Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-03-17
fhe Awful Calamity in the Anderlus
Mine Increases in
Horror.
Flames Burst From the Mouth anu
the Adjacent Buildings are
Consumed.
Water Poured Down the Shaft Be-
comes Steam Before Reaching
the Bottom.


fire damp occurred today at Anderluis col
liery, in which 800 men were at work
The men who survived the shock of the
explosion are apt to meet their death from
choke damp, as with the destruction of the
yentilator it is impossible to rid the mine OF
! gases. 4 large force of volunteers is al
work clearing the mouth of the mine OF
debris in order to reach the imprisoned
miners. A large number of the miners
are married and their families and friends
at the pit mouth are frantic with grief.
Later particulars regarding the explo-
sion show that it occurred in a gallery 400
feet below the surface, where 270 men
were working. OF this number, 40 es
capped by means of second shaft and l6
others were rescued in a fatally injured
condition.
Rescuers soon descended and after long
interval of weary suspense brought to the
surface thirty or forty unfortunates, all
either dead or seriously injured. A great
sheet of flame must have shot through the
mines as the miners eye lashes and hair
are all singed off.
The searching party again descended
and has not yet been heard from.
Later.
The crowds increased as the day wore
on. The rescuers began to come to the
surface, few at time, bearing one Oh
two mangled forms. The scenes
usually Incident to such disasters were
enacted with, if possible, more than
the usual intensity. The work, of the res
cuers was greatly retarded by the noxious
gases still remaining in the mine. There
is hardly shadow of hope that any of
the men who were in the mine at the time
of the explosion are now alive.
BRUSSELS, March 12.-The Auderlus
calamity increases in horror. The pit is
now burning and smoke and flames bar
the searchers in their work of rescue. 1t
is feared not less than 200 miners have
persisted, including large number of
women, of whom there were many en-
ployed in the mine The most touching
scene at the pit mouth today was the spec
tace of children weeping for their moth
ers, who had been lost in the mine.
Thousands continue to flock to Anderlus.
It is proposed to turn water into the mine
for the purpose of putting a stop to the
conHagration.
The fire in the mine grew fercer and
hercer Since 2 o'clock this morning the
heat was so intense that it was impossible
for the rescuing party to remain In the
pit. They were compelled for the present
to abandon all efforts to reach the CALLER
les It is decided that there is not the
slightest doubt that everybody in the
mine is dead.
At 2 o'clock the flames burst from the
pits mouth. Illuminating the country all
around and set fire to the engine house
and adjoining buildings. 1t was decided
to food the mine. The total death roll is
210, of whom 10 were burned alive.
Great suffering among families must
result, The government has ordered the
distribution of relief.
By o'clock the buildings around the
mouth of the pit were all destroyed.
Heavy machinery went crashing down the
shaft, acting as somewhat of damper to
the fire, but the flames still shot out of the
mouth of the pile occasionally, and could
be heard roaring and seething through the
galleries far below the surface. Water
commenced to be thrown in the pit for the
purpose of flowing the mine, Before it
descended any distance it was converted
into steam, escaping with a terrific roar
and adding to The horror of the scene.
Numbers of relatives of the dead still sur
round the pit mouth, seemingly attracted
by the very horror that has bereaved
them.