Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-03-30
Second Explosion Snuffs Out Lives Of
Fifty-Four of These.
TWO BLOWN CLEAR OUT OF MINI
Little Hope Of Recovering Other
Bodies for Several Days,
ONLY THREE OFFICIALS SURVIVE
Remainder Were Members of the
Rescue Party which Met DIs-
astsr in the Second
Explosion.

HANNA, wyo.. March 9s.-(specisl Tele-
gram )-Seventy-o zone men are known to have
lost their lives in mine No. / OF the Union
Pacific Coal company here. although only
fifty-four names are obtainsble. Seventy
one coffins have been rushed to Hanna.
The bodies OF Alexander Tenant and
Matt Hughtala of the rescuing party were
found at daylight 100 feet from the east
slope, having been blown from the mine
by the second explosion. which snuffcd
out the lives of more than fifty men. Ten
nants head could not be found and one
arm was some distance from the body.
Hughtalas body was horribly mangled
Warburton. Munsen and Perry were taken
out last night. All were badly burned. and
all those still In the mine have been given
up for dead.
The rescuing parties are working heroic
ally, but the bodies probably will not be
reached for several days, as It will be neces-
sary to close the opening in the west slope
and smother the fires below the tenth level
and then draw off the large quantities Of
gas before entering the colliery. OF the
dead men fully so per cent were married
men and practically all leave children. All
but three men in official capacities in three
mines were killed, including the superin-
tendent, foreman, fire bosses, gas watchers
and others.
The second explosion was due to the care
lessness of the relief workers. who rushed
into the workings unorganlzed without a
leader and attempted to brattice off some
OF the entries in which there were large
quantities of gas, this gas being forced
into the fire area and exploding. This one
mine has claimed more than 800 lives dur
Gases and Dust Explode.
The explosions were caused by gases
and coal dust and each was followed by
fire. The first occurred It = oscloek. when
eighteen mine workers. including a super
intendent and three bosses, were killed.
The second explosion occurred at 1879
o'clock last night. snuffing out the lives
OF fifty-three members of a rescue party,
including State Mine Inspector d. M. Ellie.
The names of the men killed in the first
explosion were ascertained from the COM
pany's books. but those of the rescuers
were not known. as no record was kept
of those who volunteered for this dan
gerous work.
The widest excitement prevailed today
at the mine where hundreds are conEre-
gated. including widows children and other
relatives of the victims. Men and women
are running about wringing their hands
and crying. while many little children,
separated from their mothers in the semi
| panic condition, that prevailed, are sob
bing and crying with fear. When the ex-
plosion occurred additional appeals were
telegraphed to all surrounding towns for
assistance. One train is being rushed west
from Omaha. carrying officials OF the
Union Pacific railroad and the Union Pa
cifc Coal company:
The regular force OF men employed at
mines Nos and were pressed into res
cue work, which is extremely difficult and
| hazardous The bodies OF four OF the
eighteen men who lost their lives IN the
first explosion were located last night, but
owing to the ever increasing volume OF
gas, which threatened to explode At any
moment, no effort was made to remove
them to the surface.
Fire started in the colliery last Sunday,
since which time attempts at regular In
tervals have been made to eKting0ish IT,
Yesterday it was deemed unsafe to send
the miners down into the shaft and the
superintendent and the most experienced
hands in the camp went into the mine 10
fight the fire. but at 2 O'Clock the flames
had become beyond their control and at
8 o'clock connected with the walied-off
gas and a terrific explosion followed. The
victims are all below the tenth level and
1t is likely that the flames have consumed
! the bodies
The Union Pacific Railroad company is
doing all within its power to assist In the
rescue Of the entombed miners. Special
trains bearing all possible assistance were
hurried to the scene OF the catastrophe.
| Word was received in Omaha Sunday aft
ernoon that It probably would be day or
two before the rescuers could begin their
work effectively, because Of the danger
from gas and the distractions At the mouth
of the mine. The report in Omaha was
that the list OF dead probably would reach
seventy-one. Seventeen were killed BY the
first explosion and the others were mem
bers of the rescue parties caught by the
second explosion.
d. o. Clark, president Of the Union Pa
cifie Coal company, which owns and Op-
crates the mines, left yesterday afternoon