European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 15, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday september 15. 1989 the stars and stripes Page 5 Flash fire kills 10 in by. Coal mine Wheatcroft. By. A meth Ane Gas ignited in a hash like a flame thrower in a Coal mine wednesday kill ing 10 miners in the nation s worst Coal mine disaster in five years. There were conflicting reports of the number of miners injured in the 9 30 . Fire at the William station mine in Western Kentucky but its Parent company. Costain Coal inc. Said no one was trapped underground. The mine run by Costain s subsidiary Pyro mining co., had been cited by the Federal mine safety and health administration for High lev Els of methane Gas about two months ago. Co Tain president Charles Schullier acknowledged at a news Confer ence wednesday night. Kathy Snyder. An Moha official who attended the news conference said her Agency and the Kentucky department of mines and minerals would begin an investigation on thursday. Methane the major ingredient of Natu ral Gas is found naturally in Coal seams. Mine ventilation systems normally keep it below explosive concentrations. The death toll made it the nation s worst Coal mine disaster since 27 miners were killed in 1984 in a mine in Utah said Moha spokesman Frank o Gorman. He said the dead were believed to have died of Carbon monoxide poisoning. The ignition Point of the fire apparently was near part of a mining machine that was being dismantled to be moved. O Gorman said. The exact cause of the fire was not immediately known. But Moha spokes Man Sam Stafford said such tires arc usually caused when a piece of Metal equipment hits Stone and causes a spark. He said such fires Are Small but like a flame  company officials said the Miner who died were about 1.000 feet under ground when the explosion occurred. Jim Irce Lee. An executive vice presi Dent of Costain Coal said 14 to 15 min ers were in the immediate area when the Jet of flame erupted and another 15 workers within 1.000 feel. There was smoke in the area and it took some time to locate All the i Dividu  arc Celce said. Rescue teams were sent into the Shaft to remove the bodies said state trooper de Drady. There s an indication that some of them had survived the initial explosion and succumbed to the smoke and dust Schultis said. Well know More about that when the Coroner issues his  officials believed some of the dead miners survived initially because somewhere found wearing self rescuing units which provide a source of fresh air for miners in emergencies. Schultis said. He did not provide additional details. Police scaled off the area around the mine and families of the dead miners were directed to a company Headquarters building just outside Wheatcroft. A town of about 300 people. All employees were immediately pulled out of the mine and All workers had been accounted for Schullier said. The mine which Schultis said pm ploys 367 miners on three shifts is about 140 Miles Southwest of Louisville and 40 Miles Southwest of Evansville ind. Mayor Larry Cowan who worked 23 years in mines said most people of the town earn their livings in the Coal Industry. We know invariably it could Hap pen but it s always supposed to be some one else Cowan said. The mine was described As a highly mechanized Long Wall operation. In Long Wall mining a mining machine continuously moves a Cutter from Side to Side along a Long exposed Coal face. As the Cutter is moved Forward with conveyors which remove the loosened Coal Hydraulic jacks arc positioned to support the newly exposed mine roof. La. Attorney says evidence against Bradley insufficient los  a mayor Tom Bradley walked a Gray area of the Law As a paid consultant to two savings bank1, doing business with the City but evidence is insufficient to prosecute him the City at Torney said wednesday. Bradley instead faces a civil lawsuit that alleges six violations of failing to report investments two of them in excess of $100.000. City attorney James Hahn filed the lawsuit in los Angeles Superior court at about the same Lime As he released a 1,613-Page report on the mayor s conduct. The report was based on a five month investigation by Hahn s office into Bradley s relationship with far East National Bank and Valley Federal savings and loan association. No vindication of the mayor s conduct is intended implied or should in any Way be inferred Hahn wrote in the report. The mayor clearly stepped into that Gray area of the Law Between factual innocence and a chargeable  Bradley did not immediately respond to the report or the lawsuit but was scheduled to speak on the mat Ter wednesday evening. Although Hahn described his five month investigation As exhaustive and unprecedented in scope and purpose it was limited to a narrow Range of questions about the mayor s outside financial dealings. Still unresolved Ore questions about possible illegalities involving a City funded task Force for Africa Brad Lcy s ties to the investment banking firm of Drexel Burnham Lambert inc. And an alleged cover up by the City treasurer s office. Hahn said it was apparent a March 22 Telephone Call from Bradley to City treasurer Leonard Rittenburg influenced Miltenberg to Deposit $2 million in City funds with far East National Bank. Bradley was paid si8.000 As a consultant to far East. It was also obvious. I Lahn said that someone altered financial bid sheets following a reporter s Iii airy about the far East Deposit. A Section of the bid sheets that contained the words per the mayor had been blotted out. There s no question in my mind that there was a cover up but we could find no evidence linking that to the mayor the City attorney said. Hahn noted however that a criminal investigation into the treasurer s activities is continuing. While much of the report dealt with the mayor s relationship with far East he also received at least $89,000 in consulting fees since 1979, from Valley Federal. The mayor was a consultant for Valley Federal Dur ing a time in which the Thrift had a $2.7 million tax dispute with the City and at a time that zoning changes were sought from the City by developments backed by Valley Federal. Bradley has since resigned from consulting positions with both Banks. The 11-Page lawsuit alleging violations of the state government code does not specify the penalties sought by the City attorney. However Hahn and Brad icy were expected to negotiate Over approximately $2.2 million in possible fines. The suit alleges that Bradley intentionally or negligently failed to report personal financial interests to taling More than $200,000. In some instances the mayor s investments were made through the local office of Drexel and Halm referred that aspect of the investigation to the Federal securities and Exchange commission. Two handed greeter president Bush shakes hands with visitors in the White House s Rose Garden on wednesday after signing a proclamation honouring dare a los Angeles based program promoting drug abuse resistance education. Mime of time in the stars and stripes 40 years ago today. Sept. 15. 1949 West German president Theodor cuss nominated or. Konrad Adenauer Leader of the three party right Wing coalition and a staunch anti communist As Chancellor of the new German Republic. 30 years ago foday. Sept. 15, 1959 president Eisenhower signed into Law a Bill regulating internal affairs of labor unions and limiting their Boycott and picketing activities. 20 years ago foday. Sept 15 1969 Senate democratic Leader Mike Mansfield said the possibility of a prolonged Vietnam cease fire had been ruled out by president Nixon s decision to renew b-52 bombing raids Over the South. 10 years ago foday. Sept 15 1979 Justice department sources reported the Fri was investigating a new allegation that White House chief of staff Hamilton Jordan used cocaine. But Jordan denied the charges As completely  to preacher Roberts to sell House Hospital Tulsa okla. A evangelist Oral Roberts has announced he will close his City of Faith Hospital and medical school and sell his Home to help make up for a $25 million deficit caused by a drop in donations. Four other ministry owned facilities including his evangelist son Richard s House and an 830-unit housing Complex for married students at Oral Roberts University Here also will be sold Rob erts told a Campus news conference wednesday. Roberts raised $8 million in 1987 for the medical school after saying god would end his life if the Money did come in. Wednesday he left open the possibility some Miracle could Hap pen but said the closure was necessary to save the 4,300-Studcnt University. Roberts has blamed the Sharp decline in donations to his ministry on a spirit of scepticism in the Wake of scandals involving fellow evangelists Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart. Oral Roberts 6,328-Square-fool, four bedroom Home was valued at about$500,000 in 1987. The value of his son s 7,091-Square-foot, two Story Home was put at $547,000 that year. City of Faith Hospital employs 600staff members and the medical school has 147 students and about 100 faculty said school Dean or. Larry Edwards