The state herald., 1892-03-18
TERRIBLE EXPLOSION
TWO HUNDRED MINERS KILLED.
Three Hundred Men and Women En-
tombcd In belgian Coal Nfinc.

Dispatches from Brussels dated March 11th
give particulars of an explosion that occurred
In coal mine near Charlcroi. The explosion
had all the force Of an earthquake upon the
surrounding district. For some seconds after
the explosion was heard immense columns OF
smoke were seen to rise to tho sky from the
surface Of tho earth near tho pits mouth,
vibrating and trembling.
When the real nature Of the calamity wns
known thousand people rushed to the mouth
Of the pit, where, bcwildercd and panic-
stricken, they waited for tidings OF tho fate
Of their relations and friends, the cntombed
miners, with frantic grief. Mounted gems
darmes, with drawn swords succeeded, after
great trouble, In driving the excited people
away from the mouth Of the shaft. The fire.
damp exploded about 400 feet below tho sur
face, and the cage by which the miners as-
| ccndcd and descended was shattered to pieces.
1t is stated that there were 270 miners In
this gallery, some of them women. AS tho
walls OF the shaft were caving In 1t was very
dangerous to descend, tho mine was also be-
ing flooded with water. Finally n volunteer
crew descended and found sixteen men near
the shaft. They had run for their lives md
uhu Dccn tcrflDly nurt ny laiiinR tithDcts. III
the mean time fifty men had escaped by way
Of the second shaft.
After thlrty-thrcc dead bodies had been re-
covered the officers and owners decided that
all who where In the mine must be dead, and
| II was decided to flood the mine to prevent
\ fire, but before any water could bc pumped in
| cries Of ''ire" were heard on all sides, and Mt
| 3 o'clock flames ascendcd to the pits mouth
and sparks were sccttcrcd In every direction.
| A few minutes later mn immense column OF
/ flame shot through the ventllating shafts,
| piercing the thick clouds Of smoke that were
| ovcrhanging the shafts. The sight was grand
| ly magnificent us the mass OF flame shot up
ward, but 1t meant the certain death for every
person In the mine. This fact was fully rec
ognized by the on-lookcrs. and the wailing
| and shrlcks of those near the pits mouth In
creased In violence the lurId flame tore their
last faint hope from them. The buildings
about the pits mouth caught fire. and by 7
o'clock only the walls were standing. All the
heavy machinery nt the mouth OF the pit was
destroyed and fell crashing down the shaft.
| This acted as a danper against the flames as
cendlng the shaft to the surface, and there
after little fire could be seen. But 1t could be
heard roaring and seething through the gall
| lerlcs far below the surface
| The total OF the death roll Is ol5. OF this
number 1t Is estimates that 10 were buried
and burned alive. The calamity has crushed
the entire Charlcroi district Nothing is
heard save lamentations for the deaths. Many
| Of the women who have lost their only sup
| port have become bysierleal through grief
and the doctors are busy attending to them.
In some cases all the surviving members OF
families still surround the blackened pits
mouth, attracted by the very horror that has
rendered them without head.
Suffering Is bound to follow the disaster, for
many of the miners families have lost their
only means Of support. The government has
taken prompt action to relieve 30 far rs posi-
bic the suffering enta!lcd by the sudden and
| appalling catastrophe The minister OF pub
lie works has ordered the distribution OF relief
| and the work Is now being carried on.
According TO the last report, G3 persons
were rescued unhurt, 70 Injured, Of whom -
will die, and l53 were killed outright
Twenty thousand persons attended the funer-
ais Of thlrty-one Of the victims.