood runs down their cheeks. Several were witnessed in this condition leading their little children around through the mud and cold not noticing either in face or their great sorrow.” (FWV 12.6.07 pg. 1)
Company officials Frank Haas and J.J. Burrett arrive from Fairmont as well as the representative of the Italian consulate, G.D. Caldara, who “was doing much to pacify the women of his country, who were most loudly giving vent to their terrible feelings.” (FWV 12.6.07 pg. 1)
Over a dozen physicians are now on the scene: Dr. D.P. Fitch, Dr. John R. Cook, Dr. Brownfield, Dr. Jesse A Jamison, Dr. W.C. Jamison, Dr. Graham, Dr. Reidy, Dr. Bowcock, Dr. Durrett (mine physician of the New England mines), Dr. Howard, Dr. Carr, Dr. L.N. Yost, Dr. Sands, Dr. Nutter, and Dr. Hal Hall accompanied by nurses from the various hospitals in Fairmont. They begin to establish an emergency hospital in the blacksmith shop of #6. They have also arranged for the interurban trolleys and railroad companies to transport survivors to the Fairmont hospitals once they are tended and stabilized at the make-shift ER in the blacksmith shop (FWV 12.6.07 pg. 1) (Nurses on Front Lines)
“Medical men who came on the scene after…were: Dr. F.W. Hill, B.F. Bone of Fairmont, Drs. Culp and Thrash of Farmington, Dr. Falconer of Everson and Dr. Alkire of Chiefton.” (FWV 12.7.07. pg. 1 – noon)
Marion County Coroner E.S. Amos also arrives in Monongah.
Dr. Durrett of the New England mines tells a reporter with the Fairmont West Virginian that there is little hope for the men trapped in both mines; “He says that the force of the explosion traveled with the air courses and only those men who were in this air course were killed by the explosion or from the debris thrown in its wake.” (FWV 12.6.07 pg. 1)
Outside #6:
Carpenters are putting the last support boards along the roof of the approach which connects the mine shaft to the fan. It is just a temporary fix, but it is good enough to warrant restarting the fan.
In Washington D.C.:
Governor Dawson, A.B. Fleming, and a few other state/company officials receive word about the disaster. Gov. Dawson immediately telephones certain state officials while former Gov. Fleming immediately leaves D.C. for Monongah after sending word ahead to the sheriff to “preserve order”. (News, McAteer)
11:05 am
Outside #6:
35 minutes after the explosion, #6 fan is restored and started. However, the gage only rises “a little above 2” which is lower than prior to the explosion. This means that air is still not able to properly circulate through #6 because the partition which once divided the two mines has been destroyed by the explosion, allowing air to flow into #6 from #8. This needs to be a closed system in order to properly circulate breathable air and it will be impossible to close this system without getting to one of the deepest parts of the two mines. (Inquiry)
11:30 am
Outside #6:
“The rescue was started in mine No 6 about 11:30 after the fan was again put in running order and the rescue work is being vigorously pushed by Mr. J.C. Gaskill and other mine officials.” (FWV 12.6.07 pg. 1)
“As soon as the men could be organized for a plan of action forty rescuers began the work.” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)
Three teams were organized: one headed by #6 foreman Charlie Dean, another by Supt. Brennon of #8, and the other by Supt. J.C. Gaskill.
The first party to enter #6 was “composed of Messrs. D.C. Dean,—Toothman, — Nichols, —Graham, —Clayton, J.G. Smith, —Clayton, … these men, armed with all the available necessary tools and safety lamps marched undaunted back into the scene of carnage…” This is an excellent choice crew. Being outside foreman of #6 mine, Charlie Dean still had plenty occasions when he had to go inside #6. He is the most ideal person available at the time to head the first relief crew and give instruction about what is and isn’t right about the conditions inside of #6 and what needs to be done to correct those conditions in order to get relief efforts underway. (FWV 12.6.07 pg. 1) (Inquiry) (News)
Dean and his crew have a primary goal—determine how far rescuers can get into the mine safely and if any victims can be reached. It is presumed that Dean and his crew are aware of the runaway trip which should most certainly be a pile of wreckage somewhere along the main shaft. Hopefully, they can reach this point and determine if the wreck and/or the explosion have caused any blockages of potential exits before they personally encounter any deadly gasses. (Inquiry, News)
~11:33-11:35 am
Inside #6
As these men steadily work their way down the #6 shaft portal, a second party of ten men headed by West Fairmont mine Supt. John Brannon prepare themselves for the decent. They enter #6, following along and continuing to clean the path already partially cleared by Charlie Dean’s crew. Naturally, Dean and his crew only cleared what was necessary for them to pass so they can survey conditions and try to reach survivors as quickly as possible. As these rescuers expect to find survivors inside of the mine, they must also make as clear and safe a path through and out of the mine as they can while still constantly pushing forward, knowing that more crews will be following to pick up where they left off. (Inquiry, News)
~11:38-11:40 am
Supt. John Brannon and his team catch up with Charlie Dean and his crew near B face entry, where the slope of the portal changes to a more gradual angle. It is here, at B face, that several other track lines which branch out to the rest of the inner workings of the mine intersect with the main shaft line. At this spot they discover one of their worst fears to be confirmed: the only true way in and out of #6, the main shaft line just before B face, is entirely blocked with wrecked coal cars and debris at the worst possible point, literally entombing every miner—dead or alive—inside with no chance of escape. (Inquiry)
Dean’s crew has already begun to tear away what debris they can to create at least enough space for one man to cross the wreckage. Charlie Price, a member of Supt. Brannon’s crew, also begins working on clearing a way through the debris. After only a few more minutes, they successfully break through near the top left of the pile. Charlie Price is the first to take in the air coming out from the enclosed workings behind the debris pile. In a matter of moments, he collapses. (Inquiry, News)
~11:45-11:50 am
Outside #6
Gen. Supt. J.C. Gaskill has assembled his own relief crew on the surface and they are preparing to enter #6 when Supt. Brennon’s crew resurfaces from the mine shaft. A few of the rescuers are carrying Charlie Price. He was overcome by the fire damp which escaped from the inner workings. At this, both crews fled #6 to avoid the same fate. Charlie is in serious condition and taken to the make-shift hospital in the #6 blacksmith shop which is still being set up by the physicians and nurses which have since arrived on the scene. (Inquiry, News)
Inside #6
“When the Brennon forces returned C.E. Gaskill headed another relief party, which continued the work.” (WH 12.7.07 pg. 1)*
Despite the knowledge that toxic gases have been released, Gaskill and his team consisting of mine foreman PJ McGraw, #6 fire boss Lester Trader, and an extended crew of carpenters like Fred Shaver press back into #6. They continue to clear away debris along the main shaft until they reach the wreckage pile by B Face. Gaskill notes that the wreckage is, “piled up pretty bad—a lot of cars piled up just like any wrecked trip…crossways and piled up generally.” However, it was “not so bad but we could pass…by climbing over…”. (Inquiry)
~11:50 am-12:00 pm
Outside #6
A key official of the Fairmont Coal Company, Supervisor and Chief Mine Inspector David Victor arrives in Monongah from the New England mines in Fairmont and immediately goes inside #6. He is aware that other crews of men are already working, including John Smith from Charlie Dean’s crew and Supt. Gaskill & crew, though he is not sure how much farther ahead they are at this point. (Inquiry, Victor)
Inside #6
“All of the headings leading off from the main entry are being cut off by canvas and barricaded as fast as they are reached by the relief workers, so that the inner most workings of the mine may be given the benefit of the ventilating system…” (ES 12.7.07 pg. 2)
Beyond the wreckage:
“The rescuing parties penetrated mine No 6 about 3500 feet before they came upon the first of the dead. A majority of the corpses will be found about a mile further back.” (LAH 12.8.07 pg. 1) (WED 12.7.07 pg. 1)
Supt. Gaskill and his team have successfully crossed over the wreckage pile and are now continuing along the main track into #6. At the very base of the slope, where the more gradual angle of the slope finally levels out to match the rest of the working areas, the team comes across a small shanty. Inside they find 3 men—all are dead. (Inquiry, News, McAteer)
The first is 23-year-old husband, father, and motorman Fred Cooper. He is lying on the ground, on his back, his head near the shanty door, his mouth wide open.
Another, 21-year-old brakeman Laurence “Larney” Hindman, is also on the floor lying face down with his feet toward the shanty door, the opposite direction as Fred.
The last man is still sitting upright on a bench, holding his opened dinner bucket between his legs, though his head and arms are drooped down. Lester Trader steps into the shanty and lightly pushes his head back to see the face. Coffee dribbles out of the lifeless mouth and Trader can tell it is 36-year-old driver John Herman.
This rescue crew of Gaskill, Trader, McGraw, Fred Shaver and others will not linger at the shanty long—their primary goal is to find survivors—though they do take a few solemn moments to examine and observe that not one of these men shows a single sign of traumatic impact to their bodies and yet their positions, paired with John Herman’s mouthful of unswallowed coffee, indicate an instantaneous death for them all. (Inquiry)
At the wreckage site:
David Victor makes it to the general area known as the ‘foot’ of the slope and sees the “badly wrecked” trip on the main track. He counts 14 loaded cars wrecked on the middle track but, “The fellow who had been cleaning up the cars told me that he had taken two off the trip that had come back down the slope.” As David Victor begins to examine the area “to a certain extent”, he notes that there is another trip with a motor about 20 feet away “standing on the side track of about the same number of cars, 2 or 3 of the first cars had been wrecked…”, behind that was another trip of coal cars. (Inquiry, Victor)
One of the first concerns relating to the cause of the explosion circles around the new addition of electricity and the relatively recent introduction of live, uninsulated wires inside the mines. Victor examines for any evidence of a short circuit in these wires which could have sparked a fire or explosion, but he finds that the wires are surprisingly still intact, hanging along the roof of the mine and no such evidence these wires fusing or burning at the foot of the slope or on any wires, the mine roof, or walls. He decides to move on. (News, Inquiry)
“I remember climbing over the wrecked cars but had plenty of room to go over. I remember the wrecked trip happened right on the switch where there were 3 entries opened up. The wreck had happened in the middle entry and that entry was closed. The entry to the left was not closed. I remember climbing over the empty cars in order to get through to build brattices.” (Inquiry)
Not far beyond the wrecked pile, Victor sees a coal car laying “crossways of the track” and just beyond that, the shanty at the bottom of #6 slope. He does not go in nor does he take any time to examine the 3 dead men other than to acknowledge their positions. (Inquiry)
The Monongah Disaster 