Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1884-01-31
Miscellaneous.
FIFTY-SEVEN MEN KILLED
APPALLING DISASTER IN COL
ORADO.

GUNNIsoN, Col, Jan. a.
At eight O'Clock this morning ter
rible explosion occurred at Crested
Butte, in this county, in the coal mine
of the Colorado Coal and Iron Company
| There were siXty.seven men in the
mine at the time Of the explosion. OF
these eleven, who were just entering,
were thrown back 10y the force Of the
explosion and rescued. OF this mum
ber one has since died and all the 9th
ers are badly Injured. There are fifty
six men yet i'll the mine aud as the en-
| trance to the mine is blocked up they
cannot be reached. They are all sup.
posed to be dead. The explosion was
of such force as to wreck the engine
house, which stood fully oEe hundred
feet from the entrance to the mine.
The explosion was one of the most
appalling in its consequences that eyer
occurred in a coal mine in this coun-
try. Crested Butte, near which the
mine is located, is o coal town about
thirty miles north of Gunnison, on the
Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. The
cause of the explosion is not known, but
is supposed to have been from fire damp.
1t occurred in either chamber l or ,
just half an hour after the day force Of
81 men had gone to work. Ten were at
work IN the chamber. All Of these es-
capped unhurt, except one man, John
Angus, who was in the passageway
just outside the chamber. He is bldly
burned, but will recover.
FIFTY-sEvEN MEN DEAD.
Fifty-se seven men were at work in
chambers and .. These are all
thought to Lave perished. The eXplo-
sion was of such force as to complete
ly barracade the main entrance and the
appliances for supplying air located
near were badly wrecked and the roof
of the tramway was blown off. The
men at work on the anthracite mesa,
the night force of the Colorado Coal
and Iron Company's mine aud the citi-
zens generally have been working hard
all day to rescue the men, although it
is thought that none of them can possi =
bly, escape alive. The Town Hall has
been prepale ed for the reception 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 the distractions, so as
to reach the chambers aud get the bod
les out tonight If possible.
A AHEARTRENDING SCENE.
Many of these are married men and
Lave families. A number of the fam
lilies reside in Denver. At present ev-
erything is in su:h confusion that it is
impossible to give details. A special
train left here at 2 o'clock this after
noon with surgeons and a number of
citizens to render all the aid possible.
The town of Crested Butte is 10 mourn
ing. Crowds of women cluster about
the entrance to the mine, wringing
their hands and crying piteously, pres
senting a most heartrehding scene. 1t
is said that at the time OF the explo-
sion there were 10 kegs of black powder
iu chambers and 2, where the men
were working and where the explosion
is supposed to have taken place. The
mine has three miles of drifting, con-
it is impossible to definitely
locate the accident, ut least until res
cuing parties can gain admittance.
from Hunger in On tario.
KINGSTON, January 25.-The settlers
in the rear townships of FrOntenac and
are in danger Of starving.
They are unable to obtain provisions in
of the stOppage Of trains,
the snow having closed the northern
portion Of tie line. In this city no
business is being done, farmers cannot |
get in from the county and merchants |
are complaining bitterly. An extensive
lumber dealer has telegraphed to the
city that unless he can get provisions he
will be obliged 10 close down his shan
ties. Such state of affairs has never
existed in this locality before.
Fatal Leap down a Mine Shift
YORK, January 26.-This morning
Adam Luckabaugh met a horrible
death at Strickhouser's ore bank, on
the Hanover and Gettysburg Railroad,
twelve miles from York, hy Jumping
into the shaft of the mine, a hundred
feet deep. He WAS employed as a la
Dorer and, while emptying bucket of
ore into the car and not knowing of his
neglect to close the mouth of the
shaft, he jumped into the yawn-
NO abysS. His body was horribly