The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-01-25
BURIED ALIVE.
Terrible Explosion in Colorado
Mine.
Over Fifty Lives Supposed TO Eaave been
Lost Entrance TO she Whine Blocked.

DENVER, Col, Jan. PA terrible explos-
ion occurred at Crested Butte Gunnison coun-
ty, at seven O'Clock this morning in which it is
believed % to 30 miners were killed. The ex-
plosion blocked the entrance to the mine and
the full extent of the disaster is unknown.
Sixty-sevsn men were in the mine at the
time of the explosion. OF these, eleven who
were Just entering were thrown back BY the
force of the explosion and rescued. OF this
number one has since died and all of the 9TH
ers are badly injured. Fifty-six men are yet
in the mine and as the the entrance is blocked
up they cannot be reached. All are supposed
to be dead.
The explosion was of such force as to wreck
the engine house which stood 100 feet from the
entrance. The supposition is that the explos-
ion was caused by leak in the air compressor
Two special trains have gpne from here with
doctors and others on board.
Crested Butte, near which the mine is loca-
ted is coal mining town 80 miles north of
Gunnison City, on the Denver & Rio Grande
r. R. The cause of the explosion is not. defn-
itely known bat is supposed to have bean fire
damp.
1t occurred in either chamber / or 2
just half an hour after the day force of 67
men had gone to work. Ten men went to
work in the chamber. Four of these escaped
unhurt except one man, John Angus, who was
in the passage way just outside the chamber
He is badly burned bnt will recover. Fifty
seven men were at work in chamber 1 and g.
These are all thought to have persisted.
The explosion was of such force as to COM
pletely barricade the main entrance and appli-
ances for supplying air located near were bad
ly wrecked and the roof of the tramway was
blown off.
Men at work on anthracite mesa, the night
force of the Colorado Coal and from Com
pany's mines, and the ctizeus generally have
been working hard all day to rescue the men,
although it is thought that none of them can
possibly escape alive
The town hall has been prepared for the re-
ception of the dead.
AS soon as possible the fan was repaired and
put to work pumping air into the mine, and
men were set to work to remove distractions
SO as to reach the chambers and get the bodies
out tonight if possible.
Many of the men are married and leave
families, and number of the unfortunate
mems fam1sies reside here. at present every
thing is in such confusion that it is impossible
to give details.
A special train left Gunnison City at 2
O'Clock this afternoon with surgeons and
large number of citizens to render all aid pos
sible.
The town of Crested Butte is in mourning.
Crowds of men cluster about the entrance to
the mine wringing their hands and crying
piteously, presenting most heartrending
scene.
1t is said that atsthe time of the explosion
there were ten kegs Of black powder in cham
bers and where the men were working, and
where the explosion is supposed to have taken
place. The mine has three miles of drifting,
consequently it is impossible to definitely To-
cate the accident at least until a rescuing par
ty can gain admittance. The mine has long
been considered dangerous by those acquaint-
ed with it, and while one of the best producing
mines in the country, its operation has always
been attended with more or less apprehension
and real danger.
ut is fire damp mine said Supt. Cameron
who is now in Denver, and "seems to constant
ly generate the most deadly gases. They seem
to generate in the coal or under it and pour
out of the seams in the walls of the the tunnel
and shafts, yet the mine is one of the most
perfect ventilated in the world. The air is
forced in along the shaft by machinery and no
less than $1,000 cubic feet of fresh air is forced
into the mine every minute, and this is quite
sufficient to fully supply the wants of the min
ers and keep the air perfectly pure unless some
accident happens to cut off or interfere with
the supply. This is the greatest amount of
fresh air than is furnished to any other mine
in the country"
Superintendent Cameron added: "We send
mine viewer through every chamber each
morning before any of the miners are allowed
to go in and he must have returned this morn
ing before the workmen started in and every
thing must have been all right when he passed
through the workings"
John Mcneil, State mine inspector left for
the scene of disaster this evening. He said
he had no doubt that every man in the mine
at the time of the explosion was instantly
killed.
At this hour 10 o'clock) no bodies have been
recovered