Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1906-03-11
SCENES FOLLOW
NEWS OF THE EXPLOSION

TERRIBIIE seen ES FOlILOW
NEWS OF THE EXPLOSION
Paris, Mar. 10.--A dispatch from
Lille, timed 5:45 p. M, says 1t Is now
certain that 1,193 of the entombed
miners are dead. During the even
ing a dispatch was received from Lille
which seemed to give some clew to
the origin of the explosion
1t was stated that the smouldering
fire broke out last night in the Cecil
pit of the Courriere mines near Meri-
court at depth of 27O meters, where
masonry was proceeding. M. Barault,
the chief engineer of the mines, de-
scended for the purpose of investi-
eating the circumstances which led
to the fire. That is all that is known
of the origin of the terrible catastro
phe. The cages in which the miners
descend into pits 2, 8 and were at
about o'clock this morning hurled
thirty feet from the mouth of the
shaft. A miner working near the
mouth was killed and a horse was
blown into the air. Some of the inn
prisoned miners sought to escape to
the pits, which remained intact, and
several rescues were made. The first
cages came up at 10 o'clock with
about a dozen half suffocated men,
who were promptly taken to the hos
pital.
Among them was M. Voisin. an en-
gineer who had attempted to organize
succor. Toward noon the wounded
men began to be brought up in the
baskets and the bodies of two dead
men We're taken from pit No. 10. 1t
was feared the remainder had been
asphyxiated.
Assistance reached Courriere from
all sections of the department and
large force of volunteers took part
in the rescue of the miners,
AgOnizing Scenes.
A state of stupor and desolation
prevails over the Courriere mining
region The most agonzing scenes
are witnessed at the pit mouths and
the gendarmes experienced the utmost
difficulty in restraining the crowds of
people eager to ascertain the fate of
their relatives.
At Lille the estimates of the dead
are from 1000 to 1900, which figures,
however are given under all reserve
until more exact details are obtaina-
BILE
Gas is pouring into pit 2, preventing
an entrance. and it is impossible to
succor the men imprisoned there. In
pit the cages will not work having
been damaged by the violence of the
explosion The rescue work there
fore, is proceeding mainly in pit 4.
The rescuers are made up of engi-
neers and men from the surrounding
mining towns.
The roof of the office near the en-
trance to the mine was blown off by
the explosion.
Ten miners from pit II were re-
miners who entered pit 4 have yet
been brought out.
OF the 500 miners who descended
there this morning, according to O
dispatch from Lens, 35S have been
brought out, but the rescue of the
others is impossible In pit only
thirteen men out of 443 have been
rescued. and as the ladders are bro
ken and the cages iammed the rescu-
ers despair of helping the others.
The prefect of Pas-de-C Calais, NJ. Ar
ras. is directing the work of rescue
at pit II, near the scene of the main
catastrophe.
1t is possible that the rescuers may
be able to approach the lateral gall
cries, and fifty miners, headed by
Engineer Bar, have been formed into
a relief gang and will make an at
tempt to reach them.
Foreman LecOmte came up from
the mine this afternoon and reported
a terrifying scene below.
The crowd surrounding the mouth
Of the mine is showing signs of i'm
patience at what it considers the slow
progress being made by the rescuers.
Galleries Cave In.
Paris. Mar. 10.-A dispatch from
Courrieres, timed p. m. says that the
attempt to rescue the imprisoned mi
ners has been given up the galleries
in the mine having fallen.
25.O00 Around the Pits.
Paris, Mar. 10,-A dispatch from
Lens, timed 1920 o'clock this morn
ing, says that the number of entomb-
ed men is now given at 1919. and that
the crowd around the pits totals
$4,000.