Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-07-08
DIE In MINE HORROR.
MANY LIVES BELIEVED 20 HAVE
BEEN LOST.
Death List May Number 234 Men
Result of an Explosion Union Pa
cifc Shaft at Hanna, wyo., Wrecked
aud set on Fire by Gas.


Two hundred and thirty-four men are
believed to have persisted in an explosiaA
which wrecked Hanna Mine No. / Of
the Union Pacific Coal Company at Han
ma, Wyo., shortly after 10 o'clock Tues
day morning. The property loss is enor-
nous
About / O'Clock in the afternoon -four
men Were taken out alive and a half
hour later they were followed by forty
two others. Many were unconscious and
had to be carried from the workings.
Some were injured, but none fatally. Sew
eral are in a serious condition, but il is
believed all win recover
Two hundred and eighty-two men went
down in the mine ut Z O'clock in the
morning, and up until late hour only
forty eight had been accounted for. OF
this number two are dead.
The mine is one of the largest owned
by the Union Pacific Coal Company, and
employed $50 men The explosion came
witt terrific force. The earth fifty feet
back to the mouth of the slope and heavy
timbers piled near were thrown in every
direction. No one was working outside
near any of the openings of the mine to
receive injury, but the workings have
caved in, burying the miners. Those
who were not killed instantly In this
manner have since persisted from the
gas. It has been impossible for rescuing
parties TO get into the mine where the
greater number of men were employed.
The manway and a number of the air
conrses were closed By the earth eavina
in.
Cause of the Explosion.
1t is generally believed that the explo-
sion was caused = one Of the miners
opening condensed air chamber. Those
of the survivors who are able to talk
believe that gas had formed IN the cham-
Der and forced out the air. When the
miner opened the door his lamp set fire
to the gas.
E. 5. Brooks, superintendent Of the
mine, and William pascoe, stable boss,
entering soon after the explosion, we're
overcome by the gas ut the fourth level
and but for immediate assistance would
have persisted in few moments.
There are several miles Of workings in
the mine. and the men were widely scat
tered. At the seventh level sixty-five
men were employed. The underground
NtHHAtr MNlt also AVSaAti'N aA THIS HOlhJ,
and farty-ti5e mules were kept in them.
Il Gas impossible TO K beyond the sew
senth level going down the main entrance,
this being perhaps 600 feet from the sur
tacu
4 psfty Of Eve men entered from an
air shaft half mile away from the main
entrance and succeeded in going IN about
three-fourths of mile They found
many dead men aud mules, some Of the
bodies being blown into atoms. The gas
at this point was very strong. Before
the men could retreat they became ex-
haustod, and but for assistance rendered
BY a party who followed them closely
never could have reached the surface.
They found many Of the air shafts closed
and passageways DISTRACTED by the walls
caving in.
The Hnnna mines are among the best
on the Union Pacific system. being estab-
lished in 1878. The town was named for
Senator Mark Hanna when he was a
member Of the Union Pacific Coal Com
pany. Mine No. ] is practically new
property. II has twenty.six entries. ff-
teen miles Of workings and main in.
cline shaft Of one and one-half miles in
length. The mine has been recognized as
dangerous on account Of the large
amour; Of gas, but the system Of rentila-
ton has heen so good that an accident
was not anficiuatpd