The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-05-24
Terrible Mine Disaster in
British Columbia,
LITTLE HOPE FOR THEM
Complete Details Of Disaster Are
Not 0btainabIe.
WORK OF RESCUE DANGEROUS
One Hundred and Thirty-three Men Are
Known to Have Been in the Mine
When Explosion Occurred, and
All but Tweniy-four Are
Thought TO Have
Perished.
WORK OF RESCUE DANGEROUS
fBr Associated Press.


VANCOUVER. B. c.. May 2s-one OF
the most terrible mine disasters in the
history of British Columbia occurred last
night in the Crows Nest Coal Company's
mines at Fernie, 3. c. Over 100 men are
rlti.cr dead or imprisoned in the mine
saj little hone is entertained of rescuing
nny who may yet be alive Fernie is
SO miles up country, and the limited tel
rrlarh facilities have not enabled COM
piete details Of the disaster to be sent
out
A special tonight from Fernie says
that the explosion took place last night
at 7:3o Tie anagement has a list Of
13S men who are known TO have been In
the rnine and there were probably 9th
eis OF these only twenty-four are
known to be safe. 1t is feared that few,
if any. of the remaining lo9 are now
alive
CAUSE NOT KNOWN.
What caused the explosion has not yet
been definitely ascertained. Many Of the
miners were ignorant foreigners. and one
Of the mine Shafts was always more or
icss gaseous. It is reported in Fernie
This evening that the explosion resulted
from the use by a careless Italian of an
onen or naked lSmp. Another theory is
That a miner struck match. exploding
tl1e gas. which was almost always pres
crt in No. 2 shaft. The true cause of
the disaster will probably not be posi-
lively ascertained for it is doubtful if
any man who knows will ever reach the
Ll.:er air alive or be able to- tell the tale
- explosion took place In No. shaft
Of the mine. being repeated in a few sec
on6s in No. 5, with which it was con-
Iccted.
The two shafts In which the explosion
occurred are situated on Coal Creek.
about six miles from Fernfe. No. .
has always been considered the more dan
Eerous, being dry. dusty and gaseous.
Recently the dangerous condition which
had hitherto prevailed in No. tunnel
/. had been greatly modified and improved.
New fans were installed, furnishing an
excess of air with forty per cent. re-
serve.
ASSISTANCE BEING RUSHED.
From all available sources assistance
tn being rushed to the scene Cf the ca
tamity but there is little hope for the
rescue of any Of the entombed men. AL
ready the work of liberation has been be-
gun with such means as are at local
command and eight bodies have been
taken from the mine. The~presence of
coal damp makes the work of rescue very
dangerous and is seriously hiTidering the
workers.
In No. tunnel, in which the first ex-
rlosion occurred. from 100 TO 200 men
IN dboys are usually employed; and in
No tunnel. in which the explosion
extended about eighty men generally
work. In both mines there are many for
eigners anc the difficulty Of disciplining
these men and impressing upon .hem the
use of unprotected lights has always
been very great,
The main road of No. tunnel is nine
nv five and one-half feet in area and
would be sufficient for reasonable ven
t;latinE were il not that there was a
mot;>r working on the road which al
most stopped the current of the intake.
When the men We're at worl. the liberia
: lion OF gas heavily charged the at1nos-
rifere and made it dangerous to employ
lights which were not absolutely pro-
tected.
HEARD MILES AWAY.
The explosion, which occurred at 80
o'clock last evening. was distinctly hcald
IN the village six miles away. A few
minutes later the alarming intelligence
had spread like wild Ere from house to
house and quickly the whole population
was on the streets and hurrying toward
the scene of the disaster. All the avail
able men were at once organized for the
work of rescue. and the labor of getting
at the entombed men was begun with z
out delay. Great difficulty was expert
encod in keeping hac/ the women whose
husbands. most of them foreigners. We're
known to have been employed in the ta,l-
nels With the passing hours hope at
Tc,-nie for the safety of the five scole
mon entombed has gradually faded AVA
The eighteen bodies already recovered
4. l., 4 \ .y1n
al work not great distance from the
mouth of the tunnel, and the fact that
these were overcome would seem to lndi-
cate that there is little hope for those
further in the mine
Ventilation is being gradually restored,
and it is hoped all the bodies VIII be re-
covered by morning