The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1906-03-15
FRENCH MINE DISASTER
Over a thousand Golfers Perish at
Pas de Calais.
fLA&ES FOLLOW AN EXPLOSION

Attempts at Rescue Given Up, Cat
Ier'o% having Fallen in-Ans werin=
Appeals For Aid. I;eScuerS lose Their
Lives-Force Their Way Into Shafts
Filled With poisonou ~ Gases.
faris.-A mining catastrophe inyoIv.
inc the loss Of over 1000 lives has
stricken the great coal centre of North
ern France. An explosion OF fire
damp at { O'Clock Il. 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 TO be the greatest in
the history Of Continental mining.
President Fallieres sent his secre-
tary, accompanied by NJ. Gauthier. the
Minister of Public Works. and NJ. Du-
bief. the Minister of the Interior, on u
special train to the scene of the disas-
ter. e. &
The scene of the catastrophe is the
mountainous mining region near Lens,
i'll 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
S~ubterranean chambers form a series
of tunnels. Six of the outlets are near
Lens, and others are at Courriers, Yer
dun n many other points.
The catastrophe occurred shortly af-
ter 1875 men had descended into the
mines i'll the morning. There was a
dCafening explosion. which was fol-
lowed by the cages and mining appara-
JUS being hurled from the mouth OF the
Courrieres mine. Mel and horses near
hy 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
10 enter and booming those within.
The death list stands at 11G0. The
tragedy has brought sorrow to GO0O,
fathers, mothers. wives and children.
The vast mortuary camp - under
military guard, 400 soldiers having ar
rivej therc 10 assist i'll holding i'll check
the crowds of distracted mourners.
For = time hope mad neen held Il TO
The people that tappin%S on pipes by
the imprisoned men 'ad been heard.
but gradually Ibis 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,
in@ The crowds from the pit. One ma
named Sylyestre succeeded in entering
tire mine, but lie never returned. 1t is
believed that he CROPPED o inside
untii he was O leone by the gases and
persisted.
ror the time being the mine building
has been transformed into 4 m%Ortuary
chamber. and all about in it lie the car
bon5zed and almost UnrecogniZable
bodies Of miners which were taker
there as they were brought up from
the mine. Stricken relatives arrive a
h mine building from time TO time
screening for missing members OF thei;
families. and inieScribable scenes OF
grief occur as women recognize loved
Onas.
Ieartrending scenes. too. are wit
messed about the mouth of Pit I. where
iii the presence Of Ministers Dubief an(
GautIiEr. tie bands Of rescuerS are
contia ally descending and returning
with bodies. EOmen with children il
their arms attemp- 20 break through
the Gordon Of troops. which form a lane
through which the body hearers pro
coed to the nOrtuary chamber. III
nearly very case The body is terribly
liberated. Only one-half of the bodies
recovered havTbeeu ItG- lied.