The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1910-02-10

Laredo. Tex. Feb. 4.-One OF the
greatest disasters In the history OF
Mexican coal mining, which has here.
tofore experienced several crushing
blows, resulting in a tremendous loss
OF human life, took place In the Palau
mine at Las Esperanzas, Mexico The
toll OF human life which paid the pen
atty of negligence on the part of some
miner. is officially placed at 6S. while
the list Of the injured numbers nearly
as many All the bodies have been
recovered
The explosion occurred In the No.
shaft of the coal mine OF the Es.
peranzas Mining Company, and II at.
tributed TO the ignition OF gas from
the flame Of cigarette which miner
was smoking. contrary to the rules
The miners, consisting principally
of Mexicans and Japanese had as.
sumed their various places In the diff.
ferent workings shortly after seven
o'clock. About $3.50 o'clock those at
work above ground were startled by a
loud explosion and almost instantly a
vast cloud of dust and smoke issued
from the mouth of the shaft
Rescuers Rush to Mine.
When the onlookers realized the
meaning of the disaster, assistance
immediately was forthcoming and 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 en-.
deavor to succor the men below. A
terrible sight met their eyes. Scat
tered about In various positions in the
workings they found the bodies of the
men, suffocated, their faces indicat
ing in many instances the bitter fight
they had waged to reach pure air
and safety without the workings
Prlmero Victims Number rs.
Primero. Col, Feb. 3.-Only rs men
are dead as the result OF the mysteri.
Gus explosion in the Primero mine.
This is the final figure according to
careful check made in a house-to-
house canvass finished by officials OF
the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company.
Forty-nine bodies have been recov.
cred from the mine. II is known that
more bodies lay in the workings but It
was dangerous for the rescue party
TO work longer Further work of res
cue has been given up until the dead
ly blackdamp has been dissipated.
No one has been able as yet to as.
certain the exact cause OF the ex-
posion. There is much suffering
among the families of the miners who
were killed and relief funds have
been started in various parts OF the
state.
Thirty-Flve Killed at Drakesboro.
Drakesboro. KY, Feb. 3.-Thirty-
Ave men lost their lives in terrible
explosion which occurred in an un-
used section OF the Wickliffe mine at
Brewder.
Thirty-two Of the bodies, most OF
them terribly mangled and blackened,
have been brought to the surface and
are being buried
Conclusion Was Great.
When the explosion occurred, the
concussion of which was warning
TO those In other sections OF the work
ings, there were nearly 100 men in
the mine. The signal to hoist the
cage was given and the frantic
miners began pouring out.
II was some time before the work
OF rescue began, but when a party
went down 1t was found that the dead
and injured could be reached.
Cause 10 In Doubt.
Doubt Is expressed as to the real
cause OF the explosion. Some believe
that large quantity OF blasting pow
der was set on, while others say It
was gas or dust. The bodies brought
out, with the exception of Kelly and
the negro, are believed to complete
the list Of dead. Several OF those in.