Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-12-08
MANY LIVES LOST.
SAD SCENES ABOUT THE MOUTH or
A MINE IN FRANCE.
ing Their Dead, Clicked UNDERGROUND
by Firc-Damp-The Disaster.


tBy Anglo-American cable 10 the Dispatch.l
PARIS, December 7.-Sad scenes are being
enacted at the mouth Of the Puts de 10
Manufacture mine, belonging 10 tho ST.
Etienne Colliery Company. where the ex-
plosion occurred yesterday. Wives, mo.
theirs. and sweethearts stand about the
pits mouth weeping bitterly and mourn
ing their dead. Here they have stood
through the long, dreary night. needless OF
many entreatIes made TO them to return 10
their homes. They seem 10 have forgotten
everything save that deep IN the mine
below them lie the bodies Of those who are
dear 90 them. Many of those who rushe d
10 the pit when the news of the disaster
first spread have returned 10 their DEATH
stricken homes reverently following the
bodies OF their relatives and friends that
rescuing parties have succeeded IN taking
from the pit.
The hope that some Of the miners who
had been imprisoned by the falling walls
Of the chambers might be still alive has
been abandoned. Inc air in the mine is
still foul and sitting, and the men who
have been down in 1t say II would be i'm
possible for any one to live in il any
length Of time. The work of removing
Of the rescuers being greatly hindered by
immense masses of debris which cucumber
the passages
Since midnight last night fifteen bodies
have been taken from the PIT. The scene
when they were lifted 10 the sur
face was most heartrendIng. Weeping.
sobbing women would cluster around the
bodies, hoping yet dreading to recognize
the smoked lackened and sometimes
burned faces of the dead the features of
some dear one The scene was one that
has been enacted hundreds of times in the
coal-felds, and yet never loses Its pa
thetic character.
There are yet twelve bodies in the lower
gallery. The rescuers are making their
way as rapidly as possible toward them,
and il is expected that they will shortly
reach and remove them.
THE ACCIDENT.
The explosion of fre-damp occurred at
neon Sunday, and many of the workers
were unable to escape from the mine. Ac-
cordlng TO advices 80 far received seventy
three men persisted in the pit. I'm
mediately after the explosion dense
volumes of evil-smelling smoke issued
from the mine, and in q short time crowds
of relatives and friends of the imprisoned
workmen gathered about the entrances of
the PIT and prepared for the work ofrescue.
When the first attempt WAS made to rescue
the imprisoned men the Tescuers were
driven back by the foul fumes that poured
from the shaft, and for nearly an hour no.
thing could be done TO aid the unfortunate
miners in the pit. AT the very outset the
rescueTs encountered a serious obstacle, as
the main gallery was found to have col
lapsed, thus preventing access to the i'm
prlsoned men. After working several
hours in relays the party OF rescuers bad
cleared away portion of the debris, and IN
few minutes they came across the bodies
of four miners. The men, although un-
conscious, were still alive.
While the rescuers were at work several
doctors and q number of ambulances had
been summoned from st. Etienne and a
supply Of restorativeS procured, so that
the promptest assistance might be given TO
all who should be brought from the pit
alive. The speedy revival Of the men
rescued gave hope that the Others
III the pit might be saved, and
this hope was strengthened when, a
short time afterward another rescuing
party, which had entered the connecting
pit, sent 10 the surface four more OF the
victims, all of whom were quickly restored
TO consciousness. The second party OF
rescuers, however, found that 1t was ut
terly impossible TO reach the other i'm
prisoned men, and there 10 no doubt that,
as stated above, all Of the latter succumbed
to the poisonous gases that fill the CHAM
bers of the mine.
THE DISASTER DUE TO HEARTLRss MANAGE
lfENT.
PARIS, December 1T has now been as
certained beyond all doubt that the dis
aster was due to the action of the manager
of the mine, who ordered that the ventl-
lating apparatus be stopped.
This afternoon there were fifty-eight
bodies awaiting Identification. Some of
them are 50 horribly mutilated that it is
doubtful whether they ever will be identl-
fed.
SIX of the imprisoned miners escaped by
a different shaft. .