The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-19
TERRIBLE Gas EXPLOSION
Fifty Men SmOthered in a Colorado
Coal Mine.
MANY BUILDINGS WRECKED
Gas in the Vulcan Coal slope Ignited by
Fuse A Desfening Explosion
Wrecks Many buildings Heart
rcnding Scenes at the Slope.

New Castle, Colo, Feb. 1S.-The Vul-
can coal mine, located in the Hog Back
just below town, was completely
wrecked and set on fire by terrific
gas explosion shortly after III O'Clock
today About fifty men including fire
men and coal operator were In the
several rooms along the slope when the
explosion occurred, and so great was
the detonation. that no. n single man
could have survived the shock, the gas
or the fire which Immediately ensued.
With the exception of a few bosses.
the killed are Italians. but In the con-
fusion and excitement 1t is impossible
at this time to make IA complete roster
of names OF the unfortunate.
The town of New Castle was shaken
as II by an earthquake by the explo-
sion and dense black cloud obscured
the site of the Vulcan mine and work
ings, indicating only too plainly what
had occurred. The entire population
rushed to the scene to behold the sur
face workmen in the midst Of q thick
cloud of dust trying in vain TO start
the work Of rescuing their unfortunate
fellow laborers within.
The earth had settled perceptibly near
the hillside and the dense volume of
black smoke issuing from crevices in
the upheaved mass gave evidence that
the coal vein had been set aiire by
the explosion. Women and children
rushed shrieking and screaming to the
scene, adding to the confusion.
The mine owned by the Colorado Fuel
and Iron company. two and half miles
away was promptly closed down and
all hands fastened to assist Superin-
tendent Herrick, of the vulcan, in the
work of rescue. but it was quickly seen
that little could be done. Herrick with
several men had torn nvsty the broken
timbering at the la nding and had
rushed into the slope soon after the
explosion had occurred with wet
sponges on their nostrils. only to be
driven back again by the deadly fumes.
A special train was sent to the mine by
the Colorado Midland Railway COM
pany with medical aid prepared to as
sist in caring for the wounded. II any
were rescued. but the sun went down
behind the mountains before an OPEN
ing could be made.
Many Findings Wrecked.
The force of the explosion may be i'm
agined when 1t Is known that the build
ings and trestle at the mouth of the
slope We're completely wrecked, hole
of 100 feet square carved out of the
hillside at the mouth of the incline,
while timbers two feet square were
blown into the Grand river. 400 feet
away. CnC as VII HIS way up"l
the slope when the explosion occurred,
and his manged remains We're subse-
quently found several hundred feet
away from the mouth Of the slope.
There were 14O men employed in and
about The mine at the time and about
fifty We're at work underground this
morning.
State Coal Mine Inspector Griffith
was here Feb. 8 and pronounced the
mine in better condition that 1t had ever
been before. An immense fan in the
slope. which was 500 feet in depth,
seemed to afford complete ventilation
and every possible precaution was taken
to prevent an explosion of the gas
known to exist in the mines of this dis
trct. 1t Is believed that a lighted
fuse ignited the gas in one of the rooms
while the men We're blasting down coal.
The old Vulcan mine has been aban-
doned for several years. and was in no
way connected with the present prop
eity. a new slope having been driven
into the hillside.
The Vulcan Fuel company operates
the property. which is owned by the
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Rail-
road company, with headquarters at
Topeka, Kan.
Just at this time the mine was being
worked to its full capacity, the output
being from seventeen to twenty cars per
day.