The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-03-12

One man. named Sylvestre, succeeded
In entering the mine; but he never re-
turned 1t is believed he groped about
inside until he was overcome by the
gases and perished. 1t is reported that
a rescue party numbering 40 has been
cut off by the caving in Of one OF the
galleries.
Minister OF Public Works Coulter.
Minister OF the Interior Dubief and the
secretary OF President Fallieres remained
on the ground endeavoring 10 comfort
the distressed families OF the miners.
President Falieres has given $1,000 TO aid
in relief measures
The ministry will add further sum
to this and the chamber OF deputies will
be asked 10 vote 100000 for the pur-
pose OF alleviatlng distress.
Ministers Gautier and Dubief have re-
ceived complete details OF the catastrophe
from NJ Lavaurs. the director OF the
mine. His voice was chicken with emo
ton as he spoke.
''Of 1900 miners who went down In the
pits when the explosion occurred" he
said. "673 were working in pit No. 4, 4S2
were I'm pit No. 3. 571 In pit No. and the
remainder i'm pit No. 10.
"Those rescued were taken out as fol-
lows: From pit No 4. 1870: from pit No. 3,
Is escaped through pit No. IL; 400 came
=
A number OF these were injured and some
OF them have died since. At the present
moment over 1900 men remain impris-
oned."
Another director declared that the i'm
prisoned men numbered 100.
FEARS ALI. ARE DEAD.
Minister Dubief inquired, Have you
still any hope?" TO this the director re-
piled mo; l believe all OF them are
dead"
This was whispered into the ear of the
minister in order that his words might
not be overheard by the pale-faced miners
who stood anxiously about the miiie build
ing waiting for an official view on the
state OF affairs.
Then the ministers listened TO a graphic
picture of the scene IN the mines by Leon
Cert. one of the men rescued, and who
still is suffering from the terrible effects
of his experience.
"I was working with a gang when the
explosion occurred The foreman imme-
diately shouted TO us 10 follow him,
and dashing into recess In the gallery
we were followed by a blast OF poisonous
gases. which rushed by, however, with
out affecting us
1--WE remained there for eight hours
when. feeling that suffocation was grad
ually coming on US, we attempted 10 es-
cape.
1--WE crawled, in single file toward the
shaft, but several of the men dropped
dead on the way, including my son and
the fireman. I carried my nephew on
my back for 40 minutes and succeeded in
saving him. II took us four hours TO
reach the shaft"
HORROR SCENES AT MINE.
For the time being the mine building
has been transformed into a mortuary
chamber and all about I'm II lie the car
bonized and almost unrecognizable bod
les OF miners which were taken there as
they were brought up from the mine
Despite the danger incurred, the volun-
teers. who include a number OF those who
were successful I'm escaping at the time or
the explosion, do not hesitate to descend
the shaft
some OF them have been down more
than q dozen times. one OF them. after
having brought up ~ bodies, was suffo-
Gated on his 18th attempt and IL is feared
that other fatalities among the volunteers
will follow. as the air in the mines Is still
lmpregnated with noXious gases.
A number Of the men engaged I'm rescue
work have already been brought TO the
surface unconscious and as they were
driven 10 their homes In closed carriages
the women followed and broke the win
dows suspectng that bodies were being
hurrlied away.
BORDERING OK MADNESS.
Several miners have come up from Pit
IL. which is connected with Pit 3. They
erected their escape by means OF lad
der and as they came from the mouth
OF the pit they appeared 20 be bordering
on madness.
All OF them were more or less injured.
when asked about their comrades one OF
them said: at is horrible. All of them are
dead"
one Of the rescued said;
"1t is inticscribable. Everything was
demolished or has fallen in. saw bodies
lying IN piles My son is below"
one rescuer has asserted that he heard
voices In the mine, and others found two