The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-12
PERHAPS HUNDRED KILLED
A SERIES OF EXPLOSIONS IN COL
LIERY At ANDERLUES
Fifty OF the 800 Miners Escape Unnided arA
Rcscuers Take Out Thirty More-The
Gazing Walls Hinder the LII Savers.


Fifty OF the 900 Miners Escape Unnided arA
Rcscuers Take Out Thirty More-The
Gazing Walls Hinder the LiFe Savers.
BRUSSELS. March ia series Of explosions
in colliery ut Anderues to-day destroyed the
shafting and ventilating appliances. and cut
OF the exit of tho 200 or more minors who
were in the pit. Roscucrs have taken out thirty
of the miners alive and recovered Ave dead
bodies.
Four officials OF the company owning the
mine at Andcrlues left Chnrleroi this after
noon for the scene Of the explosion. Machinery
for keeping down the water In the mine and
facilitating the work Of hosting out the wreck
age has already been shipped.
The Government is receiving bulletins OF
the progress Of the work Mt the shaft. and has
sent representative to the spot to ascertain
the facts for use in an investigation OF the
causes Of the accident. and in plac-
ing the responsibility for 1t. King
Leopold has contributed 5000 francs from
his private purse to the temporary support OF
tho families OF miners already known to have
been killed. Hundreds Of men and women
from nearby villages have gathered near the
mouth OF the pit and nre camping around bon
fires. watching tho progress OF tho work OF
rescue.
miners have made their home in the fields
for the night. and are cooking their meals over
opcn-ar fires. So az to get the earliest news
from those imprisoned by the shattered shaft.
Tho place at which tho explosions occurred Is
in tho second gallery. 500 yards below the
surface. and work Mt this depth is difficult and
dangerous Volunteers hnve been let down
three times in cage. When half way down
on.the first trip the further caving OF the shaft
frightened them and they returned.
Five of tho ten men refused to 60 down
again. rs the mine was flooding rapidly.
they snid. and tho loosened sides Of the shaft
threatened to fall in and bury them.
The other five made tho second trip
and reached tho mouth OF the second
gallery. There they found few men who
were nearest tho shaft when the first explosion
occurred. Those miners had run for their
lives. but had boen, caught ct the entrance Ly
three were so firmly lodged in the wreck that
tho rescue party dared not wait to eNtricate
Five OF the wounded were brought up on tho
s2con! trip. and two others and five dcnd were
srS1St 1 tive 'd 1 mnSrs s
rrison.i are women: There are about 200 in
all still to no accounted for.
cnre-in in the gallery may be rescued alive
ThoSs iarthest from the entrance Of The Ea,-
nre likely to die before they can be reached. ~"
Tho work has been set back twice this even.
stone from the sides Of the wrecked shaft. and
since the third trip no volunteers for the work
tcndent Of tho mine has twice gone down 200
feet. but has returned saying that the chances
would be four to one against him If he wen@
lower.
Tho dead will number Mt least 100. and prob
ably $50 About 80 Of the 800 men in tho gal
lsr{ at tn" tine Of the first explosion got out
Late this evening another rescue. party, de-
ee,re AWAY w tho bris at the entrance Of tSS
gallery and found twenty-five dead bodies.
five Of them women.
Most of the bodies were terribly mutilated.
Others showed but u few fractures OF tho
limbs. Death had been caused apparently by
sutrocation. Tue rescue party returned and
are still at work in the gallery.