The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-30
ERUPTION UNEXPLAINED.
The Town of Frank is Now Threat
 ened By Flood.

CAco oJ x &ACo0.
 Vancouver, B. C., April 2s.-over- whelmed before daylight today by count less tons of rock hurled from the top of Turtle Mountain by an eruption. as yet unexplained. which killed 112 or more per sons. Frank. a mining town in South western Alberta, is tonight threatened with sdestrouctionA by flood. Old Mans River, which flows through the middle of the town is damned with the fallen rocks to the height of nearly 100 feet. The waters of the river are backed up for miles and the entire valley above Frank is flooded. A big body of water is pressing with force against the dam. Should the water burst from the inn promptu dam the entire village probably would be swept away. A dispatch from Frank says:
 A tremendously loud reverbera ton shook the whole valley of the Old Mans River this morning at 4:10 o'clock and before the inhabitants had awakened to realization of the impending danger, from the top of Turtle Mountain, there were hurled millions of tons of rock. The Frank mines operated by the French Canadian Coal Company, across the river from the town, were seen to be buried under hunderds of feet of rock just as the morning light was breaking. lnSlQc or HN6 minutes HUH lllc thundrous shock and before half of the town realized what had happened, a small force of men had started to the relief of the miners despite the great risk they ran of being buried under the rocks which were still being precipitated from the lofty mountain top. The volunteer relief force was unable to get into the mine, but managed to get near enough to deter mine that not a man at the workings had escaped death. Many had been mangled.
 The disaster was merciful to those who were employed above ground in that they must have been killed instantly, while those in the workings of the mine may yet be alive if they have air to breathe. If all the air shafts to the mine were closed under the avalanche, all the men must be dead. The disaster was not confined to the vicinity of the mine alone. for many of the dwelling houses in the town of Frank were demolished by the falling rock. Some of the occupants of these houses escaped death, but many others were instantly killed.
 It Is conservatively estimated that the loss of life will exceed one hundred and the latest returns place the number of dead at 112.
 At noon today it was impossible to ar rive at any accurate estimate of the loss of life, as, owing to the excitement and hurry and rush of people on the streets no person can say who is missing and who is not. There are no records availa- ble which will tell how many men were working in and bout the mine at the time of the disaster It is variously re- ported that there were from eighteen to fifty miners under ground. It Is known that many women and children suffered death, but just how many 1t is impossi- ble to tell at present"
 When reports concerning the magnitude of the disaster and details concerning it began to come in from trustworthy men, 1t traEgpired that the earth had opened for three-quarters of a mile in length and fo, many feet in width. and that the whole northern face of Turtle Mountain had slipped from place.
 The shock resultant upon the precipita- ton of the tons of rock into the valley. while actually demolishing few of the houses. shook the foundations of most of the dwellings in the town that they are unsafe to live in and many people will have to live in the open air or under such temporary shelter as may be procurable. The railroad track for a distance of two miles or more east of the station is cov- cred with from ten to forty feet of rock and the telegraph wires are down. All communication Is over one wire running west and this line is so blocked with pri- yate messages and inquiries from the out side that 1t is only with the greatest diff hculty that press matter can be sent out.
 At dusk today the rock Is still falling on the town from Turtle Mountain and it is dangerous to venture within half mile of the mine workings. It is now certain that eighteen men are buried in the workings. All hope for them has been abandoned. The streets are crowd ed with the relations and friends of those known to be entombed. The women are behaving in an heroic manner It Is gen. erally thought that the disruption of Tur- tie Mountain was brought about by .