Virginia, AL Mine Explosion, Feb 1905 - Death Toll Estimated at 116

WATER FLOODS MINE FILLED WITH BODIES

Force of the Explosion Bursts Pipes-Now Believed That Many Virginia City Miners Were Drowned in Chambers

TOTAL DEATH LIST ESTIMATED AT 116

Work of Rescuers Slow Because of Poisonous Gas and Water-Only Fifty Bodies Thus Far Brought to Surface

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Feb. 22.-Two staff correspondents of the Birmingham News, who have just returned from the Virginia mines this morning, say forty-eight bodies have been taken out. A number of corpses, the rescuers reported, are still in sight, but could not be reached because of the water. The explosion broke the water pipes and flooded a large portion of the mine. It is therefore possible not a few of the men were drowned, as several bodies have been seen floating around in the flooded rooms. Forty-four corpses have been taken to Bessemer, where a vacant storehouse has been secured and is being used as a morgue. Within that building bodies in every form of mutilation are stretched out on the floor for identification.

In very many instances it is impossible to identify the corpses, they are so badly blackened and mangled. Absolutely no hope is held out now of finding any one alive in the mine, especially in view of the discovery that many of the rooms have been flooded. There was a report several men taken alive, but this afterwards was denied as true. It is now stated the muscles of three bodies were relaxed when they were brought out, but there was not life in the bodies.

CORONER PARIS is busy inquiring into the disaster, having already empaneled a jury.

Newspaper men who have made a close estimate on the number of men in the mine, say there were 116, and there is no doubt but every man perished. From now on the work of recovering the bodies will be slow because of the presence of water in the mine.

The Fort Worth Telegram, Ft. Worth, TX 22 Feb 1905