Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-02-03
CIGARET is THE CAUSE
Victims Nearly All MexiCanS
and Japanese-Hunt for
Dead Elsewhere.
NINE DISASTERS OF LAST THREE
DAYS.
MONDAY-PrImero, Col. ..... rs dead
Observation-Disclosures KY. 35 dead
WEDNESDAY-Co Mex 90 dead

otdi 10
Laredo, Texas, Feb. 3-An explosion
resulting in the deaths of 6S men and
the injury of nearly as many more oc
Cured yesterday in the Palau Goa
mine at Las Esperanzas, Mexico. The
explosion occurred in the No. 3 shaft
1t is attributed to the ignition of gas
from the cigaret of a miner, who was
smoking contrary to the rules.
The miners. consisting principally OF
Mexicans and Japanese, were working
as usual, when startling report shook
the workings and instantly a cloud OF
dust and smoke issued from the mouth
of the shaft. AS soon as the air was
purified sufficiently a cage carrying
volunteers was sent down followed by
others loaded with miners bent on res
cuing their comrades.
Get IS Bodies.
Eagle Pass. Texas. Feb. 3.-At night
fall 6S bodies had been recovered from
the Palau mine of The hula Coal
company, in the s. Coahuila.
Mexico, where an eXp-G-.jn occurred
yesterday Besides the dead, eight
wouHded have besar brought TO the sur
face.
While an accurate estimate of the
number at work when the explosion
occurred is not yet possible, it is be-
lieved that few. if any, are still in the
mine A force of rescuers is at work
clearing away the debris.
The cause of the explosion is prob
lematical, although it is thought prob
able that gas was ignited by the strik-
ing of match by one of the miners.
One More Body Found.
Primero, Feb. 3.-One more body was
recovered today, making a total of 81
recovered since Mondays catastrophe
Work in the shattered mine today was
made most horrible by the odor of de-
caying bodies. 1t is believed "a bodies
Of miners are still under the coal and
rock.
Search at PrimerO Delayed.
Primero Colo, Feb. 3.-Tired miners.
many of whom have been working con-
stantly two da. 5 and nights to recover
the bodies of the victims of Mondays
disaster, continued the search today.
The bodies of so of the rs dead have
been taken from the pit, but it may
De many days before the remaining %
are found. Falling earth has retarded
progress of the miners. Preparations
are being made for the funeral of the
38 victims at Trinidad today.
Colorado Death Roll Is rs.
Primero, Col. Feb. 3.-Monday's ex-
plosion in the main mine of the Color
ado Fuel e Iron company claimed a
total of IS victims and left 35 widows
and 65 fatherless children.
These facts were determined late
Yesterday. when the official canvass of
.he camp was completed and the names
If the missing men were checked with
he pay roll. Exploration of the work
ngs continued all day.
Slow Work at Cherry.
Cherry. Ill, Feb. 3.-After three
lays of incessant labor only 400 feet
If the many miles of subterranean
passages of the ST. Paul mine have
been opened and It is problematical
when the 167 bodies can be brought
o the surface Every effort is beip~
made to clear the runway from the
main shaft to the air pit. This may
,e accomplished tonight and then the
search for the bodies can be made and
he corpses discovered yesterday re-
moved
Rock Hampers Cherry Workers.
Cherry, Ill, Feb. 3.-Heavy falls of
,ock have been encountered by the
men who are working in the St Paul
nine, and it may be several days be-
ore any of the 172 bodies in the pit
ire recovered The rescuing force is
working in the west portion of the
nine, trying to clear a passage be-
ween the main and the air shafts.
The fire did not reach this portion of
he mine.
After a passage shall have been
cleared the men will drill through the
heavy falls on the east side of the
nine, where most of the bodies of the
sntombed miners are supposed to lie.
0ne or more bodies are known to be
lear the air shaft, and these may be
'ecovered before the main work of
eaching the east side is begun
The miners at the Granville, Ill, |