The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-03-16

der GrOund-The Explosion Followed
by Fire Which Destroys Buildings
and Other Property-The Mine
Flooded to Save the Bodies-Lamen-
tatiOns for the Dead-Government
Aid Administered.
Brussels, Belgium, March 11.-Fire
damp exploded today in the Anderlis
colliery. near Charleroi, in a pit where
nearly 300 men were at work. The cage
and ventilator were shattered, increasing
the danger of death by choke damp.
The explosion occurred in a gallery be-
low the surface Here were working 27O
men. The explosion occurred at o'clock
this morning. 1t was very heavy and the
shock caused by it resembled an earth
quake. The ground for a large area in the
vicinity of the colliery rocked and
trembled for several seconds from the i'm
mense force made by the exploding gases.
Houses were shaken to their foundation,
windows we're loudly ratified and smashed
and crockerv and other articles of the
household were thrown about and broken.
ShOckingIy Burned.
The cries, prayers and shrieks of the
anguished crowd we're redoubled and died
to q hush as the men at the windlass had
at length brought to surface the limp and
black forms o. from thirty to forty of the
unfortunates. All the victims were either
dead or badly injured and the face OF
each was fearfully disfigured. Their coun-
tenances were covered with blood and
were black from the volumes of smoke
and dust which followed the explosion
and were swollen out of all proportions.
4 great sheet of flames must have
swept through the mine, as the hair,
boards and eyelashes of all the unfortun-
ate men had been completely burned off
and IN addition to the cruel cuts and
bruises they had received their bodies
were horribly burned.
Kind hands bore the victims from the
place, and the wounded men, groaning
pitifuliy at every step taken by their car
riers, and followed by their sorroWing
friends, were tenderly conveyed to place
which had been got in readiness for the
reception of the large number of patients
which it was known would soon tax all
the resources of the institution. A large
staff OF doctors and nurses had al
ready arrived at the intirmary when the
first batch of blackened and disfigured hui
manity was carried in to the place, and all
necessary medicine and instruments were
living at hand ready to be used for the
alienation of the wounded mems suffer
ings. Every thing possible was done for
the relief the victims, doctors and attend
ants vieing in their attentions to the pa
tients.
At the Pits Mouth.
The crowd surrounding the mouth of
the pit had constantly increased in num-
bers as the day wore on and news of the
catastrophe spread throughout the sur
rounding country. People tlocked from
every direction and soon the
place was packed with a mass
of men and women, all endeavoring
to get nearer to the pits and catch a
glimpse of the mutilated forms as they
were slowly pulled up the shaft All
were anxious to gain the slightest informa-
tion in regard to the safety of relatives
and friends, but in the great confusion
and excitement which existed no definite
or reliable news could be obtained.
The large force of gen 'darmes which
had hurried to the spot when the authori-
ties learned OF the disaster were almost
unable to cope with the unreasoning
crowd and it was only with the greatest
difficulty that they were able to force a
passage through the dense mass whenever
number Of men bearing q stretcher con-
tanning mangled form would pass from
the mouth OF the pit to the infrmary.
Deadly Damp.
CT the men thus far brought out of the
mine alive only a few are likely to re-
cover. In every instance the unfortunate
men were bruised, torn and burned In a
dreadful manner, and were also pros
trated by inhaling the deadly choke damp
the bane of every miners existence
which prevailed through the mine,
filling every crevice with the nox-
ious gas end which still prevail
in the mine. The ventilator was de-
stroyed by the explosion, thus cutting off
all means of furnishing pure air and
greatly retarding the work of the rescuing
parties, as it is impossible to safely breathe
the heavy, overpOwering air for any length
of time and there is the constant danger
of another explosion as fatal as the first.
Mons Escaped.
From the condition of the mine, as re-
ported by the life savers, hardly a shadow
| oil nope ls entertained tnaL any OF the
miners who are still entombed in the
dreadful prison can survive, and this
terrible state of affairs adds greatly to the
overwhelming SORROW visible on every
side. The latest official estimates place
the number of dead at 200
The miniiters of husbandry and public
works are at the scene of the disaster and
are personally directing the operations of
| the Tescuers.
BRUSSELS, March 12.-There has been
| little abatement in the excitement in and
about Charleroi, near which place the
appalling explosion occurred yesterday
morning in the Anderleus colliery. All
night long hundreds OF men, women and
/ childron have kept their drear watch at
the pit mouth hoping for the best. yet
almost knowing their hope was without
/ reason.
Many pitiable scenes have been wit
| messed % wives and children have recog-