Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1910-02-05
EXPLOSION KILLS l49|
HORRIBLE Mine DISASTER AT
PRIMERO. COLORADO,
Rescue Parties Work Desperately to
Reach the Entombed Miners-Explo-
sion Said to Be Worst in History of
Western Coal Mining-176 Bodies
and Seventy-six Bodies Recovered.

Primero, Colo, Feb. 1.-Seventy- nine
bodies of the victims of an explosion in
the Primero mine of the Colorado Fuel
company were found piled in a mass at
the foot of the air shaft shortly after
midnight. When the explosion occurred
the men evidently made a rush to es-
cape through the air shaft and were
suffocated as they battled with one an
other for freedom.
1t has been shown by the timekeep-
ers' records that there were 149 men
in the mine at the time of the explo-
sion. None is thought to be alive. The
main shaft of the mine is completely
wrecked.
Both fans with which the mine is
equipped were shattered, but were in
working order until 1880 O'Clock to-
might.
AS soon as the fans were reported
out of order General Superintendent j.
r. Thompson and a rescue party en-
tered by the main air shaft, but were
unable to reach the main shaft, which
is completely blocked. The party re-
turned to the surface after securing
five bodies, which were badly burned.
A party equipped with oxygen he'll
NETS replaced them in the workings
REACHED through the air shaft, searching
for more bodies. Miners were rushed
to Primero from Trinidad, Saundo,
lStarkville, Sopris and Cokeville and are
laboring frantically to clear the main
shaft, relieving each other every few
minutes. 1t is impossible to determine
how far the main shaft has caved in,
and it may be days before the shaft is
cleared and the total death list known.
There is little hope that any of the
men in the mine are alive.
Most of the victims are Slave and
IHungarians, although Electrician Will
helm is known to be among the missing.
Scene of Horror.
The camp is scene of indescribable
horror. While every able bodied man
is taking his turn with pick and shovel
to clear the shaft, the women and chill
dren, kept back by ropes, have gathered
about the shaft, weeping and calling
wildly upon their loved ones who have
not been found.
Experts from all the coal companies
of the state have gathered to assist
Superintendent Thompson. A. c.
French, superintendent of the Woller
mines, and j. E. Miley, mine inspector
will head another rescue party as soon
as batteries for electric lighting arrive
by special train.
| Members of the rescue party say
that the effect of the explosion under
ground is indescribable The bodies
recovered were horribly burned and un
recognizable. One body was impaled on
broken timbers.
Bodies Blown to Pieces.
At 10 clock last night 10 bodies
were recovered from one of the mair
slopes. The bodies were literally blown
to pieces and were unacceptable.
A special train carrying six physi
clans and Coroner Gilfoyle arrived al
1915.
Officials of the company state that the
disaster is the worst in the history OF
western mining. similar explosion il
which "a were killed occurred in the
same property on January 23, 1907. The
bodies were not recovered for weeks.
The mine authorities telegraphed al