The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-02-28
TmrRTY-NINE MINERS KILLED.
The Loss of Life Caused by an EN-
pIOsIon in New Mexico.


pIOsfon in New Mexico.
Cerrillos, n. NJ, Feb. "a disastrous
mining accident was reported from White
Ash, three miles from here. this after
noon. Enough is known TO show that many
lives We're lost.
The accident occurred this morning in
the mines Of the Santa Pc Company 1t
was caused by an explosion. At that
hour. the employees at the entrance to the
mine heard a terrific roar. followed by the
ground trembling. A dense volume of
smoke poured from the entrance. making
it impossible to enter until it had par
TALLY cleared.
The first body recovered was that Of a
driver. who was near the mouth when the
explosion took place. Judging from his
fate, there is little y pe for any one in
the mine
Nearly 800 men are employed in the
mine, but only fifty were at work when
the explosion occurred. Only eleven OF
them escaped alive, and some OF these
may die yet.
Twenty-eight dead bodies have been
taken from the mine, and IL is doubtful
If those remaining are alive.
Relays Of men have been working hero>
ically all day 10 reach those who are still
imprisoned in the mine, but little progress
can be made, on acconnt of the gas. which
permeates every shnft and overpowers
the workers in a short time. Up to 4
o'clock those on the inside could be heard
trying to work their way out from the
caved-in mine, but as nothing has been
heard since then, the imprisoned men,
in all probability, have succumbed to the
deadly gas.
The scene at the mouth Of the shaft
after the explosion was heart rendlng
Men cursed, while women cried and
prayed for fathers. husbands and brothers
who were entombed alive or brought out
dead.
one woman supposing her husband
to have been killed, tried TO commit sui
eide by throwing herself in front OF a
moving train. Her husband was after
ward rescued alive and the reaction from
insane grief to delifous JOY was nearly
fatal.
The mine was known to be badly ventil-
ated and fun of bad air and gas. and a
catastrophe Of this kind has been fire.
quently predicted.
A bill was introduced in the New Mex
leo legislature this afternoon to appro-
pirate $1,000 for the relief of the widows
and orphans. 1t will probably pass.
The cause of the explosion is not yet
known and the facts are hard to get. All
the efforts Of the men in the vicinity are
being put forth to liaerate those impris-
oned in the mine.
The total loss is 81 100000, Of which the
Dominion government viii lose fully one
half. The government property burned,
consisted of a grain elevator freight
sheds, wharves and about thirty loaded
cars In the freight sheds were stored
the recently discharged cargoes Of the
steamers Indrani and Corean, and parts OF
cargoes of other vessels, the property of
Halifax merchants valued at $3.50, 900 all
of which was destroyed. About S2OOO0O
worth of il had been reconsigned to points
in New Brunswick Quebec, and Ontario.
The latter is covered by insurance, but the
loss on the local consignments will fall
on the Halifax merchants. Several loaded
cars property of the Canada Atlantic rail
road were burned, as were four cars Of
meat, the property of Armour & Co., of
Chicago.
Two blocks of stores on Water street
were more or less damaged by fire and
water.
During the progress of the fire an ex-
plosion of wheat dust at the govern
ment grain elevator severely injured
several of the fremen who were directing
a stream of water on the building 1t
is thought that all will recover.
The prompt work Of steam tugs saved
the lives Of several iremen who had been
cut off by the flames. 1t was believed
at one time that it would be necessary
to call on the military to assist in tear
ing down some of the buildings in the
path of the flames. Telegraph and tele-
phone wires were Frustrated in all direc-
tions and on the w~.ole II was one Of
the most disastrous fires this city has
had to deal with in long while.