The state herald., 1908-04-03
WYOMING MINE HORROR.
Great Loss of Life in Coal Mine Explo-
sion at Hanna.

Hanna, Wyo.-An explosion OF gas
and dust in mine No. ! of the Union
Pacific Coal Company at 3 O'Clock Sat
urday afternoon completely wrecked
the workings and entombed twenty
men who II not killed by the awful eX-
plosion were incinerated by the con
migration that is raging far below the
mouth of the shaft.
A second explosion occurred at 1880
Saturday in the east shaft. where a
gang of fifty relief workers. headed by
State Mine Inspector David Elias, were
about to remove four Of the victims OF
vhe first explosion. The shaft was filled
with debris and all air currents cut OH
The second explosion was even more
severe than the first, being felt in all
parts of town and 1t is feared thaat
hfty TO sixty names have been added
to the death list
When the first explosion occurred ev'
cry building in town was rocked as
though by terrible earthquake;
women and children, idle miners. bust
ness men and others rushed into the
streets with blanched faces, for only
too well did they know what that awful
roar and the shaking earth meant.
She's off again" was the low cry
here and there, and then followed n
rush to the outer workings, power
house and tipples of the mine.
The anxious and almost frantic in
quiries as to who were in the ill.fated
mine brought forth the information
that twenty men were below.
The explosion was the result of a fire
that broke out in the tenth level last
Sunday and was promptly walled on.
The 200 miners worked Monday, We'd
nesday and Friday and Tuesday
Thursday and Saturday the force of
seventeen men, comprising the pick of
the three mines, all experienced men,
miners and fire fighters. worked dill.
gently to extinguish the underground
contlagration, but without avail.
Luckily for the 200 miners the flames
did not reach the gas areas on the days
they were at work, for in this event
the disaster would have been even
more appalling than the one of Ave
years ago.
Immediately after the first explosion
a force was organized and the work OF
rescue commenced. The air fan and
shaft were repaired Immediately, and
soon current of air was forced
through the workings.
Everyone took hope when II was an
nounced that the air was working. but
this hope was shortliyed. for the eX-
perlenced men on the outside. many OF
whom passed through the holocaust Of
Ave years ago. assured the gathered
crowds If the entombed miners were
not killed outright, they were undoubt-
edly incincrated by the flames raging
below the tenth level,
Life could not possibly survive that
furnace one and one-half miles down
In the bowels of the earth and after
the first shrek Of grief the women and
children were taken 10 their homes by
tender hands and there they calmly
waited for the rescue parties to bring
the b dies of their loved ones from the
ill.fated mine. They are simply be-
numbed with grief. dazed and unable
10 realize what has happened.
Late Mt night the bodies Of Joseph
Burton. Peter Munson. Robert War
burton aud James Know were found
near the east shaft. They were charrod
aud disfRurod and were probably Kill.
ed Instantly.
When the second explosion occurred.
miners and citizens rushed TO the east
shaft. where they were Joined by the
relief workers who were driven from
the west shaft. which was also cayed
In by the explosion, and all set to work
with a Will TO dig out the nifty en-
tombed men.
Additional men have been summon
ed from the nelghboring coal camp
aud all available laborers in Credon
and grading gangs along the railroad
are hurrying TO Hanna in special
trains.
The scenes In town and about the
mine beggar description.
The women and children are now
panic-stricken and are rushing madly
through the streets and up TO the
mines. calling pitoously for their loved
ones.
II was in this same mine that lG9
men lost their lives on June 30. 1908.
by n similar explosion. The collicry
was filed with debris nj that time and
although large gangs worked constant.
ly day and night the last Of the bodies
were not reached until six months af.
terwnrd and the remains OF Fire Boss
Cox we're never recovered