“Three hundred and twenty bodies have been recovered. Of these 71 were American, 11 Negroes, 146 Italians, 54 Slavs, 31 Poles, 5 Greeks and 2 Bulgarians.” (TC 12.15.07 pg. 3)
During the night:
Rescue crews are shifted out and a new clean-up crew of 100 men arrives to remove roof falls in order to recover more bodies. (McAteer) (Haas) (News)
~4:00 am
*In Littleton, WV:
“As a Cameron helper in charge of Pete Fleming, engineer, and George Keifer, fireman, was coming in on the siding the engine started to run away.” (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 5)
Fleming reversed the engine and tried to stop it but he and Keifer had to jump to save themselves. Fleming broke one leg below the knee and his face is cut and bruised by falling stones. “He was taken to Regers’ Hospital” (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 5)
“The engine struck the cars on the siding with great force then started backward and before it could be overtaken had gained the main track and was running at a rapid rate. The telegraph operator at Burton was called but the engine passed that place in its mad fight, which is six miles distance, in six minutes from the time it started. The operator not understanding the order gave it a ‘white light’ not realizing his mistake until he saw it flash by unoccupied. The operator at Glover’s Gap was called and arrangements made to derail the engine at that place.” (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 5)
“The track was cleared and the engine getting out of steam stopped of its own accord at Shey’s Tunnel, one mile east of Glover’s Gap.” (FWV 12.14.07 pg. 5)
~6:00 am
The First Regiment Band takes the trolley car to Clarksburg to attend the funeral services of John M McGraw. (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 5)
The Fairmont West Virginian reports the weather as: rain or snow tonight; warmer
~8:00 am
The remains of Harry Seese, a son of Samuel Seese, a victim of the Monongah mine disaster, is brought to Shinnston on the 8 o’clock train and buried in the Masonic cemetery. “His many friends and relatives here have the sympathy of the entire community.” (CDT 12.14.07 pg. 5)
During the Morning
In Pennsylvania:
FWV 12.13.07 pg 1
In Fairmont:
Frank M Murphy, proprietor of the Bijou Theatre, brings the cash box containing the entire receipts of the Bijou Theatre for Thursday, securely locked, into the offices of the Fairmont West Virginian. When opened it contained sum of $32.03 all of which he very generously contributes to the Monongah Relief Fund. (FWV 12.13.07 pg. 1)
Justice/Coroner Amos fills out 11 insurance claims over the course of the morning. (FWV 12.13.07 pg. 1)
In Monongah:
“Twenty funerals were held here this morning, the bodies being buried in the potter’s field set aside for the purpose.” (WT 12.13.07 pg. 8)
C.W. Watson is asked for a statement. He said that there was nothing new in the situation and that there had been a great deal said about the officials and the coal company and about the state representatives but little had been said about those whom he thought were the real heroes in the calamity, the men who made up the searching parties. (FWV 12.13.07 pg. 1)
“These men came in from many places in the state and volunteered their services without thinking of getting their names in print. They did not stop to inquire nor did they seem to care whether their names were on the payroll or not. The one thing that they were bent on was to get the entombed men out and no sacrifices seemed too great for these men to make. There were the real heroes, the burden bearers.” (FWV 12.13.07 pg. 1)
Mr. Watson said that the rumor this morning that the mines were on fire proved to be untrue when the workers had made a thorough investigation of the matter. (FWV 12.13.07 pg. 1)
“It was found that some of the afterdamp coming in contact with the good air caused a peculiar odor and that was the foundation for the report that the mines were on fire. Worked stopped for a while because it was the workers who did the investigation.” (FWV 12.13.07 pg. 1)
~9:30 am
In Clarksburg:
“Four funerals were held at the Church of the Immaculate Conception Friday morning, three of them for victims of the Monongah disaster.” (CDT 12.13.07 pg. 1)
“The first funeral was that of John T. McGraw, pitt boss at Monongah mine No. 8, whose body was recovered from the mine early Thursday morning. The body arrived in Clarksburg from Monongah on a Baltimore & Ohio train and was taken to the church where at 9:30 o’clock funeral services were held followed by the burial in Holy Cross cemetery. A large number of friends and relatives, accompanied the body here and the First Regiment band of Fairmont, of which the dead man was a member, also came along.” (CDT 12.13.07 pg. 1)
~10:00 am
In Clarksburg:
Timothy Lyden’s body is taken from his mother’s home on Jackson Street “to the Catholic church where funeral services will be held and interment will be in Holy Cross cemetery.” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 4)
“Fire which started in the No 8 mine last night is entirely out today and an unusually large force of men put to work at 10 o’clock.” (WT 12.13.07 pg. 8)
“Two forces of men are at work clearing up the falls where it is thought dead miners may be entombed. The number in each force is 45 and they are working 8-hour shifts. The men are only making a search for the miners. Mine Inspector J.W. Paul gave orders that the mines should not be disturbed except where it was necessary to get a body…the debris is still very loose and the men can be located by the odor. General Lee. L. Malone, who has been through the mines, gave it as his opinion that there are not more than four or five more bodies to be found.” (FWV 12.13.07 pg. 1)
Deodorizing and disinfecting squads went ahead of recovery teams and work just as they have for the days prior. As soon as a body is located it is disinfected with a solution of carbolic acid (prescribed by physicians in charge) and properly marked with all available information for identification. All carcasses of horses are treated with either a very strong solution of carbolic acid or with a half barrel of slacked lime on top of which chloride of lime was sprinkled. (McAteer) (Haas)
~10:30 am
In Clarksburg at the Church of the Immaculate Conception:
“The next funeral was a double one and was for Timothy Lyden and Henry Martin, also victims of the awful Monongah disaster. Lyden’s body was taken from the home of his mother, Ellen Lyden, on Jackson street to the church and Martin’s body was brought here on the interurban trolley arriving at 9:30 o’clock and taken to the church. At 10:30 o’clock services were held over both bodies, attended by a large number of sorrowing friends and the interment followed in Holy Cross cemetery.” (CDT 12.13.07 pg. 1)
~11:30 am
In Clarksburg at the Church of the Immaculate Conception:
The 4th funeral is that of “Thomas Flynn, who died at his home on Flynn street Wednesday afternoon of consumption, took place at the church at 11:30 o’clock and was also largely attended by sorrowing friends. The burial was in Holy Cross cemetery.” (CDT 12.13.07 pg. 1)
*Author’s Note: The event of the runaway car at 4 am in Littleton is not directly related to Monongah, other than giving an impression of how fast runaway rail cars can manage to go all on their own; 6 miles in 6 minutes is…impressive. But, this author mostly included it because it is just a really neat and kind-of funny story (in hindsight, of course) which always manages to cheer me up at this point of the Timeline so I felt I should go ahead and keep it in for those reasons.
“This is the day of ‘little mothers’ in Monongah. The little girls tend the babies, wait on the sick and get what bits of food there are.” (NCH 12.10.07 pg. 1)
~7:30 am
The Fairmont West Virginian predicts even more rain for today and tonight, followed by snow and slightly cooler weather (12.10.07 pg. 1)
“It has been raining here steadily since last evening and wretched conditions prevail throughout this section today.” (WED 12.10.07 pg. 1) (ES 12.10.07 pg. 1)
At the mines:
“The stench from decomposed bodies in the mines is becoming almost unbearable to rescuers. The stench is made worse because thirty-six horses were also killed in the mines.” (GWA 12.12.07 pg. 7)
“Many rescuers have become sick. One hundred and fifty miners from the mines in George Creek district have been summoned here to assist in the rescue work.” (GWA 12.12.07 pg. 7)
“The health officers fear an epidemic of fever, due to the decaying bodies of the men and the animals caught in the mine, and have prepared to enforce heroic measures if it becomes necessary. Quicklime will be taken into the mine and scattered over the bodies if conditions become much worse.” (ES 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“The crowds of idlers who surged about the pit entrances…have been dwindling ever since the rainstorm last night…” (AR pg. 1) (LAH 12.11.07 pg. 2) (SFC 12.11.07 pg. 1)
“The mud at the opening of the mines is several inches deep and has been trodden by the great crowds into a perfect quagmire, through which the men with the stretchers have to carry the dead. In conveying one of the recovered bodies down to the railroad tracks this morning a stretcher bearer slipped and the inanimate burden, which was wrapped in a blanket, was thrown into the mud. The sight of it gave the crowd a convulsion.” (RP 12.10.07 pg. 1)
At the morgues:
“Bodies brought from mines Nos 6 and 8 …during last night carried the list of victims beyond the hundred mark, and others are being carried into the morgue in intervals.” (WED 12.10.07 pg. 1)
2 men taken out this morning had some money on them: #101 – Salvadore Lobbs had $150 in a belt strapped around his leg and #110 – Andy Morris had $23.19 in his pocket-book. This brings the total amount of money found on the miners to $200.19. Money is in the hands of the coroner as are all other things that are found. (FWV 12.10.07 pg. 1)
In Fairmont:
J.E. Sands, cashier of First National Bank, receives a check for $500.00 from the City Bank of Wheeling and a check for $100.00 from the Second National Bank of Cumberland, MD and $100 through Mr. Zack Robertson from a friend in Wheeling. (FWV 12.10.07 pg. 1)
In Grafton:
Floyd Parsons “came up from Fairmont” and gives the Grafton Republican newspaper his statement “concerning the horror…”. Floyd was employed as chief engineer in the mines that exploded at Rush Run some months ago and in which he narrowly escaped death. Later he entered into special examinations of mine disasters for the journal he now represents. (FWV 12.10.07 pg. 2)
~8:00 am
“Carrying out orders from officials of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, a force of between forty and fifty trackmen that have been working on the railroad between this city and Parkersburg, left Clarksburg Tuesday morning on the interurban trolley line for Monongah to assist in digging graves for the dead that are taken from Monongah mines Nos 6 and 8. The men took picks, shovels and other tools with them and as soon as they arrived at Monongah they proceeded to the cemeteries and began work digging graves. The men were called to this city from various points along the railroad between Parkersburg and this city where they had been working.” (CDT 12.10.07 pg. 1)
In Monongah:
Milroy “Toy” Watkins is taken from Monongah to Montana for burial. The brother of Will Watkins, “…hearing that his brother was in No 6 mine went to work to help find him and he did not give up until he had found him and recognized him by a pair of black patent leather shoes and a black sateen shirt.” (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 2)
The Marion County Board of Health issues an order to advance the burial procedures. Viewing and ID opportunities for families and friends are limited to 4 hours maximum, no matter the condition of the body. The new accelerated ID and burial process cause many burials to occur immediately, without funeral masses. Catholic parishes hold whatever services they can at graveyards. (McAteer)
~9:00 am
On the far east side of Fairmont:
“Impressive were the services conducted by Rev. Hess” for Toy Watkins which takes place at the United Brethren church at Montana. He was the son of Mr. Willis Watkins and was a grandson of Mr. and Mrs. John Freeman, “an aged and respected couple residing at Montana and was related to many people living in and around Hoult and Montana.” Toy is survived by “4 brothers and 2 sisters; his mother having died about one year ago.” He is also survived by wife, Gettie Hyson Watkins, of Simpson, “who is very poorly in Cook Hospital, she being almost prostrated by the awful shock and untimely end of her husband.” (FWV 12.11.07 pg. 2)
In Monongah:
“Shock and grief have already destroyed many of the little unborn lives. Many women are so distraught with suffering that they forget all about their children.” (NCH 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“Funeral after funeral is being held at the churches in Monongah. The funeral cars are on the move most of the time. The unknown dead are being buried in the potter’s field near the Polish Catholic church.” (FWV 12.10.07 pg. 1)
Over 70 bodies are interred throughout the day. Some of them get funerals at the church, particularly those who could be preserved, but due to the condition of so many of the bodies brought out in the past hours, more frequently they are simply taken to one of the cemeteries. If identified, a small prayer is said; if not they are just buried. (McAteer) (news)
“The relief work is well under way and will soon be systemized. There is now plenty of food but there is urgent need of clothing in many families. Cash funds are being raised in many places and installments have already been forwarded from some points. The coal companies of this district have contributed $20,000 cash.” (WED 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“Thirty-seven funerals were held Monday and a number today. One body was sent to the cemetery followed by one lone woman, the widow, who had stood for days at the mines waiting for it.” (GWA 12.12.07 pg. 7)
At the mines:
“Every day since the explosion, hands, legs and arms have been removed. The stench from the decomposed bodies in the mines is becoming almost unbearable. This is one of the greatest difficulties which the rescuers have to overcome.” (RP 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“Up to nine o’clock this morning one hundred and one bodies have been removed from the Monongah mines, thirty-one having been taken out since midnight.” (CET 12.10.07 pg. 1)
~10:00 am
In Clarksburg:
“Charles McKane, aged 28 years, one of the Monongah mine victims, was buried in Holy Cross cemetery here at 10 ‘clock Tuesday forenoon. McKain’s body was found in one of the rooms of No. 8 mine and was taken from the mine shortly after midnight. With others it was conveyed to the morgue at Monongah and prepared for burial. It was then sent to his late home in that town arriving there at 2:30 o’clock, and Tuesday morning it was brought up on the interurban and buried. Relatives and friends accompanied the body. Mr. McKain’s body was not mutilated. It is evident he smothered to death. He leaves a wife and one child.” (CDT 12.10.07 pg. 3)
“Mayor L.C. Crile announced Tuesday morning that all moneys received at the council chamber in response to his proclamation calling for donations for the relief of the Monongah mine suffered, would be turned over to the Telegram relief fund, and due credit will be given to each donor. The donations will be published in the Telegram daily. A list of all the donors who leave supplies, provisions, clothing, etc., at the mayor’s office for the Monongah mine sufferers will be published each evening in the Telegram also. Donations are coming in freely and they should continue so for there are many unfortunate women and children left in destitute circumstances by the awful disaster.” (CDT 12.10.07 pg. 1)
In Monongah:
“Quite a number of Bridgeport people today went to the scene of the great mine disaster at Monongah. Some went for the mere sake of seeing, while others went with the hope of getting tidings from relatives and friends who were employed at the ill-fated mines.” (CDT 12.10.07 pg. 7)
“There is no change in the demeanor of the people of the stricken town except that the gloom of sadness and sorrow deepens all the time. Funeral after funeral was held today, mostly at the Catholic cemeteries, where scenes are most sad. After loved ones have been identified at the morgue and prepared for burial, hundreds of women and children gather at the cemeteries on the hill instead of going to the churches and await the arrival of the dead.” (CDT 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“Women were found today weak from pain, who are also suffering from lack of proper nourishment. Some of the Fairmont women have depleted their own stores of winter supply food in relieving the distress.” (RP 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“Ever since the explosion the most heroic action has been displayed on all sides by the women who despite their great stress and suffering, clung to their children. From the start they realized that the little tots were to becomes a serious burden, but on all sides could be heard the same sentiment, they would rather die than give up their children.” (CET 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“Some of the widows have no relations in America, for many came to Monongah with their husbands from the old country. Others came as sweethearts, years ago, after the lovers had made enough money to send for them. And while their married lives began here, they apparently prefer, in their distress, the old homes far away.” (CET 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“There are not many of the women who can now find any charms about Monongah, and although foreigners, most of them want to return to their native country, feeling that the few short years of the country of liberty has brought them nothing but grief and suffering.” (CET 12.10.07 pg. 1)
Special correspondent for the United Press, Dorothy Dale, and her photographer are approached by “the brightest Italian girl in the settlement”, Faustina Davia (last name reported as “Daria”).
Faustina Davia
Faustina is the oldest child and only daughter of Victor and Catherina Davia (DaVia). Victor was a “day man” working in #6 at the time of the explosion and was recorded as the 15th body recovered from the mines and to go through the morgue. He was identified by George Gibbons at the Italian Catholic church in Monongah sometime on Monday, though it is generally known that none of the family got to actually view and confirm that the body which was buried in Row A Grave 9 of the Italian Catholic cemetery contained Victor’s actual remains. (Tropea) (News) (McAteer) (Loss) (Amos)
“’Please you get something for me, I can do.’ A little hand touched my arm. A curl-framed face of a girl of 10 looked into my face. ‘You know mans all dead. Boys all dead. Only girls left to work.’ Do you know the half apologetic half appealing look of the trembling old man who shoved out of his life’s track by younger men—the man who begs you to buy matches or shoestrings? Well, that was the expression in the old young eyes of little ten-year-old Faustina Daria. Faustina was in the sixth grade the day before the explosion. That is ages ago to her.” (NCH 12.10.07 pg. 1)
At the mines:
“With 112 bodies on the surface at 10 o’clock today, 25 more ready to be brought out of Mine No 6 and 4 awaiting removal from Mine No 8. It was expected that the total number of bodies recovered from the wrecked mines by noon would be 140.” (CDT 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“The rescuers are working the right side of mine No. 8, where, it is thought, a majority of the bodies yet in the mine will be found.” (ES 12.10.07 pg. 1) (RIA 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“The rescue work is being pushed and before night it is expected that most of the bodies will have been taken out.” (WED 12.10.07 pg. 1) (ES 12.10.07 pg. 1)
~11:00 am
In East Monongah:
The General Relief Committee holds a meeting at the First National bank, which is currently operating as the primary morgue, and passes an order that the receipts and disbursements of the committee be published in the Fairmont papers from day to day. (McAteer)
Bishop Donahue of Wheeling and Judge Mason are added to the General Relief Committee. (FWV 12.10.07 pg. 1)
Donahue has “visited many of the homes of miners and found so many children made orphans by the disaster that he immediately took up the work of providing homes for them. He will arrange to have as many as can be accommodated sent to the orphanages maintained by the church at Huntington and Wheeling.” (WED 12.10.07 pg. 1)
In West Monongah:
Faustina Davia has taken Dorothy Dale and her photographer to her family’s three-room house on Walnut Avenue.
“‘See my Ma, Resta, Kipling, Georda and Ojgenia to work for,’ as she pointed at the group on the steps. ‘My pa make $2 a day,’ she explained. ‘And wasn’t it awful; three days he was home with a hurt on his back, and Friday he went in again and—and—’. But even the brave lips of strong hearted women of ten sometimes give way. The little figure crouched against the wall and quivered with sobs. ‘You know we paid $5 rent and had lard and cheese and bologna,’ she said with pride. The child spoke as rich people spoke of automobiles and theatre parties. And there was little Faustinas in almost every house in Monongah.” (NCH 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“I tell you there is nothing that makes one’s heart go out more to that stricken people than the way tiny girls put their little shoulders to the burdens that their mothers can not bear.” (NCH 12.10.07 pg. 1)
Photo taken of the Davia family on the porch of their home.Photo of Davia family at Ellis Island. Catherina and her family is the focus of this author’s historic fiction, therefore, there will soon be areas of this site which will be dedicated solely to her story.
~11:30 am
“At eleven thirty, one hundred and thirteen bodies have been taken from the mine by rescuers. The bodies of those taken out since daylight are in good condition, and many were identified.” (CET 12.10.07 pg. 1)
“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:
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
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)
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)
“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 2nd 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)
* = 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.
“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)
“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.
“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)
“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:
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)
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.
“Stunned by the terrible swiftness of the wings of the angel of death over the little coal mining village, Monongah is today dumbly counting its dead.” (EO 12.7.07 pg. 1)
Dawn
In Monongah:
“The excitement of the day was no less keen, but not of the noise and demonstration of the morning, the people awakening to the awful loss of life and being ready to offer everything within their power to aid the work of rescue.” (CDT 12.7.07. pg. 1)
“With the dawn of day there began a heartrending march up and down the aisles along which these bodies have been laid, by sobbing wives and mothers and sweethearts, orphaned children and strong men, each seeking a near relative or beloved friend.” (News)
“Tomorrow or the next day the numbed nerves may again perform their functions and in the reaction the survivors may writhe in grim agony and grief, but today there is no sorrow—only dull interest that lights up eyes of mothers, wives, and brothers as each limp and blackened form is tenderly passed up from out of the hell pit, where in one brief moment 400 lives were snuffed out as a candle light in a gale.” (EO 12.7.07 pg. 1)
“All with the exception of a few have given up hope and accept it as a foregone conclusion that none survive the disaster. Relatives still cling to the ray of hope, however, that their loved ones may have been spared and eagerly seek the reports of the searchers as they come above to get fresh air.” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)
~6:00 am – ~ 8:00 am
At #8:
“Fire…in south side of #8 was extinguished about 6 o’clock this morning.” (FWV 12.7.07 – pg.1)
Rescue and recovery work can finally begin in #8.
At the mines:
Rescue work has become thoroughly systemized and progresses rapidly. “Hundreds of men are at work this morning clearing away the debris for the removal of the 425 unfortunate men whose lives were snuffed out without a moment’s warning.” (FWV 12.7.07 pg. 1 – noon)
“With unabated energy, five rescuing parties, working from every possible point to enter and explore mines numbers 6 and 8…are this morning putting forth every effort to reach, dead or alive, the remainder of the 400 or more men who went into the mine yesterday morning. There is little hope that any have survived the terrific explosion and the resultant poisonous gas…” (WED 12.7.07 pg. 1) (ES 12.7.07 pg. 1)
“Near the mine entrance, when the rescue work began, were nearly 300 caskets indicating the least extent to which the company believe the loss of life in the mine will reach.” (TEP 12.7.07 pg. 1)
In Monongah:
“Men are now working in relays to reach the miners entombed in the two great shafts. On the hills overlooking their work are the weeping wives and other relatives of the imprisoned men. Among them are the three women whose husbands lie in the improvised morgue.” (WED 12.7.07. pg. 8)
“The scene at the wrecked mines is a repetition of the sight yesterday. The grief-stricken ones is deeper than manifested yesterday. The hopeful anxiety that characterized the people looking for the rescue of loved ones has changed to a sorrow well-nigh inconsolable. Yesterday there was hope today there is despair. The hope for loved ones to escape from their imprisonment to be recognized by their friends gave way to the thought of not knowing them when brought to the surface.” (FWV 12.7.07 pg. 1 – noon)
~8:00 am
In Monongah:
“Hundreds of people have been attracted here from Fairmont, Clarksburg and other places in the valley, many of them having friends and relatives among the ill-fated miners and at the scenes of the horrors are seething masses of people.” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)
“Mine officials, railroad men, newspaper men of the big city dailies, craftsmen of every trade are mingling with those who are anxious about those whose lives are sure to have been snuffed out.” (FWV 12.7.07 pg. 1 – noon)
“Hundreds of visitors are at Monongah today viewing the wreckage and watching the bringing of bodies to the surface…” (FWV 12.7.07 pg. 1 – noon)
~8:30 am
“Mr. R.M. Hite offers services of a large number of experienced miners from Kingmont mines (operated by the Virginia and Pittsburg Coal Company). This was a very kind offer…for the men who have long searched for the missing are getting weary. They have searched diligently and there is an end to their endurance.” (FWV 12.7.07 pg. 1 – noon)
~9:00 am
At #6:
Another rescue party including John Hallan and Carl Tarlton enter #6, still hoping to find survivors in the very recesses of the mine.
Not long into their exploration, Hallan and Tarlton find the body of a motorman, “jammed back in the motor where he had been sitting with one arm thrown about 30’ away” (McAteer). As this motorman was clearly dead, they did not stop for long to examine him and continued on their search, looking for any dangerous gases and any signs of life.
At #8:
Rescue parties also prepare to enter #8 with the same purpose: find survivors.
“In mine number 8 the rescuers are just getting to work as gasses have delayed them.” (EO 12.7.07 pg. 1)
“Six bodies are all that had been found in No 8 until this morning. One man was found in the manway.” (FWV 12.7.07 pg. 2 – noon)
In Monongah:
25 more miners arrive in Monongah from the Tunnelton mines to help rescue efforts. (FWV 12.7.07 pg. 1)
“The King’s Daughters and committees of women started a work of visiting homes of the miners, leaving baskets of food where needed…” (Kellogg)
Restaurants in Fairmont and Clarksburg made soups and sandwiches for rescue workers and victim’s families “…and two blacksmith shops were turned into kitchens where great pots of stew and coffee were set boiling.” (Kellogg) People from all around have been bringing whatever they have for donations.
Father D’Andrea of the Italian Catholic Church, Our Lady of Pompeii, is certain by now that his own brother, Victor D’Andrea, is among the victims of the disaster. However, he gets no time to mourn as he and other religious leaders have been overwhelmed with the grief-stricken families for the last 24 hours. Father D’Andrea is only now beginning to survey victims among his parishioners while Father Lekston of St Stanislaus Catholic church has already counted at least 110 victims from his Polish congregation.
In Fairmont:
A little after 9 am, C.W. Watson telegraphs J.N. Camden, “…have lost all hope of finding any men alive.”
~10:00 am
“At ten o’clock today, a total of one hundred bodies had been found in the Monongah mines. These will be removed to morgues at once. Four hundred coffins have been ordered by the Fairmount Coal company. All will be used sooner or later, as it may be weeks before all victims of the explosion are recovered.” (RP 12.7.07 pg. 1)
“The remains of the dead are being carefully handled and prepared for burial in the most decent way even as well as could be done at a well-regulated undertaking establishment.” (FWV 12.7.07 – pg.1)
~11:00 am
In Monongah:
“The eleven o’clock car was one hour getting through the dense crowd between Nos 8 & 6.” (FWV 12.7.07 – pg.1)
“There is an immense concourse of people all anxious to see what there is to be seen. While the situation has not reached that point yet it may be possible that it will have to be brought under military control.” (FWV 12.7.07 – pg.1)
“President C.W. Watson wired Gov. Dawson this morning that he did not think military control would be necessary as the crowd is a very orderly one.” (FWV 12.7.07 – pg.1)
Outside the mines, Doctors Hill and Cook along with a few dozen nurses realize their services won’t be needed for survivors but for the rescuers instead. A second emergency hospital is set up by #8 and equipped “at 11 o’clock today with cots, bedding, and etc.” (FWV 12.7.07 – pg.1)
At #6:
“Up to 11 o’clock today sixteen bodies had been removed…Four are Americans. About eighty bodies have been found, but only sixteen have been brought to the surface.” (WED 12.7.07 pg. 1) (RIA 12.7.07 pg. 1)
“The rescuers are now within 1,500 feet of the end of the mine. They are working in two parties of about thirty men each with reliefs every hour.” (WED 12.7.07 pg. 1) (RIA 12.7.07 pg. 1)
Outside #8:
2 members of rescue crews, Milton Coburn and James Kane, are taken out of #8 to the emergency hospital set up just below the opening of the mine. Both were overcome by the gasses they inhaled while inside. (FWV 12.7.07 pg. 1)
The Monongah Disaster 