The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-01-31
HORRIBLE MINE ACCIDENT.
Ehty-Seven Men Imprisoned in q Colorado
Mine by an Explosion of Fire Damp
No Possibility of Escape from Death
Full List of the Victims.


Mine by an Explosion of Fire Damp
No Possibility of Escape from Death
Full List OF the Victims.
GUNNIsoN, COL, JAN "a.
A fearful explosion occurred at eight
O'Clock this morning in the Colorado Coal
and Iron Company's mine at Crested
Buttes. It was one of the most appalling
that ever occurred in coal mine in this
country. Crested Buttes, near which the
mine is located, is coal mining town thir.
ty miles north OF Gunnison City, on the
Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. The
cause of the explosion is not definitely
known, but it is supposed to be from fire.
damp. The explosion occurred either in
chamber one or two, just half an hour af.
ter the day force of sixty-seven men had
gone to work.
There were ten men at work in chamber
four. These escaped unhurt except one
man, John Angus, who was in the passage
way Just outside the chamber. He is badly
burned but will recover.
Fifty-seven men were at work in cham.
bsrs one and two. These are thought to
have persisted. The explosion was of such
entrance, and the appliances for supplying
air located near were badly wrecked, and
the roof of the tramway blown off. Tue
men at work on the anthracite mesa are the
night force of the G. c. & l. company's
mines. Citizens were generally working
hard all day to rescue the men, although
it is thought none can possibly escape alive.
The Town Hall has been prepared for the
reception of the dead.
As soon as possible the fan was repaired.
put to work pumping air into the mine, and
men set to work to remove the distractions
so as to reach the chambers and get the
bodies out to- night if possible.
Following are the names OF fifty-five of
the unfortunateS; the other two are not OBJ
tainable:
Henry Anderson. James Driscoll.
John Williams. James Coughlin.
w. L. Stewart Henry stew art.
John MarIn. IL. Hebron.
Thomas Rogers. l.. 7. Hebron.
James O'Neill. w. L. Jones.
Jacob Lane. John Donnelly.
Jno. Anderson. Carl hOdeawHld
James Walsh. ChaS. Sterling.
Peter Baker. ThOS. Roberts
William Day d on. Jim McCourt
Richard James. Fred Becht.
David Hughes. lber King.
p. McManIs. Joseph W eiscnberg.
w. 4. King, IL. DOnegan.
JnO. Creeiman, Joseph hrauSt.
John Hular. James +. Stewart, Jr.
Thos. Williams. William Meath.
John Shune. Morgan Meath.
Patrick Barrett. Thomas Clancy.
John McGregor. John Rutherford.
John Myers. VIM. McCOwitt.
F. w. Smith. A. NJ. Godfred.
q. Is. McHalson. Dan Mel onaid.
VIM. Maroney. Wm Aubrey.
Nick Probst- Ben JenrieS.
Thomas Latiey. Thomas Stewart.
John Prince.
Many of these are married men and leave
many living here. At this hour
everything is in such confusion that it is
impossible to give details. A special train
left Gunnison at two O'Clock this afternoon
with surgeons and large number of citi-
zens to render all the aid possible. The
town of Crested Buttes is in mourning and
crowds of women cluster about the entrance
TO the mine praying and wringing their
hands and crying piteously, presenting
scene most heartrending.
1t is said at the time of the explosion
there were ten kegs of black powder in
chambers one and two, where the men were
and where the explosion is sup
posed TO have taken place. The mine has
,hree miles of drifting and so it is impossi-
Die to definitely locate the accident until
-escuing parties can gain admittance.
At eleven o'clock tonight no bodies had
been recovered.
DENVER, COL, Jan. "a.
Crested Buttes mine, where the great dis
ister of this morning occurred, has long
been considered dangerous by those ac-
Iuainted with it. While one of the best
mines in the country, its opera
ion has always been attended with moro
'r less apprehension and real danger.
"It is a fire damp mine," said Superin-
endent Cameron, now in Denver, land
seems to constantly generate the most
leadly gases. They seem to generate IN
he coal or under it, and pour out of the
eams in the walls of the tunnels and
hats; yet the mines are the most perfect
y ventilated in the world. Air is forced
n along the shaft by machinery. No less
han $1,000 cubic feet of fresh air is forced
nto the mine every minute. This is quite
efficient to fully supply the wants OF the
miners and keep the air perfectly pure I'M
ess some accident happens to cut off or in
erfere with the supply. This is a greater
mount of fresh air than is furnished to
my other mine in the country. We send
mine reviewer through every chamber
very morning before sny of tue men are
llowed to go in He must have returned
his morning before the wOrkmen started
n, and everything must have been all right
vhen he passed through the workings"
John Mcneil, State Mine Inspector, left
or the scene of the disaster this evening.
lie says he has no donbt that every man in
he NINE at the time of the explosion was
instantly killed. He said he visited this I
nine five weeks ago and then found it in /
God condition. He considered it dan
erous mine unless properly worked, be- /
ause there was more or less gas constant /
v exuding from the mine. He said he 1
ound every appliance for ventilating the |
-orkings and considered that the manag- |
rs understood how to run the mine, and 4
yere fully aware of the danger attending |
the mine was not properly ventilated.