Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-03-13
DISASTER IN
FRENCH MINE
VERY NEARLY TWELVE HUN.
DRIED LIVES eLoTTED OUT
IN EXPLOSION.


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
morning carried death and destruction
throughout the network Of coal mines
centered at Courrieres, and fire follow
ed the explosion, making rescue diff
cult and almost impossible.
The intense excitement and confus-
ion in the vicinity prevented early es-
Inmates of the exact loss of life but
a dispatch received here at ABB p. m.
said 1,4O4 miners were entOmbed and
probably lost At s:45 o'clock this ev-
ening a brief dispatch from Lille an
nounced the total of f,193 dead.
All France his ben profoundly
shocked at the magnitude of the dis
aster, 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 ministerial crisis was temper
arily forgotten. senators and deputies
joining in the universal public mani
festations of sorrow
Scene Of the Catastrophe.
The scene of the catastrophe is the
mountainous region near Lens, in the
department of Pas de Gala. Here are
huddled small hamlets of the mine
workers, VINO operate the most produc-
tive coal mines in France. The sub
terraneean chambers form series of
tunnels.
Six of the outlets are near Lens and
others at Courrieres, Verdun and many
other points. The output of these
mines is particularly 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 tc
5000 souls.
The catastrophe took place shortly
after 1875 men mad descended into
the mine this morning. There was {
deafening explosion, which was follow
ed by the cages and mining apparatu.
being hurled from the mouth of the
Ccurrieres mine. Men and horse!
nearby, outside the mine, were eithel
stunned or killed. The roof of thu
mine office was torn off.
Immediately following the explosion
flames burst from the mouth of tn,
pit, driving back those without VIII
sought to enter. and booming thos'
within.
Attempts at Rescue.
The work of attempting to rescue
the imprisoned miners was hastily be
gun by officials, engineers and miner
from the surrounding mines, who form
cd parties and made heroic efforts t
penetrate the smoke and foul case
and bring out the imprisoned men.
The families of the entombed mir
CTS CTOWueu ABOUT JIlt SLdlI SOchlu
fathers or husbands, and threatening
in their efforts to obtain details, t
force back the gendarmes who keI
them from the mouth of the pit Tn
populace of the district is appalle
by the disaster, which affects ever
household
Those persons who were rescue
were terribly burned. The latest est
mates place those taken out at sol.
Throughout the afternoon the herr
ic efforts at rescue were continued
but nightfall brought the convictio
that the entombed men had been SUI
located and the dispatch from Lii
at S:45 p. m, announcing the numbe
Of dead at 1913, appears to remov
the last hope that others may b
brought to the surface alive.
The chief engineer of the depar1
ment of Pas de CALAIS, NJ. Leon, say
that the fire broke out in the pit at
O'Clock last Monday afternoon an
that the engineers COPIED with it a