The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-01-31
BURIED IN A C0AL-MINE.
A Fightfnl Explosion, Presumably
Caused by Fire-Damp.

Photographic Dispatch from Gunnison. Coll
A terrible explosion, by which over sixty
persons were almost certainly killed, oc-
CURED In the anthracite coal mine at Crested
Butte, a small mining village about thirty
miles from here. The explosion blockaded
the entrance OF the mine, entirely wrecked
the engine-house, which stsod 100 feet from
the mouth OF the mine, and buried alive
ffty-seven miners, besides killing six more.
The news was telegraphed this city ut once,
and two special trains, with hundreds or
strong men and all the doctors, started for
the scene of the disaster.
The cause of the explosion cannot be de6-
nitely learned, but so far as can be discoy
cred was caused by the ignition of fire damp,
which had given great trouble In times past,
and against which the Colorado Coal and iron
company, that worked the mine, had striveu
increasingly. The explosion occurred either
In chamber or 2 just half an hour after the
day force of sixty-seven men had gone to
work. Ten men were working in the first
chamber. Three Of these escaped unhurt.
John Angus, who was In passageway Just
outside the chamber was badly burned, but
will recover. The other six and the fifty
seven men who were at work In chambers2
and are thought to have persisted. The
explosion was of such force as 10 completely
barricade the main entrance. The appliances
for supplying air, located near, were badly
wrecked and the roof of the tramway blown
OF.
The men working on the anthracite mesa,
the night force of the Colorado Coal and Iron
company's mines, and citizens generally.
worked hard all day to rescue the men, al
though IL Is thought none can possibly escape
alive. The town hall has been prepared for
the reception of the dead. AS soon as posi-
BILE the fan was repaired and put to work
pumping air into the mine. The men then
set to work removing the distractions, so as
TO reach the chambers and get the bodies out
as soon as possible.
At this hour everything Is i'm such confu-
sion that IL is impossible to give details.
Crowds OF women cluster about the entrance
to the mine, praying, wringing their hands
and crying piteously, presenting a scene the
most heartrending.
II is said that at the time of the explosion
ten kegs OF black powder were In the cham
beers and two where the men were working,
and where the explosion is supposed TO have
taken place. The mine has long been con-
sidered dangerous by those acquaintcd"wtth
it. While one of the best producing mines In
The country its operation has been attended
with more or less apprehension and resa
danger.
It's a lre-damp NINE" said Superintend
ent Cameron, 'and seems constantly to gen.
crate the most deadly gases In the coaA or m
der 1t. These gases pour out of seams In tho
walls of the tunnels and shafts. Fresh afr u
forced in along the shaft by machinery at the
rate of no less than So, 900 cubic feet every
minute. This is quite sufficient to fully sup
ply the wants of the miners and keep the air
perfectly pure unless something happens TO
cut or or interfere with the supply. We
have always sent interviewer through
every chamber each morning before any Of
the men were allowed to go in. He must
have returned this morning before the work
men started In, and everything must have
been all right when he passed through the
workings"
John Mcneil, the State Mine Inspector. says
he has no doubt that every man in the mine
at the time of the explosion was instantly
killed.
Crested Butte is a small mining town
twentyseight miles north of GunnisOn, on the
Denver and Rio Grande railroad. 1t is head
quarters for Colorado anthracite coal inter
ests, being on the extreme southeastern or
eastern edge of the only anthracite deposits
in Colorado. The Colorado Coal and Iron
company, who own the mine where the dis
aster occurred, are the principal operators OF
the coal mines in this region. This company
is closely allied to the Denver and Rio Grande
RAILROAD company,