Pittsburg – The Monongah Disaster

Saturday, December 7, 1907, News Hour, 6:00 pm

“Today it seemed like a continual procession of men carrying out corpses. The bringing up of each mangled form would be followed by a rush from women and men around the mines looking for their dead ones.” (TEP 12.7.07 pg. 1)

~6:00 pm

Monongah-Mine-Disaster-Carloads-of-Coffins-Ptt-Prs-Dec-7-1907 — PP 12.7.07 pg 1

“All day long today little groups of men brought dead bodies from the mines…” (TEP 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“Five additional bodies were taken out of the mine at 6 o’clock tonight, making twenty up to date.” (WH 12.8.07 pg. 1)

“The rescuers say they have about seventy others in sight, which they will bring out within the next few hours. All of these are in No. 6 and so far, nothing has been done toward recovering the dead in No. 8, where the gases are strongest.” (WH 12.8.07 pg. 1)

“The fumes from the explosion and decomposition of bodies has greatly hampered the work.” (WT 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“…the shafts and tunnels are still filled with smoke and gas.” (WT 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“Although there are great crowds about the mine entrance there are innumerable women and children crouching in modest homes awaiting what they know must come—the blackened remains of a husband, of a father, of a brother.” (WT 12.7.07 pg. 1)

Governor Dawson has arrived in Charleston from Washington D.C. (FWV 12.7.07 – pg.1)

Newspapers

The Ladies’ Auxiliary of Christ Protestant Episcopal Church is the first social organization in city to offer financial aid. They announce that they will be giving proceeds from their musical planned for Dec. 11 to the Monongah relief aid. (McAteer)

The paper also informs the Fairmont populace of just a few miners who regularly traveled from Clarksburg to work in the mines.

The Clarksburg Daily Telegram startles the public with its evening headline:

“President C.W. Watson in a brief interview stated that he had nothing definite to give out as to the cause, but from the small amount of smoke, he judged it was caused by dust, which ignited from a small pocket of gas, or a blown out shot.” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“Mr. Watson explained that the two mines were connected for the purpose of giving more openings.” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“General Manager Lee Malone of the Fairmont Coal Company in an interview at the scene of the horror, given to the Telegram representative, stated that there were 450 men in the mine at the time of the explosions and that he was of the firm belief that all were dead.” “He pointed out that there was nothing particularly strange about there being an explosion in both mines at once, one immediately after the other, as the two mines are on the same side of the river instead of opposite side, as first reported,…” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)

They report that on the 6th: “George Bice, a member of the rescue party at mine No 8 was overcome by the afterdamp, brought to the surface unconscious and died shortly afterward.” And that, “A man named Stuart of the rescue party was also overcome by the afterdamp. He was brought above unconscious but soon revived and will doubtless recover.” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)

Luckily, the George Bice did not die. In fact, he may have never been overcome with gas at all. There were, however, 3 men among the rescue crews who will die in the process, more than likely from inhaling too many toxic fumes: John Neary, and brothers Maurice and Richard Beedle.

When it comes to publishing the names of the dead, the Telegram focuses entirely on the names of known Americans.

The D.C. Evening Star publishes a list of just the West Virginia Mine Disasters of 1907.

12.7.07 - pg 1 - Monongah 2 — ES 12.7.07 pg 1

The Rock Island Argus of Illinois published a list of all mining disasters in 1907:

In Iowa, the Evening Times Republican informs their readers that:

12.7.07 - pg 7 - Brothers in mines — ETR 12.7.07 pg. 7

The Times Dispatch in Virginia publishes a (very) rough map of where Monongah lies in the state:

12.7.07 - pg 2 - Monongah cont. 4 — TD 12.7.07 pg. 2

The Cumberland Evening Times is already trying to clear up confusion and rumors:

“The terrible mine disaster at Fairmont, W.Va., caused unusual excitement up along the George’s Creek region, due to the fact that a number of miners in that section had sought employment in the West Virginia territory.” (CET 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“At this writing, however, but one miner from this county is known to have been killed by the explosion. He was John Herman, who resided at Eckhart until about two years ago, when he removed to Fairmont, and was employed in mine No. 8 when the explosion occurred.” (CET 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“A sister of the unfortunate man, living at Eckhart, was notified by wire yesterday afternoon that her brother had been killed and last evening three other brothers, John, Jacob and Frank Herman, all of whom live at Eckhart, went to Fairmont to recover the body.” (CET 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“The deceased was 37 years of age, and leaves a wife and one child.” (CET 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“Joseph Milkowsy, another miner formerly residing at Eckhart, is also employed at one of the mines at Fairmont, but whether he was one of the victims of the terrible disaster could not be learned.” (CET 12.7.07 pg. 1)

They also report that, “Messrs. Philip Jenkins, Sr., Philip Jenkins, Jr., Edward Jenkins, E.T. Thomas, William Hensell, Alex Crawford, and Andrew Crawford, left today for Fairmont, W.Va., to assist in the work of rescuing the miners who were killed in the mine disaster at Fairmont yesterday.” (CET 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“The above relief corps will remain at the scene of the horrible calamity until the last victim has been taken out of the mines.” (CET 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“This action on the part of the Frostburg contingent is purely for sympathy’s sake.” (CET 12.7.07 pg. 1)

Like several other papers, The Buffalo Enquirer of New York is not only reporting that, at noon, workers are still battling the early morning fire from #8, they are already telling their populace, “Yesterday the company officials endeavored to keep the number of men in the ill-fated mine down as much as possible.” (TBE 12.7.07 pg. 1)

The Evening Star in Washington D.C. reports:

“It is thought that by tonight the full extent of the horror will be known, and it is feared the knowledge of this will precipitate even more pitiful scenes than those of today, with hysteria in all of its devious forms rampant among the populace. Precautions have already been taken to prevent these harrowing manifestations of grief, but there is little hope that they will avail.” (ES 12.7.07 pg. 1 – 2)

C.W. Watson, president of the Consolidation Coal Company, dictated the following statement to the Associated Press:

“The accident is deplorable from any standpoint. It was entirely unexpected. As yet we do not know the exact cause of the explosion.

“It might have resulted from a blown out shot igniting a pocket of gas. About 50 per cent of the mine accidents of the country are caused in this manner. It is probable the present one resulted from the same cause. We will conduct a rigid investigation. Investigations, however, will not benefit the dead miners. Their families will be looked after. The company will bury all the dead. Every facility within the power of the company is being extended to all newspapermen in order that the general public may be accurately informed as to the disaster. We have nothing to conceal and are pleased to give whatever information we can.” (ES 12.7.07 pg. 2)

~6:30 pm

In Monongah:

“Up to 6:30 o’clock tonight twenty-two bodies had been brought to the surface from mines Nos. 6 and 8… Over 100 bodies have been found.” (ODB 12.8.07 pg. 1)

“President C.W. Watson of the mining company in a statement to the Associated Press today said every possible investigation would be made of the disaster to ascertain its cause and fix responsibility.” (ODB 12.8.07 pg. 1)

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

At the morgue:

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

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

At the mines:

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

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

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

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

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

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

~1:00 pm

At the mines:

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

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

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

In Monongah:

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

~1:30 pm

Clarksburg Daily Telegram puts out a special, extra edition:

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

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

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

~2:00 -2:30 pm

Inside #6:

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

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

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

At some point during the afternoon,

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

At the mines:

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

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

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

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

At the morgue:

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

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

In Monongah:

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

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

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

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

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

At the mines:

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

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

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

At #8:

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

In Charleston, WV:

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

At #6:

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

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

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

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

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

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

~4:00 pm

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

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

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

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

~5:00 pm

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

Saturday, December 7, 1907, Midday

In Pennsylvania:

12.7.07 - pg 1 - Naomi — CET 12.7.07 pg 1

In Baltimore:

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

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

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

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

Wheelwright-findagrave — J.H. Wheelwright

In Clarksburg:

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

Noon

In Monongah:

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

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

In Fairmont:

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

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

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

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

In Monongah:

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

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

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

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

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

In Fairmont:

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

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

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

In Monongah:

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

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

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