Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-02-03
SIxty-eight Men Killed in Explo-
sion at PaIau Mine at Las
Esperanzas.
CAUSED BY CARELESSNESS.
Gas Ignited From Flame of Cigarette
or Miner Who Was Smoking
Contrary to Rules.

Laredo, Tex, Feb. 2.-One of tho
eresl'cSt disasters In the history OF
Mexican coal mining took place early
today in the Palau mine at Las Es-
peranzas. Mexico
Tho toll Of human lie which paid
The penalty of negligence on the part
OF some miner according to latest re-
ports. is placed at 6S, After an official
report showing 5S dead, IL additional
bodies were recovered, bringing the
total up to Go, while three others have
died in the hospital, making the grand
total OF victims thus far 6S.
An explosion occurred In No. shaft
OF the coal mine of the ESperanZas
Mining company, and 1t Is attributed TO
tho ignition of gas from the flame or
cigarette of a miner, smoking con-
trary to the rules.
The miners, mostly Mexicans and
Japanese. had assumed their places In
the different workings Just after
o'clock
At $3.50 o'clock those at work above
ground heard a loud explosion, and al
most instantly IL vast cloud of dust and
smoke Issued from the mouth of the
shaft.
When the onlookers realized the
meaning of the disaster assistance was
Immediately forthcoming AS soon as
the air In the shaft could be purified
sufficiently to permit reScuers to de-
sccnd, many volunteers were ready to
risk their lives in an endeavor to sue
cor their stricken brothers below.
Cages were Immediately sent down,
loaded to their capacity with miners
bent upon rescuing their comrades. On
the first and second levels. everything
was found intact and the men working
in these levels We're safe.
The rescue party went down to the
third level. and as soon as the air could
be sufficiently cleared they entered the
various drifts and began a search for
the dead. Scattered about In various
positions In the workings they found
the bodies of the men, suffocated, their
faces indicating the bitter fight they
had waged to reach pure air and safe
ty.
The rescuers worked in relays,
searching for their dead and dying
companions
After six hours work, So bodies had
been brought to the surface, while
nearly 40 injured men had been re-
moved to hospitals. Tho injured owe
their escape to the fact that they were
MoihlHB NueIt lDty were
from the rush of foul air.
AS the bodies were brought to the
surface screaming women and children
were congregated about the mouth of
the shaft awaiting the rescue of loved
ones.
Most of the killed were Mexicans. the
Japanese miners being employed In the
other parts of the mine.
State representatives sent detailed
report of the explosion, and deduc-
tion as to probable cause.-the explo-
sion of mine damp-to the governor OF
Coahuila and Saltillo They instructed
the local authorities to take such action
as they deemed necessary and to in
vestigate thoroughly the cause of the
disaster.
The mining company officials lost no
time in making provision for the In
jured. An order was telegraphed to
Eagle Pass and Monterey for cofflns
for the dead, and money and food has
been provided for the suffering fam
ilies.
The Palau mine Is one of the best
equipped coal mines in the republic
1t has an adequate ventilating sysAem.
is provided with electric lights, and
mining officials are utterly at a loss to
account for the presence of mine damp
In No. workings.