Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-05-24
Remainder Are Imprisoned and There is
Small Hope Of Safety,
BOY WHO ESCAPES sUccUMss TO SHOCK
Three Openings to the Shafts Are Blocked
by the Accident.
ONLY SIX BODIES so FAR RECOVERED
Cause of the Explosion is said to Have
Been Fire Damp Ignited ny
Match in Hand of an
Employe.

FERNIE. B. C.. May 2s.--A terrible ex-
plosion occurred at o'clock last evening
In NO. mine. which is connected with No.
shaft and also with the nighttime shaft.
All three openings we're blocked.
One hundred and fifty men were in the
mine at work AZ the time OF the explosion.
OF this number sixteen ESCAPED from No.
3 before the csve-in. The remainder are
prisoners and small hope is entertained for
their safety.
Good order prevails and everything poe
sible is being done to relieve the situation.
The fan was disabled. but was quickly re-
stored. No. is expected to be opened
soon. A boy. one Of those who escaped.
has since died.
In Eastern British CoIumbia.
SEATTLE. Wash. May 2s.-Fernie IL q
town in the eastern part OF the province OF
British Columbia, on the Crows Nest Pass
branch Of the Canadian Pacific railway.
1t lies in the center Of a country very rich
in coal deposits. The veins extend east
ward into the neighboring territory of Al
berta. The building OF the railway, four
years ago, was followed by the operation Of
the coal mines, which belonged to a COM
pany composed largely of Toronto capital
lists These are the coal fields that J. ].
Hill was reported to have gained control
OF year or so ago. Its only industry is
mining and its population is about 1000.
Most Of the miners are foreign born.
NANAIMo, B. C., May 2S.--ImmediateIy
upon receipt Of the Fernie mine disaster
news Mayor Manson Of this city, which
has population Of about / 900 coal miners
authorized the taking of subscriptions at
the gates leading to the grounds. where a
celebration is being held today and to-
morrow. The amount will be devoted to
alleviating the suffering at Fernie.
VICTORIA, B. c., May 23.-william
Fernie. one OF the original owners of the
Crows Nest mines, received a telegram
from Fernie this morning, saying that an
explosion had occurred in Nos. and q
slopes, resulting in the death OF 125 men,
The mines affected are situated on Coal
creek. six miles from Fernie. No. 2 tun-
mel is two miles long and No 3 about The
same length From these two mines and
No. l most Of the coal of the district Ia
taken. 1t is said by men who visited the
mine that another explosion was expected.
Only One Slow Wire working.
VANCOUVER, B. c., May 2s.-Prospects
are poor for getting a story OF the mine
disaster from Fernie for some hours
There is only one slow wire and it is
choked up with private messages. The
company will not accept any specials until
this wire is clear. private dispatch Just
received here says that every one in the
mine was killed.
So far only six bodies have been re-
covered. The cause OF the explosion Il
said to have been the presence OF FIRE
damp. ignited by a match with which a
miner was lighting a pipe in defiance Of
orders tremendous explosion occurred
/ in No. mine, followed in a few seconds
! by another explosion in No. 3, which is
connected by short tunnel. The majority
OF the men were in No. 2. Every family
/ in the little town is directly affected by
lation is in a state of frenzy.
| VICTORIA, B. c.. May 2a.-This
is the first serious accident which
has occurred in these mines, which have
only been opened for a couple Of years
| Particulars are not obtainable here, Fernie
being 100 miles from the regular telegraph
| ofice.