The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-02
FIRE DAMP CAUSES
 MINE DISASTER At Least Seventy-five Men Are Dead in Primero Mine. FIRE DAMP IS THE CAUSE Survivor of Previous Explosion Gives Ills Theory of the Disaster Based
 on His Experience Three
 Years Ago.
FIRE DAMP IS THE CAUSE

Primero, Col. February 1.--Yesterday s disaster in the main mine of the Colo rado Fuel and Iron company, which claimed the lives of at least 75 men, was caused by an explosion of fire damp, according to a survivor of the catastrophe of January 2s. 1907, in the same mine in which 240 lives were lost.
 The same authority holds that the ex- plosion was caused by ignition of gas from a flame originated probably through the carelessness of some miner in di- rect violation of mine rules, either through the crimping of cap for a fuse or the lighting of a match surreptiti- ously carried into the workings.
 Officials refuse to give out any state ment regarding the probable cause, claim ing that it cannot be determined until thorough investigation made. However, they admit some violation of the mine rules will be found responsible.
 The mine is equipped with the most modern ,appurtenances and each miner carries a safety lamp. All are searched for matches before they are allowed to enter the workings
 Tonight the situation in the workings continues unchanged. Relief work was being pushed by frequent changes of shifts, the resucing party having reached entry No. 12-A. about seven-eighths of a mile from the mouth.
 A check of bodies recovered tonight re- veals that 47 bodies have been removed, leaving 32 still in the workings.
 Tonight a large force of men were put to work digging graves in the ceme- tories of Trinidad and tomorrow the bodies recovered will be buried.
 Three large drays have been trans formed into improvised hearses for use tomorrow to convey the bodies from the were brought to Primero today and to- night and this supply will he furth CT increased by tomorrow.
 Only One Survivor.
 Leonardo Virgen. a Mexican and the Aonly surviving miner who is supposed to have been working within a compar- atively short distance of the point where the explosion originated, Is una ble to give a clear statement of what actually occurred or to tell from which direction the force of the explosion came
 Immediately following the report which warned residents of PrinIero thai a disaster had occurred, a column oi dust and smoke poured out of the ma entrance Large pieces of timber were hurled forth and so terrific was their force that string of cars In the mine mouth was blown off the track Attention of those outside was turned immediately to the huge ventilatine fans, and within an hour two of these were put in operation and recue parties were forcing their way into the gas filled workings. A huge cave-in at the mouth of the main slope blocked en. trance at that point, but the rescuers followed the main ventilating shaft for several hundred yards. gaining en- trance to the main slope through a cross-cut. s@
 It was not until the relief party reached entry AT on the main slope that they found the first evidence of the destruction wrought by the explosion. Here prob ably dozen bodies were encountered but the rescuers pushed on In the hope of finding signs of life. A little fur thcr. near the mouth of entry AS the party in charge of J. B. Manley, local mine inspector. came across Leorsrdn