The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-04-11
FRENCH MINE DISASTER
Over a Thousand Golfers Perish at
Pas de Calais.
FLAMES FOLLOW AN EXPLOSION
.~ttelnpts at Rescue Given Up, Gal.
lerle' Having Fallen in-Answerlng
Appeals For Aid. Rescuers Lose Their
Lives-Force Their Way Into Shafts
Filled With P~oiaououa GaGea.

Appeals For Aid. Rescuers Lose Their
L~ives-Force Their Way Into Shafts
Filled With Poisonous Gases.
Paris. "A mimi; catastrophe involv-
ing the loss Of over 1000 lives has
stricken the great coal centre of North
ern France. An explosion of fire.
damp at 7 o'clock n. IN. carried death
and destruction throughout the net
work Of coal mines centred at Cour.
riers; and fire followed the explosion.
making rescues almost impossible.
All France has been profoundly.
shocked by the. magnitude of the disas-
ter, which is said 10 be the greatest in
the history of Continental mining.
President Fallieres sent his secre-
tary, accompanied by N. Gauthier, the
Minister of Public Works, and M. Du-
bief. the Minister of the Interior, on a
special train to the scene of the disas.
ter.
The scene Of the catastrophe Is the
mountainous mining region nea Lens,
in the Department Of Pas de Calais.
Here are huddled small hamlets Of the
nine workers, who operate 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 COurriers, Yer.
dun and many other points.
The catastrophe occurred shortly af<
ter 1905 men had descended into the
mines in the morning. There was a,
deafening explosion, which: was fol-
lowed by the cages and mining appara-
lus being hurled from the mouth of the
Courrieres mine. Men and horses near
by outside the mine were either
stunned or killed. The roof of the
mine Office was torn of.
Immediately following the explosion
flames burst from the mouth Of the pit,
driving back those without who sought
TO enter and booming those within.
The death list stands at HOO. The
tragedy has brought sorrow to, 5000,
Gathers, mothers, wives and children.
The vast mortuary camp :; under
military guard. 400 soldiers having ar
rived there to assist in holding in check
the crowds of distracted mourners.
For a time hope had been held out to
the people that tappings on pipes BY
the imprisoned men lad been heard.
but gradually this hope vanished, and
the people demanded admission to see
the bodies, and eve threatened to
break through the gordon Of troops,
who had the greatest difficulty in keep
ing the crowds from the pit. One man
named Sylvestre succeeded in entering
the mine, but he never returned. 1t Is
believed that he CROPPED about inside
until he was oI-"come by the gases and
persisted.
t'or the time being the mine building
has been transformed into O mortuary
chamber, and all about in it lie the car
bonized and almost unrecognizable
bodies of miners which were taken
there as they were brought up from
the mine. Stricken relatives arrive at
the mine building from time to time,
searching for missing members Of their
families, and indescribable scenes OF
grief occur as women recognize loved
ones.
Heartrending scenes, too, IRE wit
messed about the mouth Of Pit 4, where,
In the presence Of Ministers Dubief and
Gauthier, the bands of rescuers are
contio ally descending and returning
with bodies. Women with children in
their arms attemp. 20 break through
the Gordon of troops, which form a lane
through which the body bearers pro-
coed to the mortuary chamber. In
nearly Every case the body is terribly
lacerated. Only one-half Of the bodies
recovered have been lderdfed.