Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-05
LIVES IN TOMB
WITH DEAD MEN
MINER TAKEN OUT FROM LENS
COAL SHAFT
Auguste Berton Exists over Three
Weeks After ExpIosion-Tres
to Commit Suicide-UnabIe
to Eat Horse Flesh
BY Associated Press.

LENS, France, April 4.-Another liv-
ing survivor of the mine disaster at
Courrieres, March 10, was discovered
this morning and brought out of the
pit.
The finding of another miner alive
after twenty-five days entombment
caused intense excitement The man
was found in pit four of the Sallau
mines. He was in good condition. Ac-
cording to his first statement, this man,
Auguste Berton, suffered less than the
preceding rescued men. He is 80 years
old and was born in the same place at
Nemy, the leader of the thirteen men
rescued on March 30.
AS the news spread through the region
it caused extreme evaporation against
the engineers who have been directing
the salvage work. M. Leon, the state
engineer, when he arrived at the pit,
was surrounded by aicrowd of people,
who cursed and swore at him, one wom-
sn going so far as to strike the en-
gineer.
Feels Touch of Hand
One of a party of salvage men was
working in the mine this morning when
he felt the touch of a hand on his
shoulder and a man, who turned out
to be Berton. said: Il am saved"
An affecting meeting occurred be-
tween Berton and his wife. Burton,
who was covered with a layer of coal
dust, described his experience as fol-
lows:
Il was working with my cousin when
an explosion occurred and we became
separated. Afterward, alone, l CROPPED
about i'll the darkness trying to find
an outlet. ! first found dead horse,
but was unable to eat any of its flesh.
Later I found some lunch bags which
had belonged to men who had been
killed by the explosion and ! lived
ON the food l found in them. 1 suf-
fered from the cold and took clothing
three watches and twenty-four sous.
At one time [ gave up hope and tried
to commit suicide by opening a vein.
slept ten times and tried to count.
the days, estimating that eight days
had passed since the explosion"
Attacked by Women
When the engineers came up from
the Courrieres pits at noon today they
were attacked by a crowd of women,
crying: Death to the murderers."
They believe that there are other men
alive in the mine and serious disorders
are threatened.
A thousand women are thronging
about the pit mouth and are forcing
the barriers. Troops and gendarneS
are trying to control the situation.
Five search parties went down this
morning to explore pit four but UP
to 1890 p. m. they had not discovered
any more survivors.
Other parties are searching the mines
and the chief engineer will remain be-
low all night.
The crowd several times during the
day broke through the Gordon of troops
surrounding pit No. 4, eXcitedly ques-
tioning the salvagers, who stated that
no further traces of human life had
been found. Several bodies of miners
with the appearance of not having been
long dead and a living horse were dis
covered. The latter was in good con-
ditlon. The crowds dispersed at mid
night except for a few women, who
refused to leave the vicinity of the pit
head.
In pursuance f Premier Sarrien's in
structions, a judicial inquiry was be-
gun this evening against the state en-
gineers who. it is alleged, took over
the superintendent of the salvage
work from the company.