The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-02-03
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Mexican Mine Horror.

Mexican Mine Horror.
LAREDO, Texas. Reb. 3.-An ex-
pIosion resulting in the death of Sc
men and the injury of nearly as many
more occurred in the Palau coal
mine. at Las Esperanzas, Mexico.
The explosion occurred in number
three shaft. 1t is attributed to igni-
tion Of gas from the cigarette of
miner who was smoking, contrary to
the rules. The miners, consisting
principally of Mexicans and Japan
ese, were working, as usnAl, when q
startling report shook the workings.
Instantly a cloud Of dust and smoke
issued from the mouth of the shaft
As soon as the air was purified suf-
ficiently cage carrying volunteers
was sent down, followed by others
loaded with miners bent on rescuing
their comrades. On the first and
second levels everything was found
intact ard the men safe. Descending
to the third level, the rescuers found
the scattered bodies OF suffocated vic.
Tins, their faces indicating, in
many Instances q bitter fight to
reach pure air and safety.
After six hours of work in relays,
So bodies were brought to the sur
face. and nearly forty injured remov-
ed to hospitals. Later a dozen more
bodies We're recovered, and three
died in the hospitals. The injured
owe their escape fro death to the
fact that they were working at points
in the third level partly protected
from the rush OF foul air.
As the bodies were brought to the
surface by twos and threes. scream.
Ing women and children crowded
about and in many instances hope
turned to despair, as the bodies ap.
neared and were stretched In rows on
the ground. Most of the killed were
Nexicans. State representatives su.
pervised the rescues and are con
ducting the Investigation under tee.
graphic direction of the governor Of
the state of Coahuila.
The mine officials have telegraphed
Monterey for coffins and have pro
vided money and food for the fam
lilies.
Palau is one Of the best equipped
coal mines in Mexico. adequately
ventilated and lighted with electricity
The presence in the mine of damp Is
unaccounted for.
The Kentucky Mine.
DRAKESBORO, KY, Feb. 3.--Ther
were 100 men in the two wings of th
mine at the time of the explosion, bu
the fifty in the west wing were unin
jured and escaped Those in the eas
wing felt the full force of the explc
sion.
One or two of the injured are in
critical condition OF the dead abou
half are white, all Americans, an
the remainder negroes. Pete Re
ley. mine foreman, is among the miss
ing.
As a result OF the, disaster all of th
mines in the vicinity closed down tt
day. the men offering their service
In rescue work.
General Funeral Of Dead.
PRTMERO. Colo, Feb. 3.-Monday
explosion in the main mine of th
Colorado Fuel and Iron compan
claimed total of seventy.five victims
and left thirty.fiye widows and sixty
nve fatherless children.
These facts We're determined wne
the official canvass of the camp wa
completed and the names of the miss
ing men were checked with the pa
roll
The exploration Of the working
continued all day, but not until
O'Clock last night were efforts Of relic
parties successful, when the bodie
Of two drivers, unidentified. wer
found in cross-cut between the er
tries.
While work underground continue
nnabated, practically the only actirit
apparent at the camp was that OF to
force of men detailed to assist tn
coroner in preparing the bodies 70
burial
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