Tag: Presbyterian

“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.

“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)

~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)

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