Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1884-01-30
THE DEADLY FIRE DAMP.
Fifty-Seven Men Perish in Col
Orado Coal Mine.

Early last Friday morning o terrible
explosion occurred in the mines of the
Colorado MiLing Co., near Crested
Butte, in Gunnison County, Col.
There were sixty-seven men in the mine
at the time OF the explosion. Of these
ten, who who were just entering, were
thrown back by the force of the eXplo-
sion and rescued OF this number one
has since died and all the others are
badly injured There are fitty-seven
men yet in the mine, and as the entrance
to the mine is blocked up they cannot
be reached. They are all supposed to
be dead. The explosion was of such
force as to wreck the engine house,
which stood fully one hundred feet from
the entrance to the mine.
The exposition was one of the most
appalling in its consequences that ever
occurred in a coal mine in this country.
Crested Butt, near which the mine Is
located, is o coal town about thirty
miles north of Gunnison, on the Den
YER and Rio Grande railroad. The
cause of the explosion is not known
but it is supposed to have been fire.
damp. 1t occurred in either chamber
or 2 Just half an hour after the day
| force of men had gone to work.
Fifty-seven men were at work IL
chambers l and 2. These are al
thought to have perished. The ex
plosion was of such force as to com
pletely barricade the main entrance anc
the appliances for supplying air located
near were badly wrecked and the roo
of the tramway blown off. The mer
at work on the anthracite mesa, the
night force of the Colorado coal anc
iron company's mine and the citizens
generally worked hard all yesterday tt
rescue the men, although it is though
that none of them can possibly escape
alive. The town hall has been pre-
pared for the reception of the dead. Az
soon as possible the fan was repaired
and put to work pumping air into the
| mine, and men were set to work to re
move the distractions, so as to react
} the chambers and get the bodies out as
, soon as possible. At late hour last
night none had been rescued.
Many of these ffty-seven are mar
ried men and leave families. A mum
ber of the families reside in Denver
At present everything is in such con
fusion that it is impossible to give de
tails. A special train left here at two
O'Clock in the afternoon with surgeons
and number of citizens to render al
aid possible. The town of Crested
Butte is in mourning. Crowds of wo
men cluster about the entrance to the
mine, wringiug their hands and crying
piteouslv, presenting "a most heartrend
ing scene. 1t is said that at the time
of the explosion there were ten kegs o
black powder in chambers l and 2
where the men were working anC
where the explosion is said to have
taken place The mine has three miles
of drifting, consequently it is impossi
Bile to definitely locate the accident, a
least until rescuing parties can gain ad
mittanoe.
The mine has long been considered
dangerous by those acquainted with it
| While one of the best producing mine
in the country, its operation has alway
been attended with more or less appre
hension and real danger. at is a fire
damp mine," said Superintendent
Cameron, who is now in Denver, IAN,
seems to constantly generate the mos
deadly gases. They seem to general
in the coal or under it aud pour out @
the seams in the walls of the tunnel
and shafts. Yet the mine is one of tn
most perfectly ventilated in the world
The air is forced in along shaft b.
machinery, and no less than 5000
cubic feet of fresh air is forced into th
mine every minute"