The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1903-07-04
254 PERSONS ARE ENTOMED
EXPLOSION OF FIREDAMP IN
COAL MINE At HANNA.
Scores Of People injured and Vast
Amount Of Property Destroyed
Mine Did Not Fire-coal Mines Are
the Best on Union Pacific System
Explosion Heard Many Miles Away.

Omaha, Neb.. July "A special
from Hanna, Wyo.. says:
An explosion of iredamp in mine No.
l Of the Union Pacific Coal company
has snuffed out the lives of 234 men,
injured scores of others and caused the
destruction of vast amount of prop
erty, The mine was not fired, as stated
in the early reports, but the explosion
was terrific and completely shattered
the timbers of the main shaft and num-
erous entrances. filled the workings
with debris and those of the miners
that were not killed outright b. the
explosion were buried alive.
The explosion was heard for many
miles around and attracted people
from the adjoining settlement Huge
timbers and railroad iron were hurled
from the mouth of the shaft distance
Of 200 and 800 feet.
Superintendent f. S. Brooks and a
large force OF men went to work with
a will 10 remove the debris from the
shaft and reach the entombed miners.
Their progress into the mine was
blocked by the foul gases and several
times they were forced to return to
the surface. All day the rescuing par
ty worked, the force being increased
from time TO time by the arrival of
ranchmen and others from nearby set.
Elements and by those of a relief train
sent out from Rawlins.
Few Came Out Alive.
During the afternoon IS men were
taken out alive. Many were uncon-
scious and had to be carried from the
workings. Some were injured, but
none fatally. Several are in a critical
condition, but it is believed all will
recover.
Two hundred and eighty-two men
went down in the mine in the morn
ing and up until a late hour only IS
have been accounted for. OF this num-
Der two are dead.
1t was some time after the explosion
occurred that the first man was
brought to the surface. He was fol-
lowed by others until O'Clock, when
the last were brought out.
The rescuers were unable to pene-
trate further into the mine until ad-
ditional openings had been made to
permit fresh air to reach the lower
levels and clear away the foul gases.
Horses and scrapers were put at work
hauling debris away from the shaft
and cars were pushed down the in
cline, loaded and hauled back up the
tipple and dumped. The work is pro-
crossing slowly. owing to the narrow
space in which the rescuers are com
PEELED to operate, but by daylight the
mine should be opened sufficiently to
permit of deep explorations and the
rescue Of the dead bodies.
Some Of the miners that escaped
said they saw 20 dead bodies in en-
try No. II. They reported that many
of the men were crazed by the ex-
plosion and 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.
OF the 234 dead, about IFS were mar
ried, and leave large families. About
100 were Finlanders, so were colored
and the balance were Americans.
Mines Said to Be Good Ones.
The Hanna mines are among the
best on the Union Pacific system, be-
ing established In 1873. The town was
named for Senator Mark Hanna, as he
was a member Of the Union Pacific
Coal company.
Mine No. l is practically a new prop
erty. 1t has 26 entries, Is miles Of
workings and a main incline shaft Of
one and one half miles in length. The
mine has been recognized as a danger
GUS one for some time on account Of
the large amount Of gas. but the sys-
tenn Of ventilation has been so good
that an accident was not anticipated.
Mine Burning.
Denver, July IA special from Han
ma, Wyo., says
The startling information has been
received from an experienced miner
and fire fighter who penetrated the
mine to the 18th level that the work
ings below the 18th level are a mass
OF flames. and where few hours ago
1t was believed the rescuers would
reach the bodies Of the entombed min
ers not later than tomorrow noon. 1t
now appears the flames will add horror
to the already terrible calamity and
that the yictfrus will no burned