Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-02-01
ANOTHER DISASTER.
A Mine Explosion In Colorado
Sends Fifty-seven Miners
to Eternity.
A Narrowing Story of the HOr-
rOr with a Long List of
Victims.
Terrible Explosion,


DENVER, Col, Jan. PA terrible
explosion occurred at Crested Butte,
Gunnison county, at o'clock this
morning in the Crested Butte coal
mine in which it is said from 25 to Sc
miners is believed to have been killed.
The explosion blockaded the entrance
to the mine fully. The extent of the
disaster at present is unknown. The
mine is owned and operated by the
Colorado Coal & Iron Co., of this
city. There We're from so to 100 mi
nors in the shaft. There are no details
at present.
DENVER, Jan. PA Times Gun
nison special says: A terrible explo-
sion occurred, this morning, in the
Colorado Coal and Iron company
mine at Crested Butte. So far, only
most meagre details have been re-
ceived here, but the loss of life is
supposed to be terrible. There were
81 men in the mine at the time; of
these II men, who were just enter
ing, were thrown back to the en-
trance by the force of the explosion
and have been rescued. One of these
is dead and all of the others were
badly injured. Fifty-six men are yet
in the mine and cannot be reached.
They are all supposed to be dead. The
explosion was of such force as to en-
tirely wreck the engine house, which
stood 100 feet from the entrance. 1t
is supposed the explosion was caused
by leak in the air compressor. At
Crested Butte the people are doing all
possible to rescue the miners. Two
specials have gone up from here with
a large force of men to rescue the
unfortunate prisoners if possible.
The explosion at the Crested Buttes
coal mine this morning was one of
the most appalling that has ever oc-
CURED in coal mine in this country.
Crested Buttes near which the mine
is located is a coal mining town 80
miles north of Gunnison City on the
Denver & Rio Grande railroad. The
cause of the explosion is not definite
ly known but is supposed to have been
caused by fire damp. The explosion
occurred either in chamber one or
two, just half an hour after the day
force of sixty-seven men had gone to
work There were ten men at work
in chamber No. 4; these escaped
unhurt except one man, John Angus,
who was in the passage way just out
side of the chamber, and is badly
burned but will recover. Fifty seven
men were at work in chambers one
and two; these are all thought to have
perished. The explosion had such
force as to completely barricade the
main entrance. and the appliance for
supplying air, located near, was badly
wrecked and the room tramway was
blown off. Men are at work on the
anthracite mesa, night force of the
G. G. & |. company's mines, and citi-
zens generally have been working
hard all day to rescue the men, al
though it is thought none can posi-
bly, escape alive. The town hall has
been prepared for the reception of
the dead. AS soon as possible fan
was repaired and put to work, pump
ing air into the mine and men were
set to work to remove distractions, so
as to reach the chambers and get the
bodies C"t tonight, if possible.
Follow are the names of 55 of
the unfort,> ates, the other two are