River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-03-17
ESCAPE CUT OEF.
Fire Drives the Rescuers from the Fated
Belgium Mine-The Death List Is Esti-
mated at I53.


Belgium Mine-The Death List Is Esti-
mated at I53.
BRUSSELS. March IA According to
repor: on the Anderluis mine disaster
sixty-three persons were rescued un-
hurt, twenty injured and 15S were
killed. Twenty thousand persons on
Sunday attended the funeral of thirty
one of the victims.
Mining experts acquainted with the
Anderleus workings say that every per-
son who was working in the lower gal
lery must be dead, and few are expect
ed 10 be rescued alive from the upper
gallery, which is filled with deadly
gases.
The bodies that have been recovered
were covered with a thick, black dust,
which, in some instances, had been
blown deep in the skin. As they were
taken into the Office they were placed
upon straw that had been spread on
the floor, and the faces We're then
cleaned as far as possible to allow of
Identification. Many of the faces,
no vever were entirely unrecognizable
The fire in the mine grew fiercer, and
since 2 o'clock a. IN. Saturday the heat
has been SO intense that it has been
impossible for the rescuing parties to
remain in the pit After it was found
that the fire was growing in
strength a consultation was held
between the mine owners and the
engineers and it was decided that as
there was not the slightest doubt that
every body in the mine was dead, the
only course left open for them TO fol-
low, if they hoped TO recover the bod
les, was To flood the mine.
Preparations were being made to car
ry out this plan, but before any water
could be pumped in, cries of fire"
were heard on all sides, and at
o'clock the flames assembled to the
pits mouth and sparks were scat
tered in every direction. A few min
utes later an immense column of
flame shot through the ventilating-
shaft, piercing the thick clouds of
smoke that were overhanging the
shaft.
The sight was magnificent as the
mass of fire shot upward, but it
meant certain death for every
person in the mine. This fact was
fully recognized by the on-lookers,
and the wailing and shrieks of those
near the pits mouth increased in vio-
lence, as the lurid flame tore their
last faint hope from them. For great
distance around the country was IL
Illuminated to almost the brightness of
day by the vast column of fire pouring
out of the mine.
In the meantime water had been
c commenced to be thrown into the burn
ing pit Before it had descended any
distance it was converted into steam
and escaped with tremendous roaring
noise, which added to the horror of the
situation. The scene has seldom il ever
been equaled in the mining disasters
of Belgium
All the heavy machinery at the
mouth of the pit was destroyed and
fell crashing down the shaft. This
acted as damper against the flames
ascending the shaft to the surface, and
thereafter little fire could be seen But
il could be seen roaring and seething
through the galleries far below the sur
face.
Suffering is bound to follow the dis
aster, for many of the miners families
have lost their only means of support
The government has taken prompt ac-
ton to relieve SO far as possible the
suffering entailcd by the catastrophe.