The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-01-30
Coal Mine Explosion.

DENVER, JAIL OO-A wcuVy o0vSu
more bodies were recovered to-day
from the Crested Butte mine, maxi
Ing fifty-seven In all. But two re-
main. Those recovered to-day were
found in chamber No. 2 2and In the
passageways In the immediate vicin.
ity. Many had arms and legs broken,
skulls crushed in and clothing
burned, in many case. drops off
in rags when the bodies are removed.
Hair is burned from heads and skin
is burned off the face and other ex-
posed portions of the body, leaving
an utterly unacceptable mass at
raw and bleeding flesh. The appear
ance Of these bodies is horrible be-
yond description and it is not likely
that any of them can be recognized.
Many Of the faces have coal dust
ground into them until they are black
as coal itself. To-day the company
begun the erection Of q large frame
dwelling where bodies will be
placed and where funeral services
will be held. Crowds are coming on
every train and on snow shoes from
all the surf rounding camps. The
Colorado Coal & Iron company, be-
sides the erection of the building
spoken of, will hear all the funeral
expenses and make ample provision
for the needy families Of the de.
ceased. 1t IL thought the other two
bodies will be taken out by Monday
night.
The inquest began at noon to-day.
The corOner's jury was summoned
by Coroner N s. Snyder, and after
viewing the thirty-four bodies al
ready brought out, sdjourned. Since
that time the hearing of evidence
has been going on IN the Parlor
of the Elk Mountain House, and will
be continued tonight and to NOR
row. The witnesses examined SO
fur have been DR.. CockreIl of Gun
nisOn, DR.. GOrhan of Crested Butte,
Dr. Corwin, Chief Surgeon of the G.
G.. & I. Co ; COlOuel Cameron. Coal
Superintendent; James K Robinson.
Superintendent of Mine; Luke Rlrh-
ardsOn, and Engineer Robert Glib
son.
Cameron testified as to the ventila-
ti0n of the mine, which, he claimed.
was from i've to six times what was
required by law.
Superintendent Robinson ex-
.plxined the working of the mines.
aud said he had given positive or
der~ that no miner should g"into the
mine without having received re-
port from the fire boss. so as tO know
positively there was no danger from
gas, and when gas was found safety
lamps were always insisted on.
Richardson, the fire boss. testified
that on the morning of the acci-
dent be had found two boards broken
from the brattic in rtNOm IL and
considerable gas in the head Of tns
drift, and had given Orders to the
man who was to work In there
positive orders not to en:er until be
returned aud repaired the brattic.
He came out to get to,ls and before
he got back The explosion took place.
Witnesses who heard these orders |
given will testify Tomorrow.
When room number eight was |
reached to-day, no bodies We're fouId
In It. but In front of it, rs if blown
cut by the conclusions, one
body was found, and, although
unrecoenizsble wassupposed to be the !
man, . Swede, who was forbidden to |
enter. The cOfhns ordered from |
Denver have not arrived and no date |
ls yet fixed for tho funerals. Cam
eron testified the mine had . Murphy
tan which forced 6fty-thousand cubic
feet Of air per minute. Richardson
said the mine was very much troubled
with gas, but was considered safe
when the nrattices were In order.
Roblnson said AL old mines are
consiosced unsafe but this mine was
ehe wosst b ever saw les ca. ]