Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1906-03-14
HORRIBLE MINE DISASTER IN FRANCE
Eleven Hundred Operatives Entombed---The Scenes
are Horrifying---Forced to Stop Rescue Work

Paris, France, March 10-A mining
catastrophe of incalculable horror and
magnitude has stricken the great coal
center Of Northern France. An explo.
sion of fire damp at O'Clock this morn
ing carried death and destruction
throughout the network of coal mines
conferred at Courrieres, and fire followed
the explosion, making rescue difficult
and almost impossible.
The intense excitement and confusion
in the vicinity prevented early estimates
of the exact loss of life, but dispatch
received hero 8: ABS p. IN. gave f,404
miners entombed and probably lost. At
S.45 O'Clock this evening brief dispatch
from Lille announced the total of 1,103
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.
The scene of the catastrophe is the
mountainous mining region near Lens,
in the department of Pas. de- Calais. Here
are huddled small hamlets of mine work
ers, who operate the most productive
coal mines in France. About 1000 min
ers work in the group of mines.
The catastrophe took place shortly
after 1915 men had descended into the
mine this morning. There was dcafen-
ing explosion, which was followed by the
cages and mining apparatus being hurled
from the mouth of the Courrieres mine.
Men and horses nearby outside the mine
were either stunned or killed. The roof
of the mine office was torn off.
Immediately following the explosion
flames burst from the mouth of the pits,
driving back those without who sought
to enter and booming those within.
The work of attempting to rescue the
imprisoned miners was hastily begun,
and heroic efforts were made to pene-
trate the smoke and foul gases and bring
out the imprisoned men.
The families of the entombed miners
crowded about the shaft, seeking fathers
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 populace of the district is appalled,
by the disaster, which affects every
Those persons who were rescued were
terribly burned. The latest estimates
place those taken out at sol.
Throughout the afternoon the heroic
efforts at rescue were continued, but
brought the conviction that the
men had been suffocated.
A Horrible Disaster.
Paris, March 1.-THE worst fears as to
the enormity of the mine disaster in the
Courrieres district Saturday morning
have been realized. The death list num-
bers /, 100, and the whole of the region
stands appalled, at the terrible tragedy,
which has brought sorrow to 6,OOO faith
ers. mothers, wives and children.
The last great mine disaster in France
occurred in 1885, when 293 persons were
killed and so injured; but that and all
others sink into insignificance before
Inc VasC mortuary camp Is under mill
tary guard, 400 soldiers having arrived
there to assist in holding in check the
crowds of distracted mourners.
1t is reported that a rescue party, num-
bering forty. has been cut off by the cav
ing in of one of the galleries.
Minister of Public Works Gautier, Min
lster of the Interior Dubief and the Sec
retary of President Fallieres remain on
the ground, endeavoring to comfort the
distressed families of the miners. Fal-
lieres has given $4,000 to aid in relief
measures. The ministry will add fur
ther sum to this, and the Chamber of
Deputies will be asked to vote 100000
for the purpose of alleviating distress.