Early Afternoon
In Monongah:
“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)
More on How Death Gloated!
The Monongah Disaster 