Virginia, AL Mine Explosion, Feb 1905 - 50 Bodies Recovered

AWFUL MINE CALAMITY

AS RESULT OF TERRIFIC EXPLOSION IN VIRGINIA MINE NEAR BIRMINGHAM.

NONE LEFT TO TELL TALE

FIFTY BODIES HAVE BEEN RECOVERED AND IT IS BELIEVED ALL ARE DEAD.

One Hundred and Sixty Hapless Victims - Gruesome and Harrowing Scenes at the Mouth of the Mines-Bodies of the Mangled Miners Being Gathered Up in Pieces.

Birmingham, Ala., Feb. 21.-The scene at the Virginia mines today, where a terrific explosion yesterday imprisoned 160 men 100 feet below the surface, was the most gruesome and harrowing that has ever been witnessed in this section of Alabama.

Of the miners who entered the mine yesterday, so far only 50 bodies have been recovered. It is believed of the remaining 110 men none is alive. Practically isolated from the outside world, the Associated Press reporter found it necessary to employ a courier to intersect its wires three miles distant. The corpses are frightfully mangled and disfigured and identification is almost impossible. Many of them are so badly bruised and discolored that negroes cannot be told from white men. All day long at the mouth of the mine the moaning and wailing of women and children whose unfortunate relatives were in the mines has been the most heartrending feature of the disaster. One hundred families and 360 children are left destitute and without means of support by the calamity. As the bodies of the victims which in many cases have been gathered together a piece at a time, are brought to the surface, they are placed in rows on a rough, improvised platform.

The work of the diggers at the mines has been an inspiration to the directors and every one has done all in his power to facilitate the work of rescue. The excavation of debris has been handicapped from the start. The foul gases which had collected in the shaft made it necessary to use safety lamps and it was found that less than a score of safety lamps were available in the district. Union miners went to the scene from practically every mining camp within a radius of 25 miles of Virginia City to aid in the work of rescue.

Of the fifty bodies recovered one was found which was barely alive. Scant hope is held out for his recovery. PRESIDENT FLYNN, of the Alabama United Workers, said to the Associated Press tonight:

"I shall be surprised if a single person escapes alive from that mine. Ventilation is very difficult and if the men were not killed by the explosion, they have certainly been suffocated by the gases. The bodies so far reached were in the main slope and it will be several days before we can ket [sic] to the rooms which branch off from the main slope."

Horrible Sights.

One of the most gruesome sights witnessed today was a man's head being carried out of the mine in a dinner basket. It was found in this position and the flesh was almost entirely burned away from the skull, arms and mangled trunks were brought out in succession. After nightfall the entrance to the mine was converted into a veritable chamber of horrors. The awfulness of this was intensified by the flickering of lamps as the feeble rays fell upon the mangled and bleeding fragments of human flesh, strewn about the entrance.

Many stout hearted men who had been assisting in the work of rescue were forced to give up the task and numerous persons have fainted upon seeing the ghastly array of bodies.

Several women became hysterical, others fainted and still others had to be placed in the hands of attending surgeons, being completely prostrated by the terrible scenes. When bodies are identified a tag is placed on each and special ambulance wagons conveyed them to Bessemer.

Mine Boss REED is confident that more than a hundred men in the mines were white and believes all perished.

The Grand Forks Daily Herald, Grand Forks, ND 22 Feb 1905