The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-07-09
AN AWFUL HORROR
Many Killed By Explosion of Deadly
Fire Damp
AWFUL SCENES OF SAD DISTRESS
Hundreds Killed Without Warning
and Work of Rescue Was a very
Difficult Mattcr.

Hanna, Wyo., Special.-Hanna was
the scene Of a terrible disaster at
1890 a. m, when an explosion OF hre
damn in mine No. l, Of the Union Pa
cifc Coal Company snuffed out the
lives of 234 men, injured scores OF
others and caused the destruction or
q vast amount Of property. The mine
was not fired, as was stated IN tAe
earlier reports, but the explosion was
terrific and completely shattered 'he
timber of the main shaft and mum
erous entrances, filling the working
with debris, and those OF the miners
that were not killed outright oy the
EXPLOSION we're buried alive.
The explosion was heard for many
miles around : and attracted people
from the adjoining settlements. Huge
timbers and railroad iron were hurried
900 feet from the mouth OF the shait'
superintendent E. S. Brooks n a
large force OF men began the work OF
removing the debris from the smart
that they might reach the entonDed
miners. Their progress into the mine
WAS blocked by the foul gases ana
several times they were forced to re-
turn to the surface. All day the rescu-
ing party worked, the force being In
creased from time to time by the ar
rival of ranchmen and others 1roH
nearby settlements and by those OF
a relief train sent out from RaWiins,
which reached here at 2 O'CLOCK IN Tue
afternoon.
About 1 O'Clock p. m. four men were
taken out alive and a half hour later
thew were followed by AZ others. Many
were unconscious and had to be cal.
ried from the workings. Several are
IN a serious condition, but 1t Is be-
lieved all will recover.
Two hundred and eighty-two men
went down in the mine at Z O'CLOCK
Tuesday morning and up to a iate
hour only As have been accounted lor.
or this number two are dead. IT was
some time after the explosion &C.
Cured that the first mar was u
to the surface. He was followed ny
others until 1 o'clock, when the last
of the 4S was brought out. The rescu-
ers were unable to penetrate further
into the mine as it was necessary 10
make another opening to permit fresh
air to reach the lower levels.
Horses and scrapers were put al
work hauling debris away from the
shaft. The work is progressing SLOW
ly. owing to the narrow space IN
which the rescuers are compelled 10
operate, but by daylight the mine
should be open sufficiently to permit
of deep explorations and the rescue OF
the dead bodies. Late at night a party
of rescuers reached four mules that
were alive and this caused renewed
It is a faint hope, however, LOT
experienced mine bosses and miners
saw that when the imprisoned men
are reached all will be found dead
Some of the miners who escaped said
thew saw 20 dead bodies in entry NO.
II. They reported that many OF the
men were crazed by the explosion n
ran hither and thither in the mine.
Many of these could have escaped, but
they lay down, buried their faces IN
their hands and gave up the fight. VI
the 234 dead about ITS were married
and leave large families. About l0O
were Finlanders, so were colored ana
the rest were Americans.
The Hanna mines are among the
hest ON the Union Pacific system, be-
ing established in 1878. The town
was named for Senator Mark Hanna
when he was a member Of the Union
Pacific Coal Company. Mine No. l is
practically a new property. 1t has 2o
entries, Is miles Of workings n u
main incline shaft of n and one
half miles in length. The mine has
been recognized as dangerous properly
for some time on account OF the large
amount Of gas, but the system OF ven
tilation has been so good that an ac-
cidept was not anticipated.