The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1910-02-02

ptlM ERO, Colo, Jan. 21.-Over a
hundred men are believed to have
been killed by terrific explosion in
the Primero mine of the Colorado
Fuel and Iron company this after
noon. Eight bodies have been recov-
cred and rescue parties are making
desperate efforts to reach the interior
workings, cut off from the outside by
the caving in of the main portal.
Three men were killed at the mouth
of the mine by the force of the ex-
plosion.
Both fans with which the mine Is
equipped We're shattered but were in
working order at 1880 o'clock tonight
AS soon as the fans were reported
out of order Superintendent Thomp-
son and rescue party entered the
main airshaft, but were unable to
reach the main shaft, which is COM
pletely blocked. The party returned
to the surface after securing five
bodies which were badly burned.
Men Rushed to Aid.
party equipped with oxygen he'll
NETS replaced them in the workings
reached through the airshaft and are
now searching for more bodies. Min
ers were rushed from neighboring
mines and are laboring frantically to
clear the main shaft. relieving each
other every few minutes. 1t is i'm
possible to determine how far the
main shaft has caved in and 1t may
be days before the shaft is cleared
and the total death list known.
There IL little hope vnat any of the
men in the mine are alive.
Possibly $50 Men Killed.
The company clerk reports -
safety lamps missing and 1t Is sure
that number of men are entombed
Many of the miners, however, assert
that $50 men are missing. Most Of
the victims are Slavs and Hungarians,
although Electrician Will Helm is
known to be among the missing,
The camp IL the scene Of indescrib-
able horror tonight. While every
able-bodied man Is taking his turn
with pick and shovel, women and
children. kept back by ropes, have
gathered about the shaft weeping and
who have not been found.
Experts from all the coal camps in
the state have gathered to assist Su-
perintendent Thompson. Superinten-
dent French of the Wooden mine and
Mine Inspector Minley will head an
other rescue party as soon as the bat
teries arrive by special train. Mem
bers of the rescue party say the effect
of the explosion underground is inde-
scr..able. The bodies recovered are
horribly burned and unacceptable.
One was impaled on a broken timber.
All Miners Are Dead.
DENVER. Jan. 31.-From unoffi-
cial but authentic source it was
learned tonight that a rescue party
which entered Primero mine had dis
covered seven dead bodies a short
distance from the mouth of the tun-
mel. Conditions indicate all miners in
side are dead. 1t is estimated at least
rs men were in the mine when the
explosion occurred.
The Colorado Fuel and Iron COM
pany, which owns the mine at Pri-
nero, said tonight only meagre in
formation had been received by the
officials at headquarters in this city.
The explosion occurred at 4:30 p, M,
at time when small parties of min
ers were leaving for their homes For
even approximate the number Of men
inside nor could he say from the little
information at hand whether or not
there were any dead in the mine. The
three known dead were killed at the
mouth of the mine and the force of
the explosion tore them to pieces.
Welborn said he was unable to ac-
count for the explosion, as all the
miners used safety lamps.
Men from neighboring mines have
been ordered to the scene to assist in
the rescue work According to the
latest information received by We'll
born the fan in the mine, which was
damaged by the explosion, has been
repaired and Is in operation.
The message stated the rescuers had
gone into the mine but none had yet
returned. Welborn said he expected
no further news tonight.