Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-03-12
THOUSAND ARE
REPORTED DEAD
Worst Mine Horror France Has
Ever Known Burning Pits
Held 1895 Men.

PARIS March PA mining catas-
trophe involving the loss of over q
thousand lives has stricken the great
coal center of northern France. An
explosion Of 1redamp at Z o'clock in
The morning carried death and destruc-
lion throughout the network Of coal
mines ceutered Ut Courrieres, and fire
followed the explosion, making res
cues almost impossible.
The intense excitement and confu-
sion in the vicinity prevented early es-
Inmates Of the exact loss of life. but a
dispatch received here gives a total Of
Of l,4U4 miners entombed and proba-
bly, lost. Later a brief dispatch from
Lille announced the total of 1.219 dead.
All France has been profoundly
shocked by the magnitude Of the dis
aster, which is said 10 be the greatest
in the history of continental mining.
President Fallieres sent his secreta-
ny, accompanied 10y NJ. Gauthier, the
minister Of public works, and VI. Du-
bief, the minister of the interior. on u
special train to the scene Of the dis
aster.
The ministerial crisis was temporari-
ly forgotten, senators and deputies
joining in the general public manifesto
lions Of sorrow.
The scene of the catastrophe is the
mountainous mining region near Lens.
in the department of Pas de Calais.
Here are huddled small hamlets of the
mine workers. who operate the most
productive coal mines in France. The
Subterranean chambers form u series
of tunnels. Six of the outlets are lea
Lens, and others are at Courrieres.
Verdun and many other points.
The catastrophe took place shortly
after 1,795 men had descended into the
mine. There was a deafening eXpio-
sion, which was followed by the cages
and mining apparatus being hurled
from the mouth of the Courrieres mine.
Men and horses nearby outside the
mine were either stunned or killed. The
roof of the mine office was torn off.
Immediately following the explosion
flames burst from the mouth of the
pit, driving back those without who
sought TO enter and booming those
within. ia
The last great mine disaster in
France occurred il 1889. when 293 per-
sons were killed and eighty injured,
but that and all others sink into insig-
n~ificance before this present one at
Courrieres.
The work of attempting to rescue the
imprisoned miners was hastily begun
by officials, engineers and miners from
the surrounding mines, who formed
parties and made heroic efforts to pen
citrate the smoke and foul gases and
bring out the imprisoned men.
4 vast mortuary camp is now under
military guard, 400 soldiers having ar
rived there TO assist in holding in
check the crowds of distracted mourn
ers. For IL time hope had been held
out to the people that tappings on
pipes by the imprisoned men had been
heard, but gradually this hope vanish
ed, and the people demanded admis-
sion TO see the bodies and ever threat
ened to break through the Gordon of
troops, who had the greatest difficulty
in keeping the crowds from the pit.
One man named S~ylvestre succeeded
in entering the mine. but he re-
turned. 1t is believed he CROPPED about
inside until he was overcome by the
gases and persisted. 1t is reported that
Il rescue party numbering forty has
been cut off by the caying in of one OF
the galleries.
Minister of Public Works Gautier.
Minister of the Interior Dubief and the
secretary of President Falieres re-
main on the ground e~ndeavoring to
comfort the distressed families of the
miners. President Fallieres has given
$1,000 to aid in relief measures. The
ministry will add Il further sum to this,
and the chamber of deputies will be
asked to vote 100000 for the purpose
of alternating distress.
Ministers Gautier and Dubief have
received complete details of the cata-
strophe from NJ, Lavaurs, the director
of the mine. His voice was choked
with emotion as he spoke.
"Of 1900 miners who We're down in
the ni.S whom the explosion occurred,