The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-03-11


Paris March 1O.-A mining catastrophe
of incaleulable horror and magnitude has
stricken the great coal center of North
ern France.
An explosion of fire damp at o'clock
this morning carried death and destruc-
ton throughout the net work of coal
mines centered at Courrieres. Fire fol-
lowed the explosion, making rescue diff
ficult and almost impossible.
The intense excitement and confusion
In the vicinity prevented early estimates
of the exact loss of life but dispatch
received here at 4:S5 p. m. gave 1404
miners entombed and probably lost.
At. s:45 o'clock a brief dispatch from
Lille announced the total of 1893 dead.
All France Shocked BY Disaster.
All France has been profoundly shocked
by the magnitude of the disaster which
is said to be the greatest in the history
of continental minipgst
President Faliieres sent his secretary
accompanied by Minister Of Public Works
Gautier and Minister OF the Interior Du-
bief on a special train to the scene of the
disaster.
The ministerial crisis was temporarily
forgotten, senators and deputies joining
in the universal public 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 hanlets of the mine
workers, who operate the most produce
tive coal mines in France. The subter-
ranean chambers form a series of tun-
nels.
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 large
ly used in the manufacture of gas and in
smelling. About 1900 miners work the
group of mines and with their families
make a population of from 6o00 to 5000
souls.
Apparatus Hurled From Mine.
The catastrophe took place shortly af-
ter 1895 men had descended into the mines
this morning. There was a deafening ex-
plosion, which was followed by the cages
and mining apparatus being hurled from
the mouth of the Courrieres mine. Men
and horses nearby outside the mine were
stunned or Killed. The roof of the mine
office was torn off
Immediately following the explosion
flames burst from the mouth of the pit
driving back those who sought to enter
and looming those within.
Later an effort to rescue the imprisoned
miners was hastily begun by officials, en-
gineers and miners from the surround
ing Mines who formed parties and made
offor rf- to atrof 70 hn 1aly ~ nd
foul gas and bring out the imprisoned
men.
Families Crowd About the Shaft.
The families of the entombed men
crowded about the shaft seeking fathers
or husbands. and threatening in their eff
forts 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 house,
hold
Those persons who were rescued were
terribly burned, the latest estimates plac-
ing those taken out at sol.
Throughout the afternoon the heroic
efforts at rescue work continued, but
night fall brought the conviction that the
entombed men had been suffocated and
the dispatch from Lille at S45 p m. an
nouncng the number of dead at 1893, APP
pears to remove the last hope that others
may be brought to the surface alive.
Clue to Origin of Explosion.
During the evning a dispatch re-
ceived from Lille, which seemed to give
some clue to the origin of the explosion
1t was stated that a smouldering fire
broke out last night in the Cecile pit of
the Courriere mines near Merlcourt at the
depth Of go meters, where masonry work
was proceeding. NJ Barault llhe chief
engineer of the mines, descend ID for the
purpose of investigating the circum-
stances which led to the fire. This is all
that is known of the origin of the terri
bic catastrophe.
The cages in which the miners descended
in pits Nos. and were at about o clock
this morning hurled thirty feet from the
mouth of the shaft. a miner working
near the mouth was killed and a horse
was blown into the air. Some of the
imprisoned miners sought to escape to
the pits which remained intact and sew
eral rescues were made. The first cage
came up at 10 O'Clock with about dozen
half suffocated who were promptly taken
to the hospital. Among them was NJ
. Voissin, an engineer. who had attempted
to organize succor. Toward noon wounded
workmen began to be brought up in the
buckets and the bodies of two dead men
were taken from pit No. 10. 1t was feared
the remainder had been asphyxiated.
Assistance reached Courrere from all
sections OF the department and large
force of volunteers took part in the ef-