Undertakers – Page 6 – The Monongah Disaster

Thursday, December 12, 1907 Afternoon

“No accident in the entire history of coal mining in America compares with this holocaust. It would be hard to picture a more complete scene of sorrow and desolation than that about the pit mouth. Everywhere are the blown and broken timbers, everywhere the blackened wreckage, showing the fearful force of the explosion. And over the wailing, desolate women and the gaunt, hard featured men working about the ruins, the black smoke hangs like a pall.” (TLA 12.12.07 pg. 1)

~Noon

“Governor Dawson today announced that he will personally attend the inquiry…” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 1)

Gov. Dawson - wikipedia — Governor W.M.O. Dawson

In Monongah:

12.13.07 - pg 1 - Monongah 2 — CET 12.13.07 pg 1

At the mines:

“Two hundred and eighty-five bodies were recovered at noon from the Monongah mines and twenty-five more were ready to be brought to the surface.” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 1)

“Up to noon today 285 bodies had been recovered from the Monongah mines. They are being brought out more rapidly now and many more will have been recovered by night.” (ES 12.12.07 pg. 2)

“More than 400 bodies, it is expected, will have been recovered by Saturday night, by which time the rescuers hope to have found every body.” (ES 12.12.07 pg. 2)

2:22 pm

In Monongah:

The body of Timothy Lyden was taken from the morgue “to his home at Monongah to remain three hours and at 2:22 this afternoon accompanied by relatives and friends it was shipped to [Clarksburg] for burial.” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 4)

“Mr. Lyden’s body will be at the home of his mother, Mrs. Ellen Lyden, on Jackson street tonight and until 10 o’clock tomorrow morning, when it will be taken to the Catholic church where funeral services will be held and interment will be in Holy Cross cemetery.” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 4)

During the Afternoon

In Pittsburgh:

“Officials of the coal company were in Pittsburgh this afternoon, conferring with those familiar with hospital maintenance, and it is understood that $50,000 will be spent by the coal company in erecting a suitable orphan asylum building. After it is finished, the children will be taken care of and educated. It is understood that certain wealthy men have expressed a desire to assist in endowing such an asylum, making it permanent for use of orphans of those who lose their lives in the mines of the company.” (WH 12.13.07 pg. 1)

“A woman’s sympathetic heart coupled with her ability to accomplish her purposes has solved the distressing problem of the thousand children who have been made orphans by the mine explosion at Monongah, in which several hundred lives went out. The woman is Mrs. Clarence W. Watson [Minnie Owings Watson], wife of the president of the Fairmont Coal Company which owns the property in which the calamity happened. She is a social leader in Baltimore and New York, but since the explosion she has demonstrated that she can be notable for other things besides driving fine horses for prizes in show rings and planning cotillons. Acting on Mrs. Watson’s suggestion her husband came to Pittsburg today to make contracts for the erection of a $50,000 asylum for the homeless little ones at Monongah. Mr. Watson said that it was the one practical suggestion which had come to him or any of the members of the Fairmont Company.” (RP 12.14.07 pg. 4)

“Mrs. Watson took a prominent part at this season’s horse show in New York. She was a prize winner, carrying off ribbons with her famous Lord Baltimore and My Maryland. Lord Baltimore is considered one of the finest harness horses in America. Mrs. Watson and her millionaire husband carried off several prizes with them in the international show in London.” (RP 12.14.07 pg. 4)

“Bishop Donoghue, of the Wheeling district has been at Monongah leading in the relief work, and Mrs. Watson has been, perhaps, his most able assistant.” (RP 12.14.07 pg. 4)

“The day of the explosion Mrs. Watson hurried to Monongah with her husband. She plunged into the work of relief with her heart open for the suffering and destitute. In a few hours she was recognized as good spirit of the place. Wherever she goes in the stricken town she carried light with her.” (RP 12.14.07 pg. 4)

“It was the children who made a special plea to her sympathy. Their helplessness, their absolute dependence overwhelmed her. After the first couple of days she went to her husband and demanded that he do something. He was at a loss and asked her for her suggestions. She said that the one thing for him and his company to do was build and asylum for the little ones.” (RP 12.14.07 pg. 4)

“How to care for the children of the explosion victims has been and will be a problem until Mrs. Watson’s home for them is built.” (RP 12.14.07 pg. 4)

In Fairmont:

“The body of Charles Wise of Fairmont, one of the best known men, was…brought here for interment this afternoon.” (ES 12.12.07 pg. 2)

Frank A. Wilmot and George A. Campsey from the Carnegie Hero Commission arrive in Fairmont. “After looking over the ground a while Mr. Wilmot decided to go to the Fairmont Coal Company offices at Monongah and make known his mission. Before going, however, he met Col. A.H Fleming of Fairmont whom he knew personally…” (FWV 12.23.07 pg. 1 – extra)

Mr. Harry H Stock, E.M. editor of “Mines and Minerals” of Scranton PA is visitor in the city. He procured copies of the West Virginian for every day since the mine disaster. (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 5)

In Monongah:

“The ladies of the relief corps are continuing their noble work and much food is being dispensed to the workers. Soups, meats, sandwiches, vegetables pie and coffee constitute the mean which is served night and day in a little building near the company office. Hundreds are thus fed every day.” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 1)

C.W. Watson will not give a statement about the number of victims to the press until the “total number of miners is known…census of miners had not yet been completed. Three or four miners lived in the country and their families would have to be seen before the statement could be made. Mr. Watson said that the number would be between 328 and 334.” (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 1) (FWV 12.13.07 pg. 1)

He provides this statement instead:

“The work of removing bodies from the mines progressed very rapidly today and at the rate that the dead are brought out now the search work will be completed sooner than it was thought. The work in mine No 6 is practically done. The searchers have explored all the rooms of that mine.” (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 1)

Rumors of epidemic begin to surface and are attributed to the many maimed and decomposing bodies and carcasses about the town and still inside the mines. (McAteer) (News)

Mr. Fleming and Wilmot arrive in Monongah and go to the office where Wilmot is introduced to General Manager Lee. L Malone. “Mr. Malone at once placed the records of the company relative to the census of miners being taken at Mr. Wilmot’s disposal and after verifying the newspaper reports he hunted Mayor Moore to take some active steps for relief work.”

“Mr. Wilmot found Mayor Moore surrounded by a crowd of about 50 people engaged in relief work, but he gave Mr. Wilmot a hearing and very kindly consented to do whatever was thought best in the matter of organizing the committees.” (FWV 12.23.07 pg. 1 & 4 – extra)

At the mines:

The removal of livestock begins.

Marion County Board of Health issues a 2nd order: “…imminent danger of epidemic of disease breaking out…scores of men working in recovering dead are prostrated…so urgent…all of the streets of Monongah were heavily sprinkled with lime…odors emanating…unbearable.” (McAteer)

At #8:

1st full search is completed in #8 and a second search immediately begins. (McAteer) (Inquiry)

“Patrick Louchney’s remains were found in mines No. 8 and taken to the morgue this afternoon. His body was terribly mangled and mutilated. It will be taken to Clarksburg for burial.” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 1)

~3:30 pm

CDT 12.12.07 - pg 1 - Monongah 4 — CDT 12.12.07 pg 1

“A great many bodies remain unidentified as yet and probably most of these will never be identified or claimed by relatives. The number of the unidentified reached fully sixty so far and doubtless many of those yet to be recovered will be in the same class.” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 1)

~4:00 pm

In Fairmont:

The 24 members and 2 guests of the Ladies Aid Society of the Diamond Street M.E. Church complete “40 pieces of clothing” and enjoy a dinner “for the small sum of $.15”, the proceeds intended to go to the relief fund. (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 2) (FWV 12.13.07 pg. 2)

~4:30 pm

In Wheeling:

The Wheeling Board of Trade holds special meeting of directors about the Monongah relief fund. Labor Commissioner I.V. Barton (who went to Monongah shortly after the disaster and stated he would bring a report of conditions to Board of Trade) “spoke at some length”.

“There are, Mr. Barton stated, from a thousand to twelve hundred orphans and at least 350 widows it has been estimated. The children have been born since the disaster and there are 60 expectant mothers among the widows. The Fairmont Coal Co. and the local relief committees are doing nobly, and are caring for the situation.” Mr. Barton stated that if the Board of Trade was to contribute, now is the time to do it. “The aid is not necessary now but in the future relief will be needed.”

The Board of Trade contributes $1,000.00 to the relief fund. (FWV 12.13.07 pg. 1)

In Monongah:

In the earliest days after the disaster, various relief committees were formed by well-meaning individuals and groups but there is no representation for the immigrants and their various nationalities among them. Bishop Donahue was added to the initial general relief committee when he pointed out a lack of representation for the Italian and Polish-Slavic Catholic churches and the committee expanded to incorporate immigrant representation. (McAteer) (News)

Manager/Secretary of Carnegie Hero Fund Commission Frank M Wilmot combines the majority of these relief committees into one: the Monongah Mine Relief Committee. (McAteer)

The Carnegie Hero Fund donates $35,000 to this relief committee and takes charge of the organizing. (McAteer) (News)

Wilmot then has a meeting with Watson, Fleming, and other company officials to discuss their role in the relief efforts. Watson and Fleming are cautious about endorsing notion of public appeal for funds. They are concerned about the effect such an appeal would have politically, particularly on the general public. Wilmot convinces them the response would be well received. Following the meetings with Wilmot and others they soon became supportive of the relief committees and assigned “various employees in the offices of FCC & others to work nights, Sundays, and other extra time helping the Subscription Committee to address envelopes and send out appeals”. Eventually, officials of mine, like Cunningham, serve as members of committee. (McAteer)

The Union Relief Association Committee, made up entirely of women from Fairmont and surrounding areas, is the only one not included into the MMRC.

~5:00 pm

Cunningham sends Watson a list of names along with morgue numbers. Bossilo Pillelo and Petro Frediro are listed with a note: “Italians were in #8. Selecting place to work. Chief Paul found their order copy x of mine laws.” (McAteer)

More on How Death Gloated!

Thursday, December 12, 1907 Midnight – Morning

CDT 12.12.07 - pg 1 - Monongah 5 — CDT 12.12.07 pg 1

In the early hours of the morning

12.12.07 - pg 6 - Monongah — TMDM 12.12.07 pg 6

In Hendricks, WV:

Roy Yaeger, 28 year old engineer for Western Maryland railroad, detects an odor of gas in his home and starts to investigate. He quickly finds that a rubber hose has come loose from a stove and “just as he was in the act of turning the gas off the gas was ignited from an oil lamp in another part of the house and the explosion followed.” (FWV 12.13.07 pg. 2)

“Yaeger was ablaze in an instant and jumping out of a window he rushed up street, his clothes burning fiercely. Before he could be succored his clothes were all burned off and was a mass of charred flesh.” (FWV 12.13.07 pg. 2)

Yeager “met with a terrible death”. His wife and little child were severely burned and the home in where they lived was practically blown to pieces. (FWV 12.13.07 pg. 2)

~3:00 am

“The body of Timothy Lyden was found in mine No. 6 at Monongah at 3 o’clock this morning, taken to the morgue and prepared for burial.” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 4)

“Relatives identified the body by his clothes and the back of his head. The body was well preserved but the face was badly mutilated.” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 4)

“Mr. Lyden was 38 years of age and leaves a widow and five children. He was a brother of Patrick J., Michael and Margaret Lyden and Mrs. P.F. Tiernery.” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 4)

~3:30 am

“Henry Martin’s body was found in mine No. 6 at Monongah at 3:30 o’clock this morning and identified by his brother, Patrick Martin, of this city. Mr. Martin has another brother here, too, Thomas Martin.” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 1)

“Mr. Martin was 42 years of age.” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 1)

“Mr. Martin leaves a wife and five children making his death particularly sad, as they were dependent upon him for support.” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 1)

“Accompanied by relatives and friends, the body will leave Monongah at 8:22 o’clock tomorrow morning for Clarksburg, and will be taken to the Catholic church, where at 10 o’clock funeral services will be held at the same time that the Timothy Lyden obsequies are held. It will be a double funeral at the church—all at the same mass. Interment will be in Holy Cross cemetery.” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 1)

At some point during the early morning hours

The body of John T. McGraw, pitt boss at Monongah mine No. 8, “was recovered from the mine early Thursday morning”. (CDT 12.13.07 pg. 1)

~4:30 am

“The body of Charles Wise of Fairmont, one of the best known men, was recovered at 4:30 o’clock…” (ES 12.12.07 pg. 2)

Wise was personal surveyor for Senator J.N. Camden. He surveyed inside of mines to ensure Camden and others were properly paid by Consolidated Coal Company. (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 1)

The 37 year old Chief Engineer “went into the ill-fated mine only a short time before the explosion.” (ES 12.12.07 pg. 2) (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 1)

Despite early reports announcing that only his jack and shoes had been found, leading people to believe Charles had been “blown to atoms”: “The body was in a good state of preservation and easily recognized. Besides in his pockets were his B&O mileage book, street car book, watch, ring and pipe, which were means to identify him.” (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 1)

Wise was found in #6 near the main heading, in a sitting position ½ mile away from his jacket. He had wrapped his waistcoat around his head indicating that he had survived the explosion and attempted to find his way out but got lost in the darkness and was eventually overcome by afterdamp. (FWV 12.12.07 pg.1)

Charles becomes body #258 to pass through the morgue. (Amos)

He leaves a widow, Pearl Reed Wise, and 2 sons: Thomas Reuben, 2 years, and Lorin Turney, 2 months old. (McAteer) (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 1)

~6:00

In Fairmont:

All mines in the Fairmont Coal Field are up and running to almost full capacity except those in Monongah. (FWV 12.11.07 pg.1)

The Fairmont West Virginian reports the weather as: Partly cloudy tonight and Friday, nearly stationary temperature (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 1)

In Monongah:

The remains of Charles D. Wise are taken to Musgrave’s undertaking parlors “just as they were taken from the mine” on 6:15 street car. (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 1)

At the mines:

“Officials…feel hopeful that the large force of rescuers, entering the mines at Monongah this morning will be the last necessary to send into the workings to recover the bodies…” (ES 12.12.07 pg. 2)

~8:00 am

In Clarksburg:

“The body of Thomas Killeen was brought here Thursday morning from the Monongah mine horror. The funeral was held in the Catholic church and burial in Holy Cross Cemetery.” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 5)

In Fairmont:

Tom Donlin’s funeral is held at St. Peter’s Catholic church under the direction of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Services are largely attended by friends and relatives following with interment at Holy Cross cemetery. Pallbearers were: Messrs. M.J. O’Neil, Anthony McDonough, John Kelley, John D Barry, Michael Ford and Jas. Erwin. (FWV 12/12/07 pg. 5)

In Monongah:

Women and children are still standing guard by the morgue.

At the mines:

Ventilation is restored to 8 miles of room headings, 550 rooms have been explored and tracks in 5.5 miles of main headings are cleaned up enough to allow hauling of bodies and materials. (McAteer)

1st full search completed in #6. The search parties have explored all the rooms of the mine and 20 searchers transfer from No 6 to No 8. “…the work in No 8 will be practically completed tonight when all the men will have been removed except those under falls.” (McAteer) (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 1)

The bodies taken out this morning are in “pretty good condition” so as George Gibbon, who has been able to identify most of the miners, was very successful. (FWV 12.11.07 pg.1) (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 1)

Among them is body #287—Ellis V. Herndon, this author’s great-great grandfather. Ellis’s son, Ira Herndon, was unable to go to work Friday morning due to his wet boots, and has had no need to take part in the rescue efforts as “they had other people who did that”. Ira is able to stay with his family throughout the whole ordeal and mourn their elder. Ellis was found in excellent condition and buried in the cemetery “on the back of Tower Hill, in the hollow.” (Loss)

cemeteries — The mass grave donated earlier this week due to inclement weather is by the Catholic cemetery. However, the original potter’s field, which was used and became full within the first few days after the disaster, is currently unknown/lost. This author has quite the theory as to its potential location and this will be discussed later in an “Issues” post.

~9:00 am

In Belle Vernon, PA:

Coroner Hagan commences the official inquiry into the December 1^st Naomi mine explosion. A number of officials testified and it was heavily discussed whether or not electricity should be used in mines.

In Fairmont:

Ladies Aid Society of the Diamond Street M.E. Church meets at the home of Mrs. Priscilla Merrifield on Wilson St. between 9am-4pm. 24 members and 2 visitors spend the day “sewing or doing any other work that may be done for the Monongah sufferers. Clothing or anything which will be donated for the cause will be gladly received by the ladies.” (FWV 12.10.07 pg. 2) (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 2)

“A Pittsburgh man said this morning that he was surprised at the small contributions being sent in for the Monongah relief fund. He thought the big cities were taking too little interest in the matter and that the papers ought to take the question up with a view to creating a larger fund. He thinks there ought to be a fund of at least $200,000 to properly care for 300 widows and 1,000 orphans.” (FWV 12.12.07 pg. )

In Monongah:

2 men try the same trick from day before of posing as workmen to get food and goods. They are caught, arrested, and put in the Monongah jail. (FWV 12.11.07 pg.1)

“About 100 men are digging graves for the dead and as fast as the bodies are prepared and identified they are taken to the cemeteries or shipped to the places designated by friends.” (FWV 12.11.07 pg.1)

Messrs. S.E. Jenkins and J.A.C. Prickett, representatives of the Setting Sun Tribe of the Improved Order of Red Men, accompanied the body of one of the Monongah victims to the home at Connellsville, PA. (FWV 12.12.07 pg. 2)

~10:00 am

“Two hundred and eighty-five bodies were recovered at 10 o’clock today, and 25 more were ready for removal to the surface.” (LET 12.12.07 pg. 1)

~11:00 am

In Pittsburgh, PA:

“C.W. Watson…will, in the name of his wife, erect an orphan asylum at Monongah in which will be cared for and educated the children of the men who lost their lives in the disaster. Today representatives of Mr. Watson visited this city, where they inspected various orphan asylums, and announced that work on the new asylum at Monongah will be started at once.” (NYTb 12.13.07 pg. 5)

In Charleston, WV:

“President Craigo called at the office of the Mail, where a relief fund is being collected and was advised that it would be better to have the contribution from the Wellston miners sent direct from that point to Mayor Moore, at Monongah, rather than have it come to Charleston and then be remitted from here to Monongah. Mr. Craigo adopted the suggestion and wired the convention to the that effect.” (TA 12.12.07 pg. 1)

In Monongah:

“R.H. Spahr went to Monongah this morning and spent a few hours viewing the mine horror.” (CDT 12.12.07 pg. 8)

“At 11 0’clock this morning 256 bodies have been waiting for transportation. It is estimated that there are still 145 bodies in the mines. Eighty-five bodies are unidentified. The greater number of these have already been buried.” (WT 12.12.07 pg. 3)

More on How Death Gloated!

Wednesday, December 11, 1907, Midnight – Morning

“The deaths of the three Morris brothers in the mine disaster wipes out a family of father, mother and 11 children with the exception of one small girl within the past ten years. The Morris family were former residents of Eldora and the sad incidents connected with their history are recalled by their neighbors and friends although there is but one member of the family left to relate the bereavement and she is most too young to remember all.

“Ten years ago, Mr. W. E. Morris and wife and 11 children settled at Eldora and there they lived happily for some time. Sickness of a pulmonary nature entered the family and soon the mother and six children were claimed within the course of a few years. One son was killed instantly while working in a coal mine on the Lowe farm, and last spring Mr. Morris contracted typhoid fever and died. For some time preceding his death Mr. Morris resided on the Harrison Manley farm above Monongah. Just four children were left out of the family of eleven and three of these, W.L., Cecil, and Marion met death together in the Monongah fatality. Mr. W.L. Morris leaves a wife, who was formerly a Miss Boone. His two younger brothers worked in the mines with him and resided at his home. The brothers were all found Monday night.” (CDT 12.11.07 pg. 1)

~12:00 am

At the mines:

Rescue crews have been working around the clock for almost 6 days. Every section of the mines has been entered – no survivors found*.

“Much progress was made by the rescue parties yesterday, despite the rain, snow and mud.” (CET 12.11.07 pg. 1)

“At a late hour 142 bodies had been prepared for burial. Many more have been located and will be brought to the morgue today. If, as the mine owners declare, there were less than 400 victims, nearly half of the bodies have been recovered.” (CET 12.11.07 pg. 1)

“There were reports last night that some of the miners entombed are yet living, but they are not generally believed. One workman claims to have heard knockings or raps in one section of a room cut off by debris. While it is believed he was mistaken, efforts are being redoubled to reach the spot.” (ES 12.11.07 pg. 1)

“The arrival of extra undertakers from Wheeling and the increase of morguers has lightened the work for those who have been on duty from the beginning.” (FWV 12.11.07 pg.1)

Water from the downpour rains and overflowing creeks have gotten into mines through the enlarged portals, fissures and toad holes.

~2:30 am

At #8:

“The body of Thomas Killeen, one of the victims of the terrible mine disaster at Monongah, was recovered from Mine No 8 Wednesday morning at 2:30 o’clock. It will be brought to Clarksburg Thursday morning for burial. Killeen’s body was badly mangled; one side of the face being crushed and the abdomen was also crushed. The body was also scorched from the explosion. The body was taken to the morgue and identified and after it was prepared for burial it was removed to the home of the family in Monongah. Mr. Killeen was 43 years old and leaves a widow and five children. The oldest child’s name is Martin and he is about twelve years old. Mary and Kate are the next two older children. Killeen was a son of Patrick Killeen who makes his home with the family at Monongah and a brother of Martin Killeen. He was a brother-in-law of Patrick Martin of this city.” (CDT 12.11.07 pg. 1)

Through the night

Inside the mines:

“Horrible sights greet the working party.” (ES 12.11.07 pg. 1)

“In one room there were found two arms neatly severed from the body, of which there was not the slightest trace.” (ES 12.11.07 pg. 1)

“In other rooms are found missing limbs and a few heads.” (ES 12.11.07 pg. 1)

“One body was found seated with a lunch basket before it, while one arm was raised in the act of delivering a spoonful of beans to the mouth. Death came so quickly that the body grew instantly rigid in that position.” (ES 12.11.07 pg. 1)

At the morgue:

CDT 12.11.07 - pg 1 - Monongah 2 — CDT 12.11.07 pg 1

“Reports to the office of the Fairmont Coal Company here from mines Nos 6 and 8 at Monongah, the scene of last Friday’s death-dealing explosion, Wednesday morning state that the rescue work continued all last night and was without special feature or incident.” (GDS 12.13.07 pg. 4)

“A number of bodies brought out did not bear the brass checks used in the company’s system of records and accounts of a majority of its employees, thus sustaining the statements that a large number of men and boys in the mines were not included in the checking rolls on which estimates of the dead were largely based. There is reason to believe that the number will not fall short of 500.” (FCT 12.13.07 pg. 1)

In Monongah:

Rain and snow continue to fall, casting the entire valley in gloom. “The snow is quite welcome today after an experience with rain and mud for a day or two.” (FWV 12.11.07 pg. )

~6:00 am

“Most of the mines in the Fairmont and Clarksburg regions have a full run of empty cars for loading and the work has about resumed its normal condition. The independent mines are working although at some points all of the men are not back at work. The Fairmont Coal Company mines have resumed work except mine No. 2 and the ill-fated mines, Nos 6 and 8.” (CDT 12.11.07 pg. 1)

“When Wednesday’s force of rescuers went on duty there had been a total of 225 bodies taken out, most of which have been buried. Others were brought out in groups of two and three at short intervals.” (FCT 12.13.07 pg. 1)

In Monongah:

A number of men are sent up from New England and Gaston mines as well as about 20 miners from Frostburg to assist in the search work. (FWV 12.11.07 pg. 8)

“There are few people around today and this aids the men at work. The big crowds that rushed to the scenes were a hindrance to every part of the work.” (FWV 12.11.07 pg.1)

“Twenty-three bodies which were unidentified were buried in potter’s field. All the bodies were hauled to the cemetery in road wagons through mud. Fifty-five grave diggers are kept constantly busy.” (RP 12.11.07 pg. 1)

Inside the mines:

“A number of bodies were brought to the surface and others were located in the mine. The exact number recovered during the night has not been reported to the officers here.” (GDS 12.13.7 pg. 4)

South side of #8 has been entirely explored and all bodies from this section have been removed. Efforts shift to the North side to do the same. (FWV 12.11.07 pg.1)

“The carcasses of horses and mules in the mines will not be taken out but destroyed by the use of chemicals.” (CDT 12.11.07 pg. 1)

“Strange noises heard in the mine late last night gave some color to a report that there were living men in some part of the mine, but the workmen this morning found nothing.” (EJ 12.11.07 pg. 7)

At the morgue:

“At the morgue the scenes are pathetic. Many relatives wait about—in fact, many have stationed themselves in front of the door—hoping every dead cart will bring the body of the missing one who was so dear to them. In the driving snow and rain little parties of Slavs and Italians, among the women and small children, stood for hours. One at a time the crowds dwindled down as bodies were identified and sent on to one of the man’s forlorn homes.” (CET 12.11.07 pg. 1)

“Inside the deadhouse the undertakers worked as rapidly as possible and when six or seven bodies were brought in at a time their systematic work was wonderful to see. Even while the embalmers worked on the bodies other men were searching the pockets of the victims clothing for trinkets, valuables and marks of identification.” (CET 12.11.07 pg. 1)

“Nothing, no matter how insignificant, escaped the notice of the men who examined the clothing. Every little trinket was stored away and many strange things have been collected. In the collection are false teeth, whipstocks, pipes, whistles, old coins, all sorts of strange looking knives and about every kind of trinket poor people could have.” (CET 12.11.07 pg. 1)

“In the pocket of an unknown man a match box containing 13 matches was found. When they were counted there was significant silence.” (CET 12.11.07 pg. 1)

~9:00 am

In Fairmont:

The local German Beneficial Union announces it will cancel the 90-day clause of their contract and “will pay the policies taken out by men who were killed in the mine disaster immediately.” (FWV 12.11.07 pg. )

In Clarksburg:

“With his strength about exhausted, William G Osborn, of the Clifford-Osborn undertaking firm, returned Wednesday morning from the scene of the Monongah mine disaster where he had been at work almost continually since last Friday assisting in preparing the dead for burial. From Thursday night last until Wednesday morning he had but five or six hours of sleep. After resting up he will return to Monongah and help the other undertakers.” (CDT 12.11.07 pg. 1)

In Monongah:

“The scene at Monongah today is but a repetition of the scenes of Monday and Tuesday except that the bodies are being brought out at shorter intervals today.” (FWV 12.11.07 pg.1)

“Over fifty funerals were held Wednesday.” (FCT 12.13.07 pg. 1, McAteer)

“On each casket there was a bunch of American Beauty roses or white carnations. Miss Elizabeth Watson, daughter of S.L. Watson, treasurer of the coal company, sent them.” (FCT 12.13.07 pg. 1)

Rev. Father McEligott of Grafton is here giving words of comfort to the distressed and helping in any way that he can. (FWV 12.11.07 pg.1)

“The relief work is progressing in a satisfactory manner. A dozen relief stations are now in operation and supplies of all kinds are coming in rapidly and being as quickly disbursed.” (ES 12.11.07 pg. 1)

The company doctors are assigned to deal with shock among the widows. (McAteer)

“One Italian, whose body had not been found, is said to have had $300 in his possession when he left home.” (CET 12.11.07 pg. 1)

Inside the mines:

“The installation of additional fans has much improved the ventilation.” (ES 12.11.07 pg. 1)

“In the caverns penetrated today conditions were found to be much better. There was an absence of gas and the deadly black damp to interfere with the searchers and the wreckage was not so great.” (ES 12.11.07 pg. 1)

“Members of the rescuing party stated that the average conditions of the bodies recovered is bad, heads being blown off, arms and legs broken and twisted, and fine pieces of coal imbedded in the bodies showing the terrific force of the explosion.” (PES 12.11.07 pg. 8)

~10:30 am

In Clarksburg:

“The body of Leslie Spragg, one of the victims of the mine disaster at Monongah, was brought to this city from that place on the 10:30 o’clock interurban trolley car Wednesday morning and buried in Holy Cross cemetery after services were held over it at the Church of the Immaculate Conception.

“Spragg’s body was recovered Tuesday night from Mine No 8 and after being taken to the morgue, prepared for burial and identified, was taken in charge by relatives and removed to the home of the family at Monongah and from there it was brought to Clarksburg. The body was burned from the explosion but not mangled.

“The dead man leaves a wife and two children. He formerly resided in Clarksburg but at the time of the disaster was making his home at Monongah. He was a son-in-law of John Hyland, of Monongah, who also resided here formerly, and was 32 years old.” (CDT 12.11.07 pg. 1)

In Fairmont:

“Telegraphic service at Fairmont has been under a heavy strain the last week. Monongah has no telegraph office and the fifty correspondents on the scene have to go to Fairmont, eight miles distant, where they file their copy. The Western Union is the only services here, the local manager being Mr. W.T. McWhorter. Under ordinary circumstances there is only one operator, but five extra men have been at work day and night. Over 150,000 words have been sent out. There is appreciation among the newspaper men of the promptness with which their copy was handled by the Fairmont office.” (ES 12.11.07 pg. 1 – 2)

In Monongah:

“The excitement of the first few days…has about subsided and the situation has settled down into a steady systematic search for the bodies of victims.” (ES 12.11.07 pg. 1)

At the mines:

“The officials of the Fairmont Coal Company have been constantly on the scene working as hard as the men with shovels and picks. In many instances they have gone thirty-six hours at a stretch without sleep, while President Watson and Vice President Wheelwright have been on duty day and night. Mr. Wheelwright, clad in a miner’s togs, with rubber coat, boots and hat, was out in the rain nearly all day.” (ES 12.11.07 pg. 1)

J.H. Wheelwright

C.W. Watson

“Two men who have rendered good service are Messrs. T.H. Bennett and J.R. Buckingham, who have handled a vast volume of detail associated with the direction of the rescue work.” (ES 12.11.07 pg. 1)

“Large pumps arrived at the mines from Pittsburg and were installed to remove water that had gotten into the mine from the river. The fires which at first threatened, and for a time did stop the work of rescue, have been controlled by shutting off the supply of air in the burning portions of the mines. However, all danger of further explosions is not past and no attempt will be made to reopen these sections of the mine until it is definitely ascertained that the fire had been extinguished.” (ES 12.11.07 pg. 2)

At the morgue:

“Although the bodies that are now being found are not so badly mangled or decomposed as the ones found in the main heading, they are not kept at the morgue long. Just as soon as the bodies are embalmed, they are sent to the room, where relatives of missing men can see the for the purpose of identification. If not claimed or identified they are hurried to the graveyard as known.” (CET 12.11.07 pg. 1)

*= Technically, one more survivor was found: John Tomko. John was found alive and responsive in #8 and fought off his rescuers, similar to Peter Urban. Though he was alive on his way out of the mine, he did not survive to make it to the surface. John’s brother, George Tomko was found “nearby”, but already deceased. George is body #56, John is processed through the morgue during the early hours of today and is listed as body #114. As of now, the Tomkos have not been included in this timeline as the entire timeline of their events is very unclear. The Tomkos will be discussed later in an “Issues” post in an effort to troubleshoot this event and try to get a more clear understanding of John’s experience.

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Monday, December 9, 1907, Night

“It is beyond the human pen to describe the spectacle presented, when bodies are brought up from the bowels of the earth whither courageous men day in and day out were wont to toil for the support of their loved ones. Fathers, brothers, husbands and sons, are carried from the slope leading to the fatal regions of the earth. Their bodies are as black as the coal itself. The experienced eye of the undertaker cannot detect their color, whether white or black, until after the bodies have been washed. Even then the mutilation in some cases make it difficult.” (CDT 12.9.07 xtra pg. 4)

~7:30 pm

At the mines:

“Rain began falling early in the evening and continued almost incessantly throughout the night.” (WED 12.10.07 pg. 1)

“Last night they took out two bodies from No.8. Tonight, they will take out many more dead who have already been dug out of the wreckage and are lying along the catacombs ready for removal.” (RP 12.9.07 pg. 1)

“When darkness came tonight a total of sixty-six bodies had been brought to the surface from the two wrecked mines at Monongah.” (DASB 12.10.07 pg. 1) (LODD 12.13.07 pg. 3)

In Fairmont:

The Union Relief Association is formed by local women who were among the first responders to the disaster. Mrs. F. E. Nichols, President & Mrs. R. T. Webb, Secretary hold a meeting at M.P. Temple – “all ladies urged to be present.” “All women interested in the relief work are earnestly requested to be present. Committees will come prepared to report the progress made today.” (FWV 12.9.07 pg. 8)

Walter Zirkle is located safe and alive. He had been employed at the Gaston mines in Fairmont, not the Monongah mines. “The wish of his sister and mother were at once communicated to him and he has no doubt reached his home…” (FWV 12.10.07 pg. 2)

“Over $25,000 was added to the various relief funds during the day.” (BME 12.11.07 pg. 6)

In Monongah:

The General Relief Committee meets in Mayor Moore’s office. The first members are: Mayor Moore of Monongah; Mayor Arnett of Fairmont, chairman; Father Boutlou, Rev. J.C. Broomfield, Rev. H.G. Stoetzer; J.E. Sands, treasurer, and J.M. Jacobs, secretary. “Five responsible men will handle large gifts.” All checks will be payable to J.E. Sands, who will see that the funds are properly distributed. (FWV 12.10.07 pg. 1)

Paul Kellogg is talking with the children of a grieving family at their home. One of the oldest daughters tells him of the father they call “Pap” and brother, referred to as “George” who was a machine man:

“…and as we stood there on the door step, the sisters showed me his picture that of a clean cut young fellow, taken with his dog in a field. ‘Many’s the woman was dependent on each day’s wages,’ they said, –‘nothing at all ahead—and now that’s cut off. We’re not that way—not quite. Pap was all we had and he was getting’ old and couldn’t do so much. But George—soon as he’d get through cutting, he’d come help him load and so Pap’d make more. That was the way with George—5 girls, the only brother we had, and he that good to us! And such a good wife.’ One after another, the sisters broke in parts with the story. ‘Pap was singing the morning he left when he went to work—we heard him as far’s it carried. It was Nearer My God to Thee. That’s what he was singing. They worked 3 miles in—Pap and George—r-right under us. Two of the girls broke off there and ran into the house, and a third, who had come out and was combing her hair while we talked, gave it a savage twist that would have brought tears to her eyes if they hadn’t been there already. ‘Oh, we know we’ve got to give him up. We know he’s dead; but if we could only get his body out of the pit.” (Kellogg)

In the morgue:

George Gibbons is very successful in telling who victims are as they are brought in through the night. (FWV 12.10.07 pg. 1)

The first money found on any of the victims is found on the 69th body to be taken out, Dan Dominico Jr.* He had $27 on him when found. (FWV 12.10.07 pg. 1)

*The paper reports that this is “Dan Domico”. However, body #69 on the Coroner’s List is actually Dan Dominico Jr.—the son of the injured miner who was among the 4 men to escape through a toad hole the morning of the explosion. Despite being seriously injured, his father ran to the mouth of the mine after escaping and wanted to go back inside in an attempt to save his son. Dan Domico did not attend work on Friday and is, in fact, still alive.

At the mines:

“The rescue work, while slow, is progressing smoothly and as rapidly as due precaution for the rescuers would permit. It is believed that close to a hundred dead will be recovered by daylight tomorrow.” (News)

~8:00 pm

In Monongah:

Paul Kellogg visits the Italian Catholic priest, Father D’Andrea. Kellogg writes that, “it was raining heavily and a hearse was ploughing up through the mud when I reached the little Italian church…where last year alone he [D’Andrea] baptized 170 American born children.”

Kellogg describes D’Andrea as “a young, spare man with a quick smile on his dark face. His beard had gone 3 days without shaving and his eyes were hollow for sleep.” D’Andrea has been so consumed with his duties as a priest and to his brother’s family that he has had no time to personally grieve his brother.

“It was only one cry all day until now,” he said and turned his palms out and dropped his shoulders. Then in answer to the door, he directed a driver who for 2 hours had been searching for the right house, and was going back with the body. (Kellogg)

~10:00 pm

C.W. Watson issues statement:

At the mines:

“The heavy rainfall caused a veritable mortar of mud more than shoe top depth in many places through which the workers and the anxious watchers could make their way only with the greatest difficulty.” (WED 12.10.07 pg. 1)

The body of Charles McCain is finally reached. McCain was a well-known man of his city and had many friends here. Despite numerous early accounts of Charles being found “blown to bits”, his body was in good condition. There were no marks on it showing that he was a victim of the after damp. His remains were brought to his home. (FWV 12.10.07 pg.1)

~11:00 pm

At the mines:

“Heavy rain storms make the conditions around the mine worse than any time since the explosion. Only a few stragglers are now keeping the gruesome vigil.” (DASB 12.10.07 pg. 1)

“Milder temperatures today resulted in a thaw which converted the soil near the entrance into a sticky, dirty mortar…now almost knee deep in places.” (SLH 12.10.07 pg. 1)

“It dispersed, however, a very large portion of the great, impatient surging crowd that from the first has hovered as near the entries as they could get, a constant handicap to the rescuing forces whose work they retarded.” (WED 12.10.07 pg. 1)

“The rain has also interrupted the makeshift telephone and telegraph communication between the mines this city and the outside world.” (AMJ 12.10.07 pg. 1)

“Twelve bodies have been taken from the mines tonight, bringing the total number up to 11 p.m., seventy-eight.” (DASB 12.10.07 pg. 1) (CB 12.10.07 pf 1)

“At a late hour, …the officials of the company said they had reached a point where there were a great many bodies. From this time on the work of bringing out the dead will be done more rapidly.” (CET 12.10.07 pg. 1)

At the morgue:

“The rapid recovery of the bodies is making lively work at the morgue and at a late hour…thirty-five more undertakers were telegraphed for besides the several who arrived early in the evening from Grafton and Fairmont. Spring wagons bringing the bodies from the traction station across the river, to which they are conveyed from the mine openings by an ambulance street car, are followed by throngs of men, women and children, who gather around the morgue and remain in the rain until the bodies are placed in the caskets and laid in state in the bank building for viewing and identification.” (CDT 12.10.07 pg. 1)

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Sunday, December 8, 1907, Night

“At the home of Mrs. John Hearmans, at Monongah, is one more little soul needing the care which the dead father cannot give. Yesterday at about the same time that the body of her husband was brought from the mines Mrs. Hearmans gave birth to a fifth child. Her condition is serious. ‘He shall never be a coal miner,’ she sobs of her little son, as her wet eyes rest upon the casket of her husband.” (CET 12.9.07 pg. 1)

~10:00 pm

“It seems that casualties and disasters follow so closely upon each other that events which in former years would have thrilled the country in when they happened now excites only conventional expressions of pity.” (TBS 12.8.07 pg. 4)

“… the city council sent messages for aid and quick response is expected from surrounding towns.” (TES 12.9.07 pg. 4)

At the mines:

“62 bodies have been taken from the mines late tonight. This number will be augmented by at least 30 more by daylight.” (US Dept of Labor-mine disasters-Dispatch article)

“A young volunteer in a smudged grey sweater, turned out to be the son of a Michigan judge. He had been a mine superintendent at one time and as he had taken a hand in rescue work following 3 explosions they had put him at the head of the exploring work of a party—the most ticklish job of all. ‘These are picked men,’ he explained, ‘at the same time, some hang back when it comes to going into the chambers. If a man goes in there with you, then he’s more than picked. Some like to feel that so we sort of pass the chance around.’ (Kellogg)

“While more headway has been made, the herculean task of recovering scores of the bodies in any recognizable shape has been abandoned, according to the opinion of mine experts on the scene.”

“It was reported yesterday that the undertakers have ceased to embalm the bodies but it was stated at the morgue that these men will not shrink from their duty however unpleasant it is. The company is desirous that the bodies be made as presentable as possible but if the board of health decides that the decomposition is in a stage too far advanced for convenience and safety the bodies will be removed from the mines, identified at the mouth so far as possible, then buried immediately. It is quite likely that this will be done so the chances are that the majority of the women who saw their husbands or sons go down into the mines alive and happy Friday morning will never again gaze upon their faces that are now cold in death, battered, many of them into and unrecognizable mass” (CET 12.9.07 pg. 1)

“I talked with an Irishman from PA who had ‘come to help.’ Beside him was another Pennsylvanian, a rescue man, who had worked 5 days the week before in Naomi mine, where 36 had been killed.” (Kellogg)

“An old miner, with red cheek bones and dusty wisps of hair at the ears, had carried out two dead men who had been overcome by blackdamp while cementing.” (Kellogg)

“Hope has gone that there can be any living soul in the mines, but there is a burning desire on the part of relatives to obtain possession of the bodies. If this cannot be granted their grief will know no bounds. Thus in gloom and doubt and despair passed the saddest Sunday Fairmont has ever seen.” (CET 12.9.07 pg. 1)

In Monongah:

“One of the many sad occurrences of the disaster and its consequences was the death Sunday night of Mrs. Lawrence Heinerman, widow of one of the victims of the disaster, whose body was among the first taken out of Mine No. 6. She died of childbirth and doubtless her delicate condition was aggravated by the mine horror.” (CDT 12.9.07 pg. 1)

Mrs. John Hinerman, wife of one of the first victims that was found gives birth and dies in labor. Her death leaves 5 small children without any parent. The child died also. (FWV 12.9.07 pg. 1)

More on How Death Gloated!

Saturday, December 7, 1907, Late Night 10:00 pm – Midnight

“Mining experts pronounce the rescue work in this disaster the most thorough ever provided under similar circumstances, and friends and relatives receive every courtesy and consideration.” (NYTb 12.8.07 pg. 3)

~10:00 pm

At the morgue:

“One hundred and twenty-five bodies had been brought to the surface tonight and the dozen undertakers from this and surrounding towns, who have been on duty since the catastrophe had the bodies washed and made as presentable as possible in an improvised morgue, into which one of the nine buildings has been converted.” (RP 12.8.07 pg. 1)

At the mines:

Floyd W. Parsons spends the night working “in the wrecked mines” (FWV 12.10.07 pg. 2)

Rescue efforts shift to recovery efforts as teams enter, explore, and exit finding only dead bodies.

“The condition of the bodies thus far recovered is horrible; many are dismembered, some fearfully crushed and the rest blackened and burned beyond recognition.” (DASB 12.8.07 pg. 1) (LAH 12.8.07 pg. 1) (ES 12.8.07 pg. 1)

“A score or more of men of rescuing parties are in a critical condition tonight from inhaling black damp, and several of them are not expected to live.” (DASB 12.8.07 pg. 1) (LAH 12.8.07 pg. 1)

In Monongah:

“In certain vicinities of Monongah the newspaper representatives visited house after house in rotation and found that in every home there was grief and mourning as a result of the terrible catastrophe. In some instances, it was the father who left his family at 7 o’clock yesterday morning or a son or brother to enter the unsuspected death trap. When this grief and suffering is witnessed human tongue cannot describe the scene of horror and suffering that is being witnessed here.” (FWV 12.9.07 – pg. 7)

postcard - camden ave — Camden Avenue in Monongah

~11:00 pm

(Out of Pittsburg) “A special to the Gazette-Times from Fairmont W. Va., says: ‘That at least ten members of the heroic band of rescuers will die of gas poisoning was admitted tonight by the physicians who are attending them as they are drawn out of the mines unconscious…” (DASB 12.8.07 pg. 1)

At the mines:

Telephones are established between both mines and the company office. There is a telephone at foot of the slope in #6 and a telephone is regularly moved along the main heading as work advances in #8. (McAteer)

“The gases are still strong in the No. 6 mine and scores of rescuers have been overcome and carried to the hospitals. With the exception of Charles Cain, the company’s inspector, one of those overcome is in a serious condition.” (WH 12.8.07 pg. 1)

Chief Mine Inspector Paul and all of the State District inspectors have arrived and taken over the rescue and recovery work. 6 inspectors are assigned to each mine – 3 for each shift. They will serve in an advisory capacity, oversee the progress, and will assist in exploring and locating bodies. (McAteer)

Work forces are formally organized into 3 crews of 6 men each and rescue crews are changed out regularly. A squad of 4 men with a leader did disinfecting.

The workmen are composed of volunteers from other mines.

About 40-50 men are employed on each shift. Each man is furnished with a Wolf safety lamp to test for foul air; his name is taken down, assigned a number and he is given a tin check bearing that number. On entering and leaving the mine his number is recorded; no one is to be given a check unless he is a workman or an official. (McAteer)

Shifts in #8 were 8 hours long. Shift in #6 were 6 hours long. As work progressed in #6 it took about an hour to walk from the surface to working places, meaning the shift in all was still 8 hrs. (McAteer)

“Only the strict discipline of the officials has prevented many of the men from rushing into useless danger. The best men in the company’s employ, and under the direction of the State mine department, are watching the work with a view to protecting those who are searching for the dead.” (WH 12.8.07 pg. 1)

“Starting tomorrow, a new system of rescue work will be inaugurated at both mines. It is the intention to dispense with the services of the miners who have been employed in either of the mines. In their places there will be about 200 expert mining men from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, all of whom have volunteered. These men, under the direction of Chief Mine Inspector Paul of West Virginia, who arrived today from Charleston, will be more fitted to render effective service in the recovering of the dead. The reason for this is that conditions now existing in the mines are extremely dangerous, and it is feared, should inexperienced men make an incorrect move, a second explosion would occur, which would completely wreck the mines.” (ES 12.8.07 pg. 1) (BDT 12.8.07 pg. 1)

More on How Death Gloated!

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.

More on How Death Gloated!

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.

More on How Death Gloated!

Saturday, December 7, 1907 Dawn – Late Morning (6:00 am – 11:00 am)

“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)

More on How Death Gloated!

Saturday, December 7, 1907 Midnight – 5:00 am

“Through the night the vigil of a large crowd of people did not lag from that during the day. Forbidden to approach near the opening because of the barriers and ropes and heavy guard, they waited on the trolley embankment anxiously awaiting above the opening and watching the work of those on the outside of the mine who assisted the rescuing party. Here the crowd is thick with the wives and daughters of the hundred entombed fifteen hundred to two thousand feet beneath the surface, and with tear-stained and drawn faces watch with unbroken gaze the opening.” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)

Midnight

12.7.07 - pg 1 - disaster 2 — CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1

At #6:

“Of these victims six dead bodies had been taken from mine No 6 and sixty-five others were piled up in the entry awaiting the completion of facilities for bringing them to the surface.” (WED 12.7.07 pg. 8)

At #8:

“Deputy Mine Inspector F.E. Parsons, of Clarksburg, and General Superintendent John Brooks, of the Clarksburg Fuel Company, are leading the rescue work at this mine and are assisted by Superintendent Albert J. Ruckman and John Brennen, Superintendent of the West Fairmont shaft, with a squad of some twenty men.” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)

The Morgues:

As the bodies arrive on the surface, they are examined right at the mine by Dr. F.W. Hill and other medical volunteers.

In one of the nearby emergency hospitals at the mine mouth, now a temporary morgue, one of the dozens of volunteer undertakers from the area will search any remaining clothing pockets for personal items and make any notation possible of the body and its discovered location in hopes it will aid in identification.

In these first hours of systematically managing the dead, physicians require little time to ascertain how several met their death based on nothing more than their burnt and/or mangled bodies. Those in these conditions, like a brakeman who was found in one of the mines as nothing more than a headless and limbless torso, will be impossible to embalm and display for identification.

After each one is quickly checked for cause of death it is placed in a casket on hand or shrouded as best as possible. Several bodies are placed on a horse-drawn wagon filled with straw and carried across the river to east side of town where the temporary morgue in the First National bank is finally prepared to start accepting, washing, embalming, and dressing the victims.

Throughout the night and following day, throngs of families and onlookers crowd around the carts as they travel across the river. They frequently block the forward path and frighten the horses, making the transport slow and difficult.

“The bodies brought to the surface during the night were washed and made as presentable as possible by a dozen undertakers from this and surrounding towns and placed in one of the mine buildings which was converted into a temporary morgue.” (RIA 12.7.07 pg. 1) (ETR 12.7.07 pg. 1)

~1:00 am

At #8:

J.C. Gaskill moves from mine #6 to #8 and remains there “recovering bodies” (Inquiry)

Fire discovered once again in #8, this time in the 1st north heading about 450’ from the pit mouth. However, more brattice work will need to constructed in the area before the workers can actually reach the location of the fire.

“The openings in the ground were all covered with canvass to shut off the draft and the hose was turned on the fire soon after it was discovered.” (FWV 12.7.07 – pg.1)

~2:00 am

“…near No. 8 Howard Preston, colored, of Monongah, was taken out, and also four Italians, names unknown.” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)

~3:00 am

At #8:

#8 is still burning “…with no prospect of extinguishing the blaze and hundreds of dead miners will be burned. Excitement is intense and the whole town is out fighting the flames.” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)

Dozens line up down the bank to the river and haul water brought in buckets to the mine mouth. Fire extinguishers have also been brought in from Fairmont.

At the mines:

“During the night few women were to be seen, but all day yesterday the women were the chief actors in most pathetic and heartrending scenes.” (WED 12.7.07 pg. 1) (ES 12.7.07 pg. 1)

Throughout the night, men stood about the mouth of the mines. “They said nothing but when approached and asked questions they would give way to their emotions, often to tears.” (RIA 12.7.07 pg. 1)

~3:20 am

The body of Charles Honaker is brought to the morgue. (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)

~3:30 am

At the mines:

“…eleven bodies had been brought from mine Nos 6 and 8 and placed in the temporary morgue.” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“To date eleven bodies have been taken out of #6 opening and two from a small opening about a quarter mile from #8 opening. All available means are being used to hasten an entrance into the mines where dead bodies are now entombed.” (FWV 12.7.07 – pg.1)

~4:00 am

“The officers of the company checked up their list of employees so far as possible, and later stated that at least 380 men were in the mine when the disaster occurred. Their list, they admit, is not complete, and statements that 500 men were caught by the explosion go unchallenged.” (TBE 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“It is given out by officials of the two wrecked mines that the number of entombed miners will reach 450. Mine officials have these classed as follows: Americans,100; Polanders, 150; Italians 275; Total, 450.” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“The mine records, time books and other information lead to the conclusion that 450 will cover the number completely, but it is not thought the number will fall under that and there exists the firm belief with the officials that all have perished.” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“There is no question whatever but that four hundred, possibly more, are dead, said Superintendent Malone this morning.” (RP 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“President Watson of the mining company stated this morning every possible investigation will be made to ascertain the cause and fix the responsibility.” (RIA 12.7.07 pg. 1)

~5:00 am

At #6:

“At 5 o’clock this morning seventy-nine blackened bodies had been recovered. Six bodies were brought from No. 6 mine.” (TBE 12.7.07 pg. 1)

Inside #8:

Workers are winning the battle with the fire in #8.

In Monongah:

“The wives and children of many of the entombed men have not left the mouths of the shafts since the first alarm was given. The night was a cold one and the mourners suffered intensely, but few heeded the offers of shelter from their friends. Several of the women fell unconscious or went temporarily mad from grief and exposure and had to be carried or forcibly removed from the scene of the disaster.” (WT 12.7.07 pg. 1)

In Fairmont:

FCC suspends operations in all mines today and Malone orders all experienced supervisors and craftsmen from surrounding mines to come and help speed the rescue. (FWV 12.7.07 – pg. 1 – noon)

Every undertaker in Fairmont is contracted and the supply of readily available coffins in the area is immediately exhausted.

“The company has sent rush orders for coffins to Pittsburg, Zanesville, and other towns, the total number ordered up to this time being 380.” (WED 12.7.07 pg. 1)

“Four hundred coffins have been ordered by the Fairmont Coal Company. All of these boxes will be used—sooner or later—for it may be weeks before all of the victims of the mine explosion are recovered. Possibly the order will be increased.” (WT 12.7.07 pg. 1)

In Monongah:

“Gloom possesses the entire town as never before in the history of Marion county and excepting the piteous cries of bereft families,…the town was wrapped in death-like stillness last night.” (CDT 12.7.07 pg. 1)