Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-03-13
AWFUL Mine HORROR
occurs IN FRANCE
EXPLOSION IN CELERY IN
CoURIERREs DIsTREgn EN-
ToMBs 1900 MEN.
FEARED THAT MANY OR
ALL HAVE PERlSHED
Gas Causes Terrible Gaia. trophe-
Crowds of Weeping Women and
Children Surround Shaft-Work
of Rescue Begun.

Paris, March PA terrible catas-
trOphe has occurred at a coal mine in
the Courierres district of the Pas de
Calais, Is miles from Be,hune. An ex-
plosion of gas has killed many miners
and three chambers of the mine ara
on fire. The number of victims is not
known, but 1900 miners descended
into the pit in the morning.
Believed All Are Lost.
1t is believed every one of the 1900
miners entombed by the explosion pei
ished. Reports from the scene Of
the disaster show that terrific fire
is raging in the workings, that the
air shafts are clogged with smoke AMI
flames, and that if any of the miners
escaped death when the explosion Of
fire-damp occurred, none could scarce
ly live in the fire.
Hundreds of tons of rock were hurled
down in the mine by the tremendous
explosion. First reports announced
that at least 100 miners were crushed
to death by the fall of rock. A miner
who escaped injury in the blast man.
aged to telephone to the employees on
the surface that the explosion had
killed scores of his comrades and tina.
fire was then started at the scene of
the explosion. Since then no word
has reached the surface concerning
the extent of the fire or the fate of the
men.
1000 Reported Killed.
Later it was announced that the ex-
plosion occurred in pits II and and
that the flames spread to all the COM
municating pits, embracing Mere
court, Coron and Lens. The number
of victims is undoubtedly consider
able, but it is not possible at present
to ascertain how many of the miners
succeeded in reaching the galleries,
which are still closed. dispatch
from Lens says that rumor is cir
culating there that over a thousand
men have been killed, which has
caused CONSERVATION. 1t is added,
however, there is nothing to indicate
that this number is correct. Not a
single miner has yet been taken from
pits Nos. 2, 8 or 4. The spectacle sur.
rounding the scene is fearful. Great
crowds of weeping women and chill
dren gathered to ascertain the fate
Of male members Of their families.
Long Known as Dangerous.
The mine Is situated in the great
coal region of middle France, and the
workings are far below the surface
1t has long been known as a dangerous
mine, and for this reason was wei
equipped with air shafts and ventilat
ing machinery. No provision, however
was ever made for the escape of the
miners in case their exit by the mair
shaft ever became blocked
Because of this, all the 1900 mer
weer absolutely helpless when the fire.
damp explosion cut them off from the
main shaft. They were imprisoned
fast in living tomb Meantime tie
flames created draught through the
various air shafts and carried the
dense smoke throughout every part o.
the mine.
When the explosion shook the eartt
for miles around the shaft and Sc
the tipple rocking at the mouth of tn.
shaft, the mine officials and employee,
hurried to the scene of danger, al
realizing at once that many lives mus
have been sacrificed. They found tn,
shaft closed up by great masses o
Jagged rock and the hoisting apparatu!
wrecked and useless.
Rescue Parties at Work.
Rescuing parties were organized a
once, some to attempt to clear ava,
the debris and others to stop tn,
flames.
1t is probable the government viii
send several regiments of soldiers tx
assist in the work Of rescue.
M. Dubiof, who held the post of min
lister Of the interior in the recent cab
met, has started by train for Cour
ierres to take personal charge of tn,
attempts at rescue. The local author
tiles are on the spot, but they have no
been able to accomplish anything, al
1t is impossible to descend into tn,
mine. The fire was raging through al
three Of the galleries and the hameI
have reached the top of the shaft.