McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-01-31
last stages ought to do even more for
the first approach Of this deceptive yet
terrible trouble. F. B.
CHOKED BY FIRE-DAMP.
A Terrible Nine Explosion Resulting In the
Loss of Many Lives and Placing
Colorado in Mourning.

Colorado in Mourning.
GUNNIsoN, January PA terrible
explosion occurred at O'Clock this morn
ing In the Colorado Coal and Iron Com
psDy'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 8. men In the mine at
the time of the explosion. Of'these. seven
(whO were just entering) were blown back
to the entrance by the force Of the explo-
| sion, and have been rescued. One of these
men Is dead. The others are all badly in
| iured. There are 50 men In the mine and
cannot be reached. They are all supposed
to be dead.
LATER.-The explosion was one of
the most appalling that ever occurred In
| coal mine in this country. The cause of
the explosion Is not definitely known, but 10
is supposed to have occurred from fire
damp. 1t occurred half an hour after the
day force of sixty seven men had gone to
work. There were ten men at work In the
chamber. Four OF them escaped unhurt,
except John Angus, who was In the passage
way outside the chamber. He was badly
burned, but will recover. Fifty-seven men
were at work in chambers one and two.
These are all thought to have persisted. The
explosion was of such force as to COM
pletely barricade the main entrance.
At this hour everything is in such con-
fusion that 1t Is impossible to give details.
The town of Crested Butte Is In mourning.
Crowds Of women cluster about the en-
trance of the mine, praying, wringing their
hands and crying piteously. 1t Is said that
at the time Of the explosion there were ten
kegs of blast powder in the chambers where
the men were working and where the ex-
plosion Is supposed to have taken place.
The mine has three miles Of drifting, and so
1t is impossible to definitely locate the scci-
dent until the rescuing parties can gain ad
mittance to the mine. The mine has long
been considered dangerous by those ac-
quainted with it. While one of the best
producing mines In the country, its opera
ton has always been ATTENDED with more or
less apprehension and real danger.
The exploring patty has almost reached
chamber No. 2, and has discovered one
dead body with skull broken and whole
body terribly bruised and blackened. The
gas is SO bad in the mine and the passage
ways SO blockaded that progress is very
slow. All hope of finding any Of the bur-
led miners alive has long since been aban-
doned. Threats are made this evening
against Superintendent Robinson and Mine
ri live ha Joffo
and serious trouble is feared. Robinson is
at the mine experimenting the work of
searching for the bodies. No special fears
are entertained for his safety, but strong
guard has been placed about the residence
of Gibson to prevent violence.
DENVER, Jan. 25.-It is impossible
to get only meagre reports from the scene
of the Crested Butte disaster. Through al
most superhuman efforts the rescuing party
reached chamber No. In the mine this
morning, where some of the men were sup
posed to have been at the time Of the explo-
sion. Fifteen dead bodies were found in
this chamber, but they have not been taken
out, and their names are not learned.
The workmen gained an entrance to
chamber No. this morning, but no bodies
were found there. Searching further,
eighteen bodies were found almost in heap
in an air passage leading to the up cart,
nearthe entrance. The men, alarmed, but
not injured by the explosion, evidently at
tempted to reach the furnace room and were
overcome by fire damp within 200 feet from
it. Fifty feet back further six more were
found, all evidently suffocated. Some had
tied handkerchiefs over their mouths. This
makes q total of thirty four bodies found,
and includes all at work in chamber No. 1.
Workmen will begin the search for bodies
in chamber No. 2. This is further into the
mine and is undoubtedly where the eXplo-
sion took place. 1t is expected that the |
bodies there will be found badly burned. |
1t is known that there were fifty-nine men
and boys in the mine. The cause of the ac- |
cident Is not yet definitely known.
An Effort for Free SniDs |