NEWS: Cambria Freeman; 1909; Ebensburg, Cambria Cnty., PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ Cambria Freeman Ebensburg, Pa. Friday, 25 Jun 1909 Volume 43, Number 26 **[Partly faded] Local and Personal Johnnie, a little son of John E. Thompson of Julian Street, while playing on the road Saturday morning, was knocked over by a horse and pretty badly bruised about the head, but luckily was not much injured. Professor Lady, a graduate of State College, has been elected principal of the Ebensburg public schools for the coming term and Miss Elsie Eisenhart, assistant. Mrs. J. Milton Connell and children of Ardmore, Pa., are visiting Mrs. Connell's mother and sister, Mrs. V. S. Barker and daughter, Miss Edna, of the East ward. Mrs. W. T. Davis and sons, Ronald and Harold, and daughter, Dorothy, are here from Altoona, visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. H. Davis. Wednesday W. N. Bolsinger and Edward Minor caught a string of 21 trout all of nice size and captured a fine young groundhog. Miss Mazie Lloyd, daughter of Postmaster and Mrs. J. G. Lloyd, has gone to Kane, Pa., where she will remain for several weeks. Charles Black of St. Vincent's College is the guest of his cousin, Father H. M. O'Neill, pastor of the Catholic church in this place. Howard Jervis of Seattle, Washington, formerly a resident of Cambria Township, is visiting friends and relatives in this place. Cresson Items Cresson, June 21 Frank Byers of Barnesboro was a pleasant visitor in town Saturday. H. G. Huff and wife and H. M. Breth and wife left Saturday on an extended trip to Brownville where they will spend some time visiting relatives and friends. Frank Dodson of Pittsburg is spending a few days visiting friends and relatives at this place. A. A. Noel of Munster was a business caller in town Monday. The school board held a meeting in the Keystone Avenue building Friday evening, when the following teachers were elected for the coming term of school: The Misses Clara Moran, Hulda Burd, Bertha Taylor, Maud O'Hara and Kathryn Lynch. The directors have not yet chosen the principal. Gallitzin Girl Graduates Miss M. Bengele, daughter of the late Joseph Bengele, as one of those who graduated last Tuesday from St. Joseph's Academy at Seton Hill, Greensburg. Seventeen Killed in Mine Explosion Letgo in Lackawanna Mine at Wehrum on Wednesday Morning Robs Men of Lives Over a Score are Badly Hurt Wehrum, June 23 -- Seventeen dead and 22 seriously injured, one of the latter fatally. That tells the complete story of the explosion in the mine of the Lackawanna Coal and Coke Company here this morning. The rescuing parties are satisfied that all of the dead bodies and living coal diggers have been taken from the ill-fated pit. If any man or men remains on the interior there is absolutely no chance for his or their being taken out alive. Mine Inspectors Louther, Blower and Williams are making an inspection of the entire opening. That there was a gas explosion in the Lackawanna mine this morning, between 7 and 8 o'clock is the opinion of some of the mining experts who have seen the interior of the pit. Yet two weeks ago a mine inspector gave the place a clean bill, reporting absolutely no sign of gas. Supt. Johnson of the Lackawanna Company's local operations said this afternoon: "I do not know that the explosion this morning was the result of an accumulation of gas. We have never had any of this dangerous stuff in our mines here. The accident may have been the result of an explosion of coal dust, caused by a blast in one of the headings. We will not be able to say definitely just what caused the disaster until a thorough investigation is made." A veteran coal miner and expert "gas man," who refused to allow his name to be mentioned said: "It is singular that in mines reported free from gas the most disastrous death-dealing explosions occur. But this is usually the case. I believe a pocket of gas was released in this mine. The naked lamp of a passing miner did the rest." Be the cause what it may, the explosion today resulted in death to 17 men and serious if not fatal injuries to a score more. The list of dead is as follows: Joe Merriott, age about 37, single Mike Litton, age 32 years, single Alex Shaftok, age 26 years, single Charles Jorda, age 30 years, single Lovey Louis, age 27, single Ernest Marokey, age 27 single Dominick Litton, age 32, married Tony Getest, age 29, single Tony Totena, age about 30, single Charles Digamio, age 24, single Charles Folby, age 30, married George Kowash, age 26, single Simon Raminsky, age 32, single Kastic Sebic, age about 30, single George Lemon, age about 30, single Chas. Lorey, age about 26, single Not however until some of the injured men at the Spangler hospital are able to talk will the story of the explosion as it actually occurred be known. Some of these men must know the cause of it, it is declared, tonight by experts. Some of them must have been in the immediate vicinity of the letgo. And it is believed that what is now much of a mystery will be cleared up when these men are able to talk. The explosion was the result of one of two causes. Either a fall of rock released a pocket of gas and a naked lamp did the rest or a dynamite blast exploded the coal dust. Over two weeks ago Mine Inspector Joseph Williams went through Mine No. 4 and inspected it. He failed to find the slightest trace of gas, as his report will show. Officials of the Lackawanna Company declare that no gas was ever known to exist in the opening and for that reason they are inclined to believe that the explosion was due to a letgo of coal dust. Despite the non-gaseous condition of the mine, the company had a great many of the Davey safety lamps in storage here. Immediately after the explosion these were brought into use. In fact so many of them were given out and were being taken below that expert miners ordered that the local officials recall a number because of the danger attendant upon the use of so many in the ill-fated pit. Naked lamps were used almost exclusively in Mine No. 4 from the time it was opened until today. There were quite a few morbidly curious people in Wehrum, but not as many as would be expect under the circumstances. Although news of the explosion was general in Johnstown before noon there were people residing only a mile from Wehrum who had not heard of it at 3 o'clock Wednesday afternoon and who, when told, expressed unbelief. This is not remarkable, however, in view of the fact that there were men in the mine who were also in ignorance until told by members of the rescuing party. The rescuing parties did good work at Wehrum. Word of the catastrophe had been sent to Vintondale, Possum's Glory, Ebensburg and other towns. At Vintondale was Charles Hower, until recently superintendent of the Vinton Colliery company's operations at that place, and one of the most experienced superintendents in Pennsylvania. Mr. Hower was just about to start to Johnstown where he expected to take a train for Fairmont, W. Va., having an important engagement in that city. But, hearing of the explosion, Mr. Hower postponed his trip and hastily calling several experienced mine men, he started overland for Wehrum. He took with him George Blewitt and William Williams, experienced "gas men," or miners, who hold gas certificates and Mine Foreman Pardos. All four of the party arrived at Wehrum about 9 o'clock and from that time until 6 in the evening, they were tireless in their work of rescue. It was Blewitt who came to the surface at six last night and declared that in his opinion that there were no more bodies or living men in the mine. "I have not yet decided when I will hold the inquest," said Coroner Hammers Wednesday evening. "It will not be for at least a week however." The coroner spent the afternoon in inquiring into the explosion and securing the names of men who will be able to throw some light on the disaster. Chief Clerk Goodwin said that the company would assume charge of the burial of the 17 unfortunates. A number of these will be interred in the local cemetery, while several other bodies will be shipped to other burial grounds. Relatives of the victims are endeavoring to inform other relatives and friends in other localities of the accident, but were hindered greatly because of there being but one telephone line out of Wehrum. The operators, however, gave excellent surface, considering the handicap. The following is a partial list of the injured who were taken to the hospital at Spangler in a special train, many being known in Ebensburg: P. F. Burns, tracklayer; has wife and three children William Burns, motor foreman; wife and five children Cal Hughey, spragger; wife and two children Chris Frazier, track foreman; wife and seven children Fred Thomas, assistant foreman; wife and one child Frank Delegram, trackman and single Some of the men in the Spangler Hospital are seriously burned about the face and hands while others are suffering from the effects of the afterdamp.