Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-03
SEVENTY LIVES LOST
Cigarette Blamed for ExpIo-
sion in Mexican Mine.
NEARLY AS MANY INJURED
Primero Rescuers Impeded by Fall
ing Earth.
SEARCH FOR DEAD KEPT UP
167 Corpses in st. Paul Mine, Near
Cherry, Ill.-Dangerous Work
in Marrow Tunnels.
NEARLY AS MANY INJURED
SEARCH FOR DEAD KEPT UP


the greatest disasters in the history of
Mexican coal mining, resulting in a
heavy loss OF human life. took place yes
terday in the Palau mine, at Las Esper-
anzas. Mexico.
The toll OF human life, which paid the
penalty Of negligence on the part of some
miner, is officially placed at seventy. The
list of injured numbers nearly as many,
principally Mexicans and Japanese.
Cigarette Blamed for Explosion.
The explosion occurred In the No. J
shaft of the coal mine of the Esperan-
zas Mining Company, and il attributed to
the ignition of gas by the flame of a
miners cigarette.
As soon as the air in the shaft could
be purified sufficiently to permit rescuers
to descend many volunteers were ready
to risk their lives in an endeavor to sue
cor their stricken brothers below. Three
cages were soon lowered, all loaded to
their utmost capacity with miners bent
on rescuing their comrades.
In the first and second levels every
thing was found to be intact. Beyond
fright the men working in these levels
were safe. They were brought to the
top as rapidly as the cages could be
loaded.
Had Fought Hard to Live. -
In the third level a terrible sight met
the eyes of the rescuers. Scattered about
in various positions In the workings they
found the bodies of the men suffocated,
their faces indicating in many instances
the bitter fight they had waged to reach
pure air and safety.
After six hours work sixty-f1ve bodies
were brought to the surface, while nearly
forty injured men were removed to hos
pitfalls for treatment
Screaming women and children were
congregated about the mouth Of the shaft
as body after body was brought to the
surface.
Primero Mine Rescuers Delayed.
PRMERO, Col, February Stirred
miners, many of whom have been work
ing constantly for two days and nights
to recover the bodies Of the victims of
Mondays disaster continued the search
today.
The bodies of fifty of the seventy-five
dead have been taken from the pit. 1t
may be many days before the remaining
twenty-five are found.
Failing earth has retarded progress. 1t
is feared that some bodies are buried be-
meath tons Of earth and coal.
Miners. mine inspectors and mine Off
Gals are still specializing on the cause Of
the explosion.
bodies Of thirty-eight victims OF the
Primero mine disaster were buried in
Trinidad today. A special train brought
relatives and friends from Primero this
morning.
Only seventeen widows of the killed
lived in Primero.
1877 Bodies in st. Paul Mine.
CHERRY, ILL.,, February 3.-After three
days Of incessant labor only four hun
bred feet OF the many miles of subter
ranean passages Of the ST. Paul mine are
opened.
1t is problematical when the 1877 bodies
can be brought to the surface. Every
effort is being made to clear a runway
from the main shaft to the airpit.
This object may be accomplished by to-
night. Then a search for bodies can be
made, and corpses discovered yesterday
can be removed.
An inspection today of the cleared por-
ton of the second level showed that from
the bottom Of the main shaft westward
$50 feet the main road Is in good shape.
Some Of tho heavy timbers near the shaft
are charred, but are solid.
The main passage to the east is walled
up. Behind this wall Is a smodering
fire. Back of the fire lie about one hun
dred dead miners as they fell on Novem-
Der 13.
Rocks as large as a steamer trunk were
piled as high as the roof where men
worked last night and today. So narrow
work that only two men worked at
time.