The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1910-02-09
Another Explosion Which Wipes Out
Se7easy Aore Human Lives.
A TERRIBLE DISASTER
One Of the Best Equipped Coal Mines
In the Republic of Mexico the
Scene Of o Mining Calamity-The
Number of Injured Equal to that
OF the Dead

| One OF the greatest disaster IL tn
history Of MiIican coal mining. which
has heretofore experienced seyera
crushing blows. resulting IN a trem
e dous loss OF human life. took plac'
early "Wednesday IN the Paiau min:
at Las Espe:anzas. Mexico. The toll
OF human lie which paid the penalty
OF negligence on the part OF SOM
miner Is officially placed at seventy
while the list Of injured numbers
nearly IS many. principally Mexican.
aad japanese.
The explosion occurred IN the No.
8 shaft OF the coal mine Of the Es-
peranzas Mining Company. and Is at
,ributed to the ignition OF gas By
the dame OF miners cigarette
About $50 O'Clock those ct work
above round were startled BY loud
explosions. and almost Immediately
a vast cloud OF dust and smoke Is
sued from the mouth OF the shaft.
AS soon as the air IN the shaft
could be purified sufficiently to per
NIT rescuers to descend. many volun-
teers were ready to risk the!- lives
IN ar endeaYor to succor their strick-
en- brothers below.
Three cages were soon lowered. all
loaded to their utmost capacity with
miners bent on rescuing their com
rades. In the arst and second levels
everything was found to be Intac;
and beyond being terribly frightened
the men working IN these levely we're
safe.
They were brought to the top as
rapidly as tie cages could be loaded.
In the third level q terrible sigh:
met the eyes OF the ,escuers. Scat
tered about IN many positions in the
workings they found the Bodies OF
the men. suSocated. their faces indi-
eating in many instances the bite.
fight they had waged to reach pure
air and safety.
The workers were augmented BY
the addition Of many other aole-bod-
led men and immediately began to
work in relays, searching for anc
carrying to the surface the bodies o.
their dead and dying companions.
After the lapse OF six hours WORK.
bodies were brought to the
surface. while nearly forty Injured
men were removed to hospitals so'
treatment. Three Of these have dice.
The injured owe their miraculous es-
cape to the fact that they were work
ing ct points in the third stage OF
the workings. where they were Da:ti-
ally protected from the o1-rush OF
foul air.
Screaming women and childres
we're congregated about the mouth OF
the shaft awaiting witA hope the
bringing out Of their loved ones:
hope which was n almost every n.
stance turned to despair as body af-
ter body was brought to the sur
face.
State representatives were imne-
d!ately sent to the scene and placed
IN entire charge OF the work OF res
cue and investigation.
The Palau is one Of the best equip
ped coal mines in the Republic OF
Mexico. II has an adequate ventila-
ting system. Is provided with electric
lights. and the miains officials are
utterly at loss to account for the
presence Of mine damp in No. 3
working.
No stone will be left unturned b!
the company 20 afford relief for tac
sufferers The bodies OF the dead
were inferred Thursday.