New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-12
THE DISASTER N FRANCE.

Hours, II not days, usually elapse after an
explosion OF gas II a couiery before the full
effect can be sscertained, even approximately.
How many persons were employed IN a mine
or series Of mines where the accident occurs
may be known exactly, but It is impossible to
tell IN advance how many Of them will be saved
Not until the work Of rescue has been definitely
abandoned can there be a count Of the survivors
or an estimate Of the number Of victims. But
the outlines Of Saturdays calamity in North
ern France now stand out with appalling dis
tinctness. It seems probable that about eleven
hundred men have been killed, and thousands Of
persons are plunged IN grief and perhaps re-
duced TO restitution Never before, II IS as
serted, has any loss Of life from the same cause
attained the same proportions on the Cont
nent Of Europe. Perhaps the disaster in the
Department Of Pas De Calais is without paral-
lel anywhere. Well might the French people
cease for a time 70 speculate on the probable
composition OF the new Cabinet Of their recently
chosen President. The whole civilized world
is touched by such an event Its sympathy will
be enhanced, moreover. by a suspicion that the
catastrophe might have been averted.
Although some Of the circumstances which
have bearing on the question Of responsibility
may forever be involved In obscurity, at least
two important facts appear 10 be beyond dis
pute: The mines whose outlets were at Lens,
Courrieres and Verdun were notorious for their
abundant production OF fire damp. In other
words, the danger was greater there than in
many other places, and the necessity for eXcep-
tional caution was obvious to q person Of or
binary Intelligence. According TO the chief engi-
neer Of the department IN which the explosion
occurred-presumably a government official
there had been a continuous fire IN one Of the
pits for at least i've days before the disaster.
The mining engineers having been unable to
suppress It, they finally undertook to erect
barrier which should prevent gas from the adj
jacent workings getting access 70 the burning
material. It is evident that their ingenuity and
energy were not equal to the requirements of
the situation. At this distance from the scene
no hasty Judgment should be pronounced; but
It is hard TO avoid the conviction that 10 the
Incompetence Of the engineers OF the mine is
due the shocking tragedy Of Saturday.
Occasions like this often inspire the exer-
else Of q beautiful heroism. Those who en-
deavor 10 eXricate imprisoned miners before the
deadly after damp can take effect expose them
selves to great peril In their attempts they
sometimes sacrifice their own lives. 1t IS not
unlikely that some Of the workmen who sought
to rescue their fellows the other day met with
the well remembered fate of the brave Selwyn
H. Taylor, at Cheswick. Penn, two years ago.
But. inspiring as are these exhibitions Of the
best side Of human nature, the recurrence Of the
necessity for them Is lamentable In the extreme.
Prevention Is infinitely better than rescue Col
iery explosions arc nothing less than blots on
modern civilization.