The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-23
Explosion Occurs in Stag
Ca non Mines at
Dawson, N. M.
SHAFT rs BLOCKED
BY PILE OF DEBRIS
Five Mines Connected in Work
ings, and if Any Worknen Es-
capped Death in Explosion
They Should Be Able to
Reach Safety-Oficials
Hope for Best.

Dnw son, y. NJ, October 22.--Two
hundred and thirty miners, accord
ing to an unofficial estimate, were
entombed i'll shaft No. ., of the Stag
Canon Mines here when an explosion
occurred in the property at 3 o'clock
this afternoon. Two men found on an
upper level were taken from the mine
tonight. Rescuers We're called from
all parts of the Southern Colorado
coal fields The day shift, working in
shaft No. =. numbered ESQ persons
The cause of the explosion is un-
known. Fire has not broken out,
though smoke was seen issuing from
the second level OF the shaft. 1t was
believed by rescuers that this smoke
came from the explosion and not from
fire.
shifts We're called to the work office.
and those miners who were employed
In other shafts were put to work
drilling through the debris, which was
said to have blocked the mine below
the second level
Rescucrs Work HeroicaIIy.
The United States rescue station Mt
Trinidad summoned and every
available man in Dawson tonight was
aiding i'll the attempt TO reach the
entombed miners. Rescucrs worked
heroically to supply air to the men.
at wkicA-love1 the explosion occurred,
but simply that the mine shaft was
blocked from the second levol.
The mine property is owned by tho
Phelps-Do Company, OF New York.
Five mines are connected in the work
ings. and, it is thought that df any OF
the miners escaped death in explosion
they should be able to reach safety.
f.. L. Miller, superintendent OF the
Colorado Mine Company rescue de-
partment, with a crew Of trained res
cucrs, left Trinidad. Colo, on n spe-
cial car for Dawson. with oxygen he'll
NETS and other apparatus.
BY 10 o'clock tonight the rescuers
had penetrated more than 90 feet into
the mouth OF the mine and reached i've
of the entombed miners, who We're
alive: They had suffered much from
the gas, and Were in no condition to
tell what happened at the time OF the
explosion.
immediately on being brought to the
care OF physicians. many OF whom have
arrived here. from nearby towns.
Air Is Plentiful.
From conditions rescuers have found
since digging within the debris. it is
the air has @ mproved i'm pS as s the reseuers r
progress farther toward the centre ot
Mayor Kinney, of this city, has or
ganzed Il relief camp at the mine,
whore rescucrs are being cared for,
out will he given medical assistnnoe if
needed. The Mayor declared tonight
that II was impossible To make any
conjecture concerning the possible loss
OF life, and that none of the mine Off
clals or rescuers on the ground would
care to make any statement. Accord
ing to Mayor Kinney. no cause for the
explosion has been learned, and it is
believed II will not be known until the
miners now cntombed half I; mile from
tho entrance have been rescued and
tell their story.
So far none OF the nen rescued have
any OF the workings within ts.r in'-o
which would have proved al means
exit through another shaft, and the facc
that none of the other entombed miners
has been able 10 make his way out OF the
mine leads to the belief that all have
been cut of from every means OF exit.
The air supply within tine mine is tho
chief concern of the rescucrs who be-
lieve they will be able u reach the in
terlor of the mine by tomorrow night
1T the latest.
Relief Parties Arriving.
In the relief camps situated several
yards from the entrance, to mine No.
9 are gathered the women and clil-
They are chcered by the knowledge
that superintendent Mcpermott Is
among the main body Of imprisoned
as have mine officials. in the superln-
tendents resources in such a plight.
Relief parties from near towns are con-
stantly arriving and by tomorrow
Dawson will be well into the hun
dreds, all equipped with the latest ap
dangers of mine. explosions. To- night
as one group of rescue workers is
driven back for air. another takes it's
place. That system is to he continued
have been caught i'll the explosion shall
have been found.
Special Rescue Train.
ri ~ al