Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1906-03-17
KILLEDBYEXPLOSION
OYER 100 LIVES LOST IN COAL
MINES In NORTHERN FRANCE.
Death and Destruction Followed BY
Terrific Fire-Flames Balk Reseuers
Thousands Of Weeping Women
and Children, Whose Kin Are En-
tombed, Stunned BY Awful Disaster.

phe Of incalculable horror and magni-
tude has stricken the great coal center
of northern France. An explosion OF
fire damp at o'clock Saturday morn
ing carried death and destruction
throughout the network OF coal mines
centered in Courrieres and fire follow
ed the explosion, making rescue diff
cult and almost impossible.
The intense excitement and confu-
sion in the vicinity prevented early es-
Inmates OF the exact loss of life, but
dispatch received gave 1919 miners en-
tombed and probably lost. Later dis
patches give more than 1900 dead.
All France has been profoundly
shocked by the magnitude Of the disas-
ter, which is said to be the greatest
in the history Of continental mining.
President Fallieres sent his sympa-
thy accompanied by Minister of Pub
lie Works Gutter and Of the Interior
Dubief, on a special train to the scene
of the disaster. The ministerial cri-
sis was temporarily forgotten, sena-
tors and deputies joining in the uni
versal public manifestation OF sorrow.
Scene of the Disaster.
The scene of the catastrophe is the
mountainous mining region near Lens.
Here are huddled small hamlets OF
the mine workers, who operated the
most productive coal mines In France.
The subterranean chambers form a
series of tunnels. Six of the outlets
are near Lens, and others are at Cour-
rieres, Verdun and other points.
The output of these mines is partic-
ularly combustible, and is largely used
in the manufacture OF gas and in smelt-
ing About 1000 miners work the
group of mines, and with their fami-
lies make a population OF from 600O
to 5000 souls.
The explosion took place shortly at
ter 1875 men had descended into the
mine. There was a deafening explo-
sion, which was followed by the cages
and mining apparatus being hurled
from the mouth Of the mine. Men and
horses nearby outside the mine were
either stunned or killed. Inc roof Of
the mine office was torn Off
Immediately following the explosion
flames burst from the mouth of the
pit, driving back the men who had
sought to enter and booming those
who were inside. The work OF attempt.
ing to rescue the imprisoned miners
was quickly begun by officials, engi-
neers and miners from the surround
ing mines.
The families of the entombed miners
crowded about the shafts seeking IA.
Tiers or husbands and threatening In
their efforts to obtain details to force
back the gendarmes, who kept them
from the mouth of the pit.
The chief engineer of the depart
ment of Pas de Gaines, M. Leon, says
that the fire broke out in the pit at
o'clock last Monday afternoon and
that the engineers COPIED with 1t as
best they could, but that Friday, be-
ing unable to master IL, they closed
all the outlets. Fissures, he thinks,
must have formed, which permitted
the gases TO escape. and these becom-
ing ignited, resulted in explosion.
Latest Report.
The worst fears as to the enormity
of the mine disaster in the Courrieres
district have been realized. The death
list numbers 100 and the whole region
stands appalled, at the terrible tragedy,
which has brought sorrow to 5000 faith
ers, mothers, wives and children.
The last great mine disaster In
France occurred in 1885. when 2s3 per
sons were killed and so injured, but
that and all others sink into insignia
canoe before Courrieres.
The vast mortuary camp is under
military guard, 400 soldiers having ar
rived there 10 assist in holding In
check the crowds OF distracted mourn.
ers. For time hope has been held out
to the people that tappings on pipes
by the imprisoned men had been heard.
but gradually this hope vanished and
the people demanded admission to see
the bodies, and even threatened TO
break their way through the Gordon OF
troops. who had the greatest difficulty
in keeping the crowds from the pit.
One man named Silvestre succeeded
in entering the mine. but he never re-
turned. II is believed he CROPPED about
inside until he was overcome by the
gases and persisted. II is reported that
a rescue party numbering 40 has been
cut off by the caving in of one OF the
galleries.
BY One Who Escaped.
The ministers listened to graphic
description of the scene in the mine by
Cert. one Of the men rescued, and who
still is suffering from the terrible ef-
fects of his experience.
Il was wornIng with the gang when
the explosion occurred. The foreman
Immediately shouted for us TO follow
him, and, dashing into a recess In the
gallery, we we're followed by a blast
Of poisonous gases. which rushed by.
however, without affectings us. We re-
NAMED there for eight hours, when,
feeling that suffocation was gradually
coming upon us. we attempted to es-
cape. We crawled in single ile to-
ward the shaft, but several OF the men
dropped dead on the way. including
my son and the foreman. carried my
nephew on my back for 40 minutes,
and succeeded in saving him. It took
us four hours TO reach the shaft"
For the time being the mine building
has been transformed into mortuary
chamber, and all about in II lie the
burned and almost unrecognizable
- N.L