The following was posted to the Hampshire Co. List by a cousin, and I am reposting it to this one for those of you who may not subscribe to that one. NEWS TRIBUNE MAY 5, 1911 FUNERAL SERVICES OVER 23 MINERS WHO PERISHED IN NO 20 MINE ELK GARDEN W VA APRIL 24TH The dead are buried. The ghastly scenes that will remain in our memories while life shall last are now in the past. The heart still aches, but submits to the awful stroke, and feels that some day we shall understand. It was stated last week that Festival and Moody's Halls were diverted into morgues and undertakers F C Rollman and Wm H Kight were given charge of the dead jointly. These undertakers and their assistants worked faithfully at their gruesome task. Hundreds of persons, home people and strangers, visited the morgues when conditions were suitable and thus realized to some extent the force of the awful calamity. Some of the dead were burned about the face and hands, some were bruised and faces scarred, while others showed no external signs of violence, but seemed to be calmly sleeping. Wm Pearson's remains were taken to Lonaconing Wed morning to the home of his sister, Mrs Wm Reiber, for interment. His age is 32 years and he leaves a wife and three small children. On Wed afternoon at five o'clock four of the Wilson's were interred in Nethken Hill cemetery. Revs. J W Bedford and L C Messick conducted the church service. The remains in the four caskets which were in the church at the same time were, John Wilson, aged 57 years, 5 months and 16 days. He leaves a wife and a number of children, all adults. Lester Wilson, aged 18 years, 2 months and 26 days, leaves a young wife. George Roy Wilson, aged 23 years, 6 months, 16 days, leaves a wife and two small children. Frank (Thomer) Wilson, aged 23 years, leaves a wife and two small children. Lester and George Wilson were both sons of Jno R Wilson and Frank Wilson his son-in-law. Thursday was funeral day. The undertakers did their parts exceedingly well, and worked almost exact schedule time. the congregations gathered quietly and quickly and while one interment was going on in the cemetery, another funeral was being held in the church. The M E Church South, was used for all church funerals on Wed. The large crowds of people at the cemeteries, on the streets, and in the church were noted for their quiet demeanor and orderly conduct. At seven o'clock in the morning Father O'Hara conducted the funeral services in the Catholic Church of James Dempsey, aged 57 years, Leo Dempsey, aged 23 years, and James Brown, aged 38 years. James Dempsey leaves a wife, one married and four single daughters and a small boy. His remains and that of his son Leo were taken to Barton for burial. James Brown leaves a wife, and two small children. His remains and those of Wm Buski, aged about 25 years, were taken to Westernport for burial. At nine o'clock Rev Geo W Yost preached the funeral sermon of Harry Trainum, aged 26 years, at his residence. He leaves a wife and one small child. At ten o'clock the funeral services of John R Prichard, aged 48 years, 8 months and 16 days, and his son, Arthur Prichard, aged 17 years, 9 months, and 28 days, were conducted at the church by Rev L C Messick. Mr Prichard leaves a wife and seven children, some of whom are grown. At eleven o'clock in the church the funeral rites of Charles Wilson, aged 21 years and unmarried, son of Floyd Wilson, was conducted by Rev W J Bernard. At twelve o'clock Rev J W Bedford conducted the funeral services of John White Sr, aged 42 years, and John White Jr, aged 24 years in the church. John White Sr. is a widower and leaves two daughters, Mrs Maude Shriber and Miss Goldie. John White Jr was single and was known by the name of "Geet." At one o'clock the funeral services of Ed Hershbarger were conducted at his late residence by Rev L C Messick. His age was 33 years, 2 months and 17 days. He was the son-in-law of Rev W S Rau, and leaves a wife and two small children. At two o'clock the funeral services of Hawthorn Patton, aged 20 years, son of F C Patton, was conducted by Rev J F Leeper in the church. Red Men of Elk Garden and Modern Woodmen of Kitzmiller Md, attended this funeral. At three o'clock, the funeral services of William Hetzel, aged 61 years, were conducted in the church by Rev L C Messick. He leaves a wife and two grown daughters, one a widow and one single. The Mystic Chain attended this funeral. At four o'clock, Rev J F Leeper conducted the rites of William Pugh, aged 24 years and Frank Pugh, aged 29 years, at the residence of their father, John Pugh. Both were unmarried. Frank Pugh was a fireman on the B&O and had been home on a furlough several months. At five o'clock the funeral services of Walter Runion, son of John Runion, aged 19 years, 11 months, and 14 days, and Wilbur Shears, aged 31 years, 1 month, and 23 days, were conducted by Rev L C Messick in the church. Walter Runion was unmarried, but Wilbur Shears leaves a wife and five small children. At six-thirty, the funeral services of Thomas Yost, aged 29 years, 4 months and 9 days were conducted in the church by Rev L C Messick. He leaves a wife and three small children. Thus, as the evening shades were falling, the last of the ill fated miners were laid to rest. Rev L C Messick was assisted by Rev A B Mann of Bayard, Rev Geo Burgess of Laurel Dale, and Rev W S Ran of Virginia. The choir was composed of Misses May Arnold, Lizzie Grant, Olie Clark, Lou Barrick, Mrs Maude Grant, Mrs Rosa Dean, Mr and Mrs D C Arnold, Messrs James Norman and David McKinley of Elk Garden, and Prof Groves, Mr Burns, and Mrs Richard Markwood of Kitzmiller. But what will the Davis Coal & Coke Company do for the widows and friends of the unfortunate victims of the explosion? In the first place, $400 will be paid for each death, which is the amount of miners' insurance with the Company. In the second place, the Company pays the funeral expenses, which amounts to $2160.60, and further the widows are allowed to get goods at the B&L store to satisfy their immediate needs, and the prices of the goods is not deducted form the insurance. In giving credit for heroism displayed in rescue work at the mine we do not wish to detract any credit due the many faithful mine officials, but we do wish to commend the miners of the Elk Garden region, including Wabash, Oakmont, Kitzmiller and from distant mines for their coolness, skill and daring. It was their brother miners entombed and they toiled, they braved the dangerous gases, they reeled under the influence of the poison, and when refreshed plunged into the mines again. The city dailies drew on their imagination in stating that women and children were at the mines uttering heart-rending cries. The women in nearly every case staid at home, and there patiently bore the awful suspense until their loved ones lifeless forms were brought to them by the undertaker. It is difficult to tell which were the greater heroes, the women remaining at home in the deepest grief, watching, hoping, praying, or the miners braving the deadly gases to rescue the bodies of their unfortunate comrades.