The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-03-13
BRINGING In THE VICTIMS
TWo HUNDRED AND roRrr killed.
The Anderiues Calamity Increasing IN Hor-
ror-Many Women Among the
Yictims-Foreign Affairs.

BRUssELs, March i2-The Anderlues
calamity increases in horror. The pit
ia now burning. and smoke and flames
bar the searchers in their work Of
rescue. It is feared now that not less
than 24O miners have perished. including
a large number of women, of whom there
wore many employed in the mine. Tho
most touching scene at the pit mouth to-day
was the spectacle of children weeping for
their mothers who had been lost in the mine
Thousands continue to flock to Anderiues.
1t is proposed to turn water into the mine for
the purpose OF putting stop to the coniia-
grafton.
The KINGS ANXIETY.
King Leopold is informed hourly OF the
situation at Anderlues. IL is believed that
all those not rescued yesterday were killed al
the time of the explosion or died soon after.
Nevertheless the friends and relatives persist
in hoping that some may have escaped by
taking refuge in some working protected
from the effect of the explosion. NoDody
shares this belief. however. except the faml-
lies of the men and women who are IN the
pit.
There is no doubt that those who were not
the fumes or drowned in the water which in
yaded various portions OF the mine. Inc
authorities are providing for several families
that are left without father or mother IL IS
said that husband wife and son OF one
household are among the lost. and there arc
several younger children of the same family.
FRANTIC RELATIVES.
The police have had much difficulty in pre-
venting frantic relatives from attempting 10
descend into the mine. which Is now prey 10
fire and water. and where life is said 70 be
impossible. The cause OF the explosion is as
yet mystery. There is little doubt, however;
that some of the miners neglected the usual
precautions as to fire and lights.
The fact that SO many females are among
the victims OF the Anderlues disester has
called public attention to this form OF mine
labor. and a strong sentiment Is generally
expressed against permitting women TO work
III the interior of the mines. movement to
this effect was started in Belgium some tune
sgo, but it was defeated through the influence
OF the owners OF the cOllieries.
MAY BRING ABOUT RgToRM.
LONDON. March l2.-The awful calamity in
Belgium has attracted general attention to
the subject Of female labor in the coal mines
of that country. The employers prefer wo-
men as miners because they are more docile
and work for smaller wages than the men.
The women receive one frame and half for
twelve hours work in some of the Belgium
collieres. They are mostly middle-aged wo-
men. but females are found in the coai-pit as
Young as fourteen and as old Us sixty years
OF age. Some OF the married women have
been known TO take their babies strapped to
their backs down into the pit and lay the
little ones near them while they are engaged
III digging coal. This is one OF the evils that
Belgian workingmen want 70 see reformed.
They claim that if they had universal suffrage
the Belgian Parliament would not be merely
representative of the upper and middle class
but would legisiate also for the benefit OF
toilers who are now little better than serfs.
. - sad thot -omo eoilicry owners reiuse a.
employ miner IN Belgium unless he Is a1ls
TO bring one or more members OF has family
into the pit with him.