Los Angeles herald., 1905-04-04
TH|RTY-FOUR
MINERS LOST
EXPLODING GAS AT ZEIGLER
WRECKS MINE
SHOCK IS FELT MANY MILES
Bodies Of Dead Men Burned Beyond
Recognition, and Work Of Res
cue Conducted With Great
Difficulty
SHOCK IS FELT MANY MILES
By Associated rresa

BY Associated FreeA
BENTON, ILL.,, April 3.--Some fifty
miners we're entombed today in Joseph
Letters mine at Zeigler by terrific
explosion of gas. The explosion was
due to the fact that the Letter mines
are not worked on Sunday, thus all
lowing gas to accumulate in the lower
workings.
When between thirty-five and forty
five miners had descended into the mine
today to resume work a terrific explo-
sion blew the timbers about the mouth
of the mine high into the air. One of
the steel cages was blown to the sur
face from the bottom of 500-foot
shaft. The shock of the explosion was
felt at Benton, twelve miles distant.
One miner was killed and four were
severely injured at the mouth of the
shaft in which the explosion occurred
The work of rescue was begun at
once by miners, who were arriving at
the time the explosion took place, but
the main shaft is so badly wrecked that
rescue work has to be carried on there
through the air shafts.
committee of union miners from
Duquoin and other neighboring mining
towns, headed by District President
Morris, fastened to Zeigler soon after
the explosion occurred and offered their
aid.
The bodies of the dead are so black
tI,ot ho
titled. Rolly Campbell is the injured
miner brought out of the shaft, and it
is said that he cannot live. Campbell
is conscious, but he is unable to give
any explanation of the accident.
There was much excitement among
known, as there had been strike of
long duration and many conflicts had
occurred between strikers and non
union miners.
Catastrophe Was Accidental
An all-day investigation tends to
the accidental explosion Of accumu-
lated gas.
Up to 10 o'clock tonight fifteen dead
bodies had been recovered. The work
of rescue is made very difficult and
dangerous by the foulness of the air
found show marks of the explosion.
death in the other cases having evil
IDENTIFY resulted from asphyxiation.
Joseph Letter is expected to reach
Zeigler tonight, although it was at first
reported that he was en- route to
all night.
The number of dead is estimated at
thirty-four; wounded, eight. 1t trans
pires that there were two explosions
close together.
The first explosion took place in the
greater explosion in the main shaft.
There were employed in the mine only
1870 men, 120 being at work during the
daytime. Four cages containing ten
men of the day force had gone down
into the mine and were supposedly at
the bottom when the catastrophe oc-
Cured.
Inc explosion wrecked the SndICi
blowing out the skids on which the
cages were hoisted. OF the thirty-four
men thought to be dead only fifteen
had been taken out at 10 o'clock to-
night. Besides these bodies three were
removed alive, but with fatal injuries.
Among the dead are James Reyburn,
engineer; ]. p. Fink and Willie Camp
bell. The remainder are Greeks and
Lithuanians and were designated by
numbers.
AS soon as the accident occurred the
miners OF Duquoin sent the following
message to the Zeigler Coal company;
miners here proffer assistance in
any number Wire answer.
"a. T. MORRIS, Foreman"
The following answer was received:
"Thanks for offer of yourself and
miners Have all the help needed.
"ZEIGLER COAL COMPANY"
Superintendent Hurd tonight said
that the shaft was a wreck and that
the main entrance was so disabled that
It would take a week to repair it.
In the effort to recover the entombed
men Ave rescuers were overcome by
after damp. All the searchers for the
men below were let down by hand. In
two instances the men above were
NEARLY overcome nv gas