Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-03-12
Terrific Explosion OF Fire Damp in
Coal Mine in COurriereS District.
About 1900 Miners Went Down to Their Work and
Only About 700 Escaped-Rescuers Say That
There Is Little Hope for Their Friends

Paris. March 1.-THE worst fears as
to the enormity Of the mine disaster in
CalOis Saturday morning have been
realized. The death list stands at HOO
and the whole of the region stnds APP
palled at the terrible tragedy which has
brought sorrow to 600O fathers, moth
ers, wives and children.
The last great mine disaster in
France occurred in 1856, when o93 per-
sons We're killed ana 50 injured; but
that and all others sink into iIsignif-
canoe before Courtieres.
The vast mortuary camp is under
military guard, 400 hundred soldiers
having arrived there to assist in hold
ing i'll check the crowds of distracted
mourners. Fer a time hope had been
held out to the people that tappings on
pipes by the imprisoned men had been
heard bul gradually this hope vanished
and the people demanded admission to
see the bodies, and even threatened to
break through the Gordon of troops,
who had the greatest difficulty in keep
ing the crowds from the pit. One man
the mine, but he never returned.
1t Is reported that q rescue party
numbering 40 has been cut off by the
caving in of one of the galleries.
Minister of Public Works Gauthier,
Minister of the Interior Dubief, and the
secretary Of President Fallieres re-
manned on the ground endeavOring to
comfort the distressed families of the
miners. President Fallieres has given
$1,000 10 aid in relief measures. The min
istry will add further sum to this and
the Chamber of Deputies will be asked
to vote 100000 for the purpose of al
leviating distress.
Ministers Gauthier and Dubief have
received complete details of the catas-
trophe from NJ. Lavaurs, the director
of the mine. His voice was choked with
emotion as he spoke.
"Of 1900 miners who went down in
the pits when the explosion occurred"
he said, 1913 were working in pit No.
4; 4s3 were in pit No. 8; 81 in pit No.
2, and the remainder in pit No. 10.
Those rescued were taken out as fol-
lows:
From pit No. 4, 100; from pit No. 3. Is
escaped through pit No. IL: 400 came
up from pit No. and "a from pit No.
10.
"A number of these were injured and
some of them have died since. At the
present moment over 1000 men re-
main imprisoned"
Another director declared that the
imprisoned men numbered 11O0
Minister Dubief inquired: Have you
still any hope?"
TO this the director replied: mo: I
believe all of them are dead
This was whispered into the ear Of
the minister in order that his words
might not be overheard by the pale
faced miners who stood anXiously
about the mine buildings waiting for
an official view on the state of affairs.
Then the ministers listened to a
praphic picture Of the scenes in the
rescued and who still Is suffering from
the terrible effects of his experience.
Il was working with a gang when
tile explosion occurred. The foreman
Immediately shouted for us to follow
him. and. dashing into recess in the
gallery We were followed by blast Of
poisonous gases which rushed by. how
ever. without affecting us. We re-
manned there for eight hours when.
feeling that suffOcation was gradually
coming on us. we attempted to escape.
We crawled in single file toward the
Shaft but several Of the men dropped
dead on the way. including my son
and the fireman. ] carried my neNhew
on my back for 40 minutes and sue
ceeded IN saving him. 1t took us four
hours to reach the shaft"
For the time being the mine build
ing has been transformed into n mort
uary chamber, and all about it lie the
carbonized and almost unrecognizab1e
bodies of miners which were taken
there as they We're brought up from
TIE mine. Stricken relatives arrive at
the mine building from time to time,
searching for missing members Of their
families. and Understandable scenes Of
grief occur as women recognize loved
ones.
Heartrerding scenes. too. are wit
messed about the mouth of pit No.
wherein the presence of ministers
Dubief and Gauthier the bands Of
rescuers are continually descending
and returning with bodies. The women
with children in their arms attempt
to break through the Gordon OF troops
which form lane through which the
body bearers proceed to the mortuary
chamber. Sometimes the burden con.