The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-12-07
Terrible Explosion of Fire Damp. Followed by
the Collapse of the Main Gallery. Which
Blocked the Only Avenue Of Escape.
Eight Rescued from the Poisonous
Fumes in an Unconscious Condition.
Engagement of the Prince of Wales's Son and
Princess Victoria Of Teck-Singular Feat
ures of the japanese Earthquake.
MINE DISASTER IN FRANCE.

Seventy Three Toiiers Perish by an Explo-
sion of Fire Damp I'm n Coal Pit
PARIS, Dec. Ga fearful disaster is re-
ported from the ST. Etienne coal field in the
southwestof France. While eighty-one min
ers were engaged in the Pompe pit an explo-
sion of fire dampcaused the death of seventy
three. The first notice that people outside
the o I'd of the disaster was O rumbling
souI owed by smoke and flame rush.
ing the mouth of the pit AS soon as
posL a. men descended TO the rescue, while
hundreds of women and children present
around the opening shrieked for the fathers.
husbands and lovers below. lt was ex-
pected to find all dead. but a few who had
been in the openings where the explosion
did not have its full effect. were rescued.
The women threw themselves on the bodiea
of their relatives and could not be torn
away, and loud imprecations were uttered
against the officials whose negligence was
asserted TO be the cause of the calamity. Il
is claimed that the mine had been inspected
a short time before the explosion and de-
clared safe 10 work in.
Immediately after the explosion dense
volumes of evil-smelling smoke issued from
the mouths of the Pompe and a connecting
pit, aud in a short time crowds of relatives
and friends of the imprisoned workmen
gathered about the entrances of the pit and
prepared for the work of rescue. Fort
unately, to-day was being observed as n
fete day, and comparatively small num-
ber of men were at work in the mine. IL
the accident had happened on an ordinary
working day the loss of life would have
been appalling. When the first attempt
was made to rescue the imprisoned men the
reeeuers were driven back by tie foul
fumes that poured from the shaft. and for
nearly an hour nothing could be done to
aid the unfortunate miners in the pit In
order to disperse the smoke that filed the
rapidly q number of times. and at length
the shaft was sufficiently cleared to enable
the rescuers TO descend in the cage and
Esgin the work of exploration.
At the very outset rescuers encountered
a serious obstacle as the main gallery was
found to have cola psed. thus preventing
access to the imprisoned men. After work.
ing several hours In relays the party OF
rescuers had cleared away portion of the
debris and few minutes later they came
across the bodies of four miners. The men,
although unconscious. were still alive, and
were quickly sent to the surface. where
they soon revived. While the rescuers
were at work several doctors and a num-
Der of ambulances had been summoned
from st. Etienne and a supply of restora-
tives procured. so that the promptest as
sistance might be given Co all who should
be brought from the pit alive. The speedy
revival of the men rescued gave hope that
the others in the pit might be saved. and
this hope was strengthened when. a short
time afterwards. another rescuing party
which had entered the connecting pit, sent
to the surface four more of the victims, all
of whom were quickly restored to con-
sciousness. The second party of rescuers,
however. found that it was utterly impos-
sible to reach the other smprisoned men.
and there is hardly doubt that all of the
latter have succumbed to the poisonous
gases that fill the chambers of the mine.
The work of rescue will be resumed to-
night, when it's hoped the gases viii have
disapneared