Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-01-31
Explosion in a Colorado Mine
Causes the Death of 81 Men.
Fire Damp Said to be the
Cause of the Disaster.
A Thousand Men Digging for the
Dead and Dying.
Death to Miners.

tea Dulle, OuHHlSOH county, IN the
Crested Butte coal mine. From forty
to fifty miners, it is believed, lost their
lives in the awful affair. The explos-
ion blockaded the entrance to the
mine in which the men were at work,
so that the exact extent of the disaster
is, at present, unknown. The scene
around the entrance to the mine was
pitiful in the extreme, the wives and
other female relatives of the victims
crowding around and giving vent to
their overpowering grief by the bitter
est lamentations. A large force of
men are at work clearing away the
debris to attempt a rescue, and efforts
will not be relaxed a single minute
until the men are eXtricated, alive or
dead. The mine was owned and
operated by the Colorado Coal & Iron
company Ninety men are employed
by the concern, and at least fifty of
them were in the shaft at the time of
the explosion. The mine is noted for
the production of the best coal found
in Colorado. 1t is said that the sever
ity Of the explosion was due to the
strength of the gas in the mine, no
other mine in the world being so liable
TO explosions from this source. Re
conizing the great danger of such ex-
plosions, the company had prepared
the most perfect ventilation possible
and had fitted out the premises gener-
ally in the most approved manner
with view TO the safety of their oper-
alton. This popularity referred to
was perfectly understood by the en-
ployes and was throughout the coun-
try well known among the mining
fraternity.
PAINFUL UNCERTAINTY.
GUNNIsoN, Colo, Jan. 28-A ter
rible explosion occurred this morning
in the Colorado Coal and Iron Com
pany's mine at Crested Butte. So far
only the most meagre details have
been received here, but the loss of
life is supposed to be terrible. There
were siXty-seven men in the mine at
the time. OF those, eleven who were
Just entering were thrown back to the
entrance by the force of the explo-
sion, and have been rescued. One of
these is dead, and all the others are
badly injured Fifty-six men yet in
the mine and cannot be reached.
They are all supposed to be dead.
The explosion was of such force as to
entirely wreck the engine house,
which stood 100 feet from the en-
trance. 1t is supposed that the ex
plosion was caused be a leak in the
air compressor The Crested Butte
people are doing all possible to rescue
: L.
up from here with doctors and others
on board.
THE VICTIMS.
DENVER, Colo, Jan. 2S.-The ex-
pl0sion of the Crested Butte coal mine
this morning was one of the most
appalling that ever occurred in coal
mine IN this country. Crested Butte,
near which the mine is located, is
coal mining town thirty miles north
of Gunnison City, ON the Denver 81
Rio Grand railroad. The cause of
the explosion is not definitely known,
but is supposed to have been fire
damp, The explosion occurred either
in chamber No. / 2, just half an
hour after the day force of seventy
seven men had gone to work. There
were ten men to work in one cham
Der. Four of these escaped Unhurt,
except one man, John Angus, who
was in the passage just outside the
chamber. He is badly burned, bat
will recover. Fifty-seven men were
at work in Chambers No 1 and No.
2 These are all thought to have
persisted. The explosion was of such
force as to completely barricade the
main entrance, and appliance for
supplying air, located near was
badly wrecked and the roof of the
tramway blown off. The men work
on anthracite with night torch of G.
{. & 1. company's miners. Citizens
generally are working hard to rescue
the men, although it is thought that
none can possibly escape alive. The
town hall has been prepared for the
dead AS soon as possible the fan was
repaired and put to work pumping air
INTO the mine, and men were sent to
work removing the distractions, so as
to reach the chamber and get the
bodies out tonight if possible.
HEARTRENDTNG SCENES.
A special train left Gunnison City
at 2 this afternoon with surgeons and
a large number of citizens to render
all aid possible. The town of Crested
Butte is in mourning. Crowds Of
women cluster about the entrance to
the mine, praying, wringing their
hands and crying piteausly, present
ing scene most heartrending. 1t is
said that at the time of the explosion
there were ten kegs of black powder
ln chambers 1 and ?, where the men
We're working, and where the exPlo-
sion IS said to have taken place The
mine has three miles of drifting, and
so it is impossible to definitely locate
the accident until rescuing parties
can gain admittance The mine has
long been considered dangerous by
those who were acquainted with it.
While one of the best producing
mines in the country, its operation
has always been attended with mere
or less
APPREHENSION AND REAL DANGER.
tkIt re g. I eofI