Morris tribune., 1884-01-30
AT CRESTED BUTTE.
Over Fifty Men Entombed in
Colorado Coal Mine.
Vigorous Efforts Being Made to
Clear the Mouth of the Drift,
But No Hope Of Saving
Any Lives.

CHICAGO, Jan. 25.-An American Press
special from Denver, Col, says: An explosion
in the mine at Crested Butte occurred in
either chamber one or two just half an hour
after the day force of sixty-seven men had
gone to work. There were fifty-seven men at
work in these chambers, and all doubtless
perished Ten men were in chamber four,
and they all escaped except John Angus, who
was caught by the exploding damp in the
narrow passage, and badly burned. His re-
covery is doubtful. The explosion was of
such force as to block up the main entry, and
about twenty-five feet of the roof of the
tramway in front of the main entrance was
flown down.
The employees of the anthracite mesa mine,
the light force of the Colorado company and
citizens generally have been at work hard all
day to rescue the victims-although it is
thought none can escape alive. The fan was
repaired and put in working order pumping
air into the mine. The rescuers went to
work with will removing the Instructions,
and it is hoped some bodies may be recovered
before morning.
A great many of the men are married,
which renders it doubly heartrending A
special train bearing surgeons and volunteers
left Gunnison for Crested Butte, but has not
vet returned to Gunnison. The wholeatown
of Crested Butte is in mourning, and the
multitude of weeping women and children
are clustered about the entrance to the mine.
It is reported that at the time of the ex-
plosion there were ten kegs of black powder
in chambers one and two, where the ex-
plosion Is supposed to have taken place. The
mine has three miles of drifting, and it is
therefore difficult to locate the accident ex-
actly until the rescuing parties can gain ad-
mittance At late hour word was received
that no hope was entertained Of rescuing the
miners alive.
The mine had long been considered danger
GUS by those acquainted with it, and while
one of the bost producing mines in the coun-
try, its operation has always been attended
with more or less apprehension and real dan
ger at is a fire-damp mine," said Supt. Cam
eron, now in Denver "and seems constantly
to 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
tunnels and shafts vet the nine is the most
perfectly ventilated in the world. Tho
air is forced in a long shaft by
machinery. No less than $1,000 cubic
feet of fresh air were forced into
the mine every minute, This is quite sufficient
to fully supply the wants OF the miners and
keep the air perfectly pure, unless some acci-
dent happens to cut off or interfere with the
supply. This is greater amount of fresh
air than is furnished to any other mine in the
country
Supt. Cameron added: "We send
interviewer through every chamber each
morning before any Of the men are allowed
to go in. He must have returned before the
workmen started in and everything must
have been all right when he passed through
the workings.
John Mcneil, the state mine inspector, left
for the scene of the disaster. He says he has
no doubt but that every man in the mine at
the time of the explosion was instantly killed
CRESTED BUTTE, Col, Jan, 26.-Since tn
arrival of the officers and mine inspector at
Crested Butte, no one is allowed to enter the
mine except the men employed in searching
for the bodies. Inspector John
Mcneil is now ia full charge, and has
been in the mine all the afternoon.
Ninety men from the anthracite mesa mine
are rendering all the assistance in their
power, and there is no lack of aid. Relays of
men are constantly entering and coming from
the mine Up to the present hour thirty-four
bodies have been found, being all who were
in chamber No. and in the main entry.