New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-13
THE BELGIAN NINE DISASTER.
A HUNDRED AND SEVENTY OF TIIE 2l5
DEAD WERE BURNED ALIVE
THE PIT MASS OF FTRE-VA1N EFfDRTs TO
FLOOD IT-GovERNMENT AID FOR IESTI-


FLOOD IT-GovERNMENT AID FOR IEsTI-
TUTE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS
Brussels, March I2.-There has been little abate-
ment in the excitement in and abont CharltrO near
which place the appalling explosion occurred yeser-
day morning in the Ander!ues cOlliery. Al night
long hundreds of men, women and children feft their
dreary watch at the pit mouth Many ptiab3d scenes
witnessed.
II has been ascertaned that go persons WI re work
ing in the mine at the time of the explosion. Most
Of them at work in the two galleries in which the
greatest damage done one Of these gal feres Is
$50 yards and the other yards below the surface
The total of the death roll IS 215 OF This mn mber 1T
Is estimated that 40 were burned alive.
The fire caused by the explosion 10 sin bw ains In
the lower gallery where the accident Occurred The
shock Of the explosion detached huge masses Of rock
and earth and the galleries blocked vdh the
ruins that it is impossible TO approach neSrr than
100 yards to the place where the great body Nf the
miners were working Besides the dirt and 70 TX, the
carcasses Of forty horses block the approach 10 the
lower gallery. The fire in the mine grew fierce ana
nercer and since o'clock this morning the IN at has
been intense that 1t has been impossible for the
rscuinr parties to remain In the pit. They hwe been
compelled Tor the present abandon all their efforts
to reach the galleries
After it was found that the fire gainipg in
strength, a consultation held between the mine
owners and the engineers. and II decided tn "a
the mine dead. the only course TO follow. if!'tey
hoped TO recover the bodies, was to Hood the mine.
Preparations being made 10 carry out this plan
but before any water could be pumped 10 cPies Of
fire, were heard on all sides. and at ococt the
flames assembled TO the pits mouth. few mi EIteS
later immense column of fame shot through the
ventilang shaft, piercing the thick clouds OF roke
that overlangipg the shaft. The sight was mag
nfcent as the mass Of fire shot upward, but il ean
certain death for every person in the mine. This fact
was fully recognized by the onOokers. and the wa Hing
and shrieks of those the pits mouth increased in
Intensity. For great distance around the country was
brightly illuminated. The heat intense thatefhe
crowd was driven back distance from the mIth
Of the ventilator shaft The engine house and the
other buildings by began TO show the effects u the
heat, and were soon wrapped in sheet Of flame Tile
fremen had been working heroically TO prevent 1.-THE
spread Of the fire. but their efforts entirely fhit
less
In the meantime water had been thrown into tfc
burning pit Before it descended far II CONVEX he'd
into steam and escaped with tremendous roar sns
noise which added to the horror Of The situation. All
the heavy machinery AT the mouth OF the pit was de
stroyed and fell crashing down the shaft. This ~ ted
a. a damper against the flames ascending the SHAFT TO
the surface and thereafter little fire could be SEEN
But II could lie heard roaring and seethng through e
galleries. Tar beneath the surface
The calamlty has crushed the entire ChaglerO +dps
trct. Nothing is heard save lamentations for the de ID
Many of the women who have lost their only SIP
doctors busy attending To them. In some CASES
al the surviving members OF families still surround 1he
tlackened pit mouth. The Government las tSsen prompt
action to relieve far possible the suffering en-
hos ordered the distribution OF relief and .thoi
work is now being carried on.