Delaware gazette and state journal., 1884-01-31
KILLED BY FIRE DAMP.
pERRIBLE EXPLOSION IN A
COLORADO MINE.

N pERRIBLE EXPLOSION IN A
COLORADO NINE.
n u,artrcudtng scenes at the month
,f me MIne-Distress of the wives
II aud Cniidren OF the Buried Men
A stricken Town
GrySlsos, Col Jan. 24.-At S o'olocis
This morning a terrible explosion occurred
al Crested Butte. in this county, III the
coal mine of the Colorado Coal aud Iron
C,muauy. So far only the most meagre
4 dotai have been received, but the loss
al lit,. ia supposed to be terrible. There
we're 81 men in the mine at the time OF
the explosion. OF these, IL, who were
inst entering, wers thrown back by the
Iorcs Of the explosion and rescued. OF
this number, one has since died and all
tho others are badly injured.
There are 56 men yet IN the mine, and,
IA the entrance to the mine is blocked up,
they oaunot be reached. They are all
supposed to bs dead. The supposition ID
tLat the explosion was caused by leak
in the air compressor. The people OF
Crested Butte are doing all possible for
thp rsauue OF the miners Two special
have gone up from hire with doctors and
others on board.
FIRE DAMP's FATAL WORK
Tue explosion WAS one OF the most
appalling in its consequence that ever
occurred in this country. Crested Butte,
near which the mine is located, ia a coal
town 30 miles north of Gunnison, on the
Denver x Rio Grande railroad. The cause
OF the explosion is not definitely known,
Int Is supposed to have been from fire
damp. 1t occurred in either chamber 1
or 2, just half an hour after the DAY
force OF " men had gone to work. Ten
we're at work in the chamber and four OF
these escaped unhurt, except one man,
John Angus, who was in the passageway
just outside the chamber. He ia badly
bruised, but will recover. Fifty. seven
men were at work in chambers and Q.
These are all thought to hsve pershed
The explosion was of such force as to
completely barriosde the main entrance.
The appliances tor supplying air located
near, and the engine house, which stood
fully 100 feet from the entrance to the
mine, were wrecked.
The men at work on the anthracite
mess, the night force OF the Colorado Coal
x Iron .Company's mine and the citizens
generally have been working hard all
day to rescue the men, although II l.,
thought that none OF them can possibly
escape alive. The town hall has been
prepared for the reception of the dead.
As soon as possible the fan was repaired,
aud put to work pumping air into the
mi IA. QNtd u.
the obstruotions 30 as to reach the cham
hers and get the bodies out to night II
possible.
ANGUISH AT THE MINE
Many Of the miners are married men
and leave families. At present every
thing is in such confusion that it Is i'm.
possible to give details. The town OF
Crested Butte is in mourning. Crowds
Of women cluster about the entrance to
the m!ne, wringing their hands and cry
Ing piteously, presenting most heart.
reuding scene.
II ia said that at the time of the explo
sion there we're 10 kegs Of black powder in
chambers l and 2, where the men were
working, and where the explosion ia sup,
posed to have taken place. The mine
has three miles Of drifting consequently
It i5 impossible to definitely locate the
accident, at least until rescuing parties
eau gain sdmittsnoe. The mine has Ions
been considered dangerous by those sc
4usinted with it. While one of the best
producing mines in the country, III
operation has always been attended with
more or less apprehension and rea
danger.
SIT is fire damp mine," said Super
intendent Cameron, "and seems 10 con
stan,ly generate the most deadly gases
They seem TO generate in the coal, o.
uuder, and pour out Of the seams in thu
'Salle OF the tunnels and shalte; yet tn,
mine ia one of the most perfectly venti
lated in the world. The air Is forced il
along a shaft by machinery, and no les
than 5000 cubio feet of fresh air ar
forced into the mine every minute.
NO HOPE OF RESCUE
Denver, Col, Jan. 25 "A special I
tue IHbne from Crested Butte, says
An exploring party has almost Ieache,
chamber No. 2 in the mine of the Colo
RADIO Coal aud Iron Company,iu in which tn
explosion occurred yesterday. One bod
has bien discovered with the ekuli fraC
lured. The whole body is terriDl
bruised and blackened by the gas. Til
passage ways are 30 blockaded that pro
gfess is very slow. Everything possibl
Is bsing done TO reach the bodies a
speedily as possible. ALI hope of iniil
the buried miners alive has bssi
abandoned. .
Threats were made last night sgsins
sulefintendsnt Robinson and Mine Boa
Gibson, principally against the latte
and serious trouble ia feared. Robinso
Is At The mine experimenting the wor
OF searching for the bOdiss. No specia
irafs are entertained for his safety, but
strong guard has bsen placed about I'll
Residences of Gibson to prevent violenc
TO HIM.
The threats do not come from the me
engaged in the mine, bnt from some WI
nave been discharged and who take tn
opportunity to make trouble. The seer
al the mines is a most pitiful one. I'll
wives and children of the buried me
SUI hover around the entrance to IL
niue aud their lamentations add to II
distressing scene.