Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-19
FIFTY LIVES LOST.
Terrible Explosion and Subsequent Fire
In q Colorado Mine. +.
MOST OF THE DEAD MEN ITALIANS
In the Confusion That Prevails IL
IL Impossible 10 Secure = List of
vain.
Vain.

NEWCASTLE, COL, February 1S-The
Vulcan coal-mine, located In the Hog
back. just below town, was completely
wrecked and set on fire by a terrific gas
explosion shortly after II o'clock to-day.
Abou. fifty men. including firemen and
coal-operators, were In the several rooms
along the slope when the explosion oc-
CURED, and so great was the detonation
that not a single man could have survived
the shock, the gas, or the fire, which I'M
mediately ensued. With the exception OK
a few bosses, the Killed are Italians. but
in the confusion that reigns It Is impos-
sble to make complete roster of names
of the unfortunates.
The town of Newcastle was shaken as
IL by an earthquake by the explosion
and a dense black cloud obscured the
sight of the Vulcan mine and WORKINGS
indicating only TOO plainly what had oc-
CURED.
The entire population rushed to thc
scene. to behold the surface-workmen IN
the midst of a thick cloud OF dust, trying
I'm vain TO start the work Of rescuing
their unfortunate fellow-laborers Within.
The earth had settled perceptibly near
the hillside, and the dense volume Oh
black smoke issuing from crevlces III
the upheaved mass gave evidence tna'
the coal vein had surely been set afre
by the explosion.
Women and children rushed shriekins
TO the scene, adding TO the confusion.
The mine owned by the Colorado Coal
and Fuel Company. two and half miles
away, was promptly closed down. ana all
hands rushed to assist Superintendent
Herrick, of the Vulcan, in the work OF
rescue. 1t was quickly seen that little
could be done Herrick. with several
men. had torn away the broken timbering
a. the landing and had rushed into the
slope soon after the explosion had oc-
Cured. with wet sponges on their nostriis'
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 be-
hind the mountains before any opening
could be made.
TERRIBLE FORCE.
The force of the explosion may be
imagined when II is known that the
buildings and trestle at the mouth OF the
slope were completely wrecked, and "A
hole 100 feet square carved out OF tina
hillside at the mouth OF the incline.
while timbers two feet square we're
blown into the Grand river 400 feet away.
One miner was on his way down the
slope when the explosion occurred, and.
his mangled remains were subsequently
found several hundred feet away from
the mouth OF the slope.
There were 40 men employed In and
about the mine at the time, and fifty
were at work underground this mofn-
ing.
State-Coal- al-Mine-Inspector Griffith was
here February Sth, and pronounced the
mine in better condition than 1t had ever
been before. An immence fan In ths
slope, which was about 500 feet in depth.
seemed to afford complete ventilation
and every possible precaution was taken
to prevent an explosion OF the gas
known 70 exist in the mines Of this dis
trct II is believed that lighted fuse
ignited the gas In one OF the new rooms,
while the men were blasting down
coal.
The old Vulcan mine has been aban-
doned for several years and was In no
way connected with the present property.
a new slope having been driven into
the hillside.
The Vulcan Fuel Company operates the
property. which is owned by the Atchi-
son, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad COM
pany, 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.