The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-03-13

Paris. March >10.-A mining catas-
trophe of incalculable horror and mag
nitude. has striken the great coal GEN.
ter of northern France. An explosion
of fire damp. at o'clock this morning.
carried death and destruction through
out the net work OF coal mines CENTER
ed at Courrierres. and fire followed
the explosion, making rescue difficult,
and almost impossible. The intense
excitement and confusion in the vicin-
ity prevented early estimates OF the
exact loss Of life. but a dispatch re-
ceived here at 4:33 p. m. gave 1.4o4
miners entombed, and probably lost.
At S:45 O'Clock this evening q brief
dispatch from Lille announced the
total of 1913 dead All France has
been profoundly shocked by the mag
nitude of the disaster. which is said
to be the greatest in the history OF
continental mining.
President Fallieres sent his secre-
tary, accompanied by Minister of Pub
lie Works Gautier. and Minister OF the
Interior Dubief on a special train TO
the scene of the disaster. The minis
terial crisis was temporarily forgot
ten, senator's and deputies Joining I'm
the universal manifestations of sorrow
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 the
mine workers. who operate the most
productive coal mines in France. The
subterranean chambers form a series
OF tunnels. Six OF them are near Lens.
and others are at Courrierres verdun,
and many other points.
The output OF these mines is partic-
ularly combustible and is largely used
in the manufacture OF gas and in
smelling. About 1000 miners work
the group of mines. and, with their
families, make a population Of from
5000 to 5000 souls. The catastrophe
took place shortly after 1.795 men had
descended into the mines this morning
There was deafening explosion which
was followed by the cages and mining.
apparatus being hurled from the
mouth OF the Courrierres mine. Men
and horses nearby 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 work Of attempting to rescue the
imprisoned miners was hastily begun
by officials. engineers. and miners
from the surrounding mines, who
formed parties and made heroic ef-
forts TO penetrate the smoke and foul
gases and bring out the imprisoned
men. The families Of the entombed
miners crowded about the shaft. seek
ing fathers or husbands. and threat
ening 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
househould. Those persons who were
rescued were horribly burned. The
latest estimates place those taken out
at S:45 u. m. announcing the num-
heroic efforts at rescue were continued.
but nightfall brought ther conviction
that the entombed men had been suf
located, and the dispatch from Lille
at 8:45 p. mf announcing the num-
Der of dead at 1.fs3 appears to re-
move the last hope that others may be
brought to the surface alive