The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1903-07-08
AWFUL CALAMITY.
The Worst Disaster Ever Occurred in
the History of Yoming.
OVER TWO HUNDRED KILLED.
n Terrific Explosion I'm n Mine
of Fire Damp. Shut Them
Up Like Rats i'm n
Trap.

Hanna. Wyoming, was the scene
Tuesday OF terrible diSaster-the
worst in the history of Wyoming-at
80 4. M, when an explosion OF fire
damp in mine No. OF the Union Pa
citic Coal company snufTed out the
lives OF 234 men, injured scores OF
Others and caused the destruction of a
vast amount of property.
The mine was not fired, as was
stated in the earlier reports, but the
explosion was terrific and completely
shattered the timberS OF the main
SHAFT and numerous entrances, filling
the working pit with debris, and those
Of the miners that were not killed out
right by the explosion were buried
alive. The explosion was heard for
many miles around and attracted peo-
pie from the adjoining settlements.
Huge timbers and railroad iron were
hurled 300 feet from the mouth Of the
shaft. Supt. Il. 5. Brooks and a large
force Of men began the work of remov-
ing the debris from the shaft, that
they might reach the entombed
miners. Their progress into the mine
was blocked by the foul glasses and
several times they were forced to re-
turn TO the surface.
All day the rescuing party worked,
the force being increased from time To
time by the arrival OF ranchnen and
others from nearby settlements and
by those Of a relief train sent out
from Rawlins, which arrived at
n'rlnrk In tha nftnrnDnr
O'Clock Tuesday afternoon four men
were taken out alive and half hour
later they were followed by A. Others.
Many were unconscious and had to be
carried from the workings. Several
are in a serious condition, but it in
believed all will recover.
Two hundred and eighty-two men
went down in the mine at ! o'clock
wednesday morning and up to late
hour Wednesday night only 4S have
been accounted for. or this number
two are dead. 1t was some time after
the explosion occurred that the first
man was brought to the surface. He
was followed by others until o'clock
when the last Of the 4S was brought
out. The reScuerS were unable to
penetrate further into the mine as il
was necessary TO make another open
ing TO permit fresh air to reach the
lower levels.
Horses and Scrapers were put at
work hauling debris away from the
shaft The work is progressing slow
ly, owing to the narrow space in which
the reScuerS are compelled TO operate,
but by daylight the mines should be
opened sufficiently to permit OF deep
explorations and the rescue OF the
dead bodies. Late Wednesday night
| a party OF reScuers reached four mules
that were alive and this caused renew
ed hope. 1t is faint hope, however,
for experienced mine bosses and
miners say that when the imprisoned
men are reached, all will be found
dead. Some OF the miners who escap-
ed say they saw 20 dead bodies i'm
entry No. II. They reported that
many OF the men were crazed by the
explosion 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 tight. OF the 234 dead about 175
we're married and leave large families.
About 100 were Finlandcrs, 80 were
1 colored and the rest were Americans.
The Hanna mines are among the
best 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 new property. 1t has
26 entries, l5 miles OF workings and
a main incline shaft OF one and
one-half miles in length. The mine
has been recognized as dangerous
| property for some time on account
of the large amount of gas, but the
system OF ventilation has been SO good
that an accident was not anticipated.