The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-06-25
ESQ MEN ENTOMBED IN NINE
ONLY II ALIVE OUT OF so RES
CUED FROM NINE.
Mine Experts Laboring Under Diff
culties to Get to Entrap-
ped Men.

Lethbridge, Alberta, June 10
A mighty explosion to-day entombed
$50 miners employed in mine No. 20,
of the Hillcrest collieries, limited.
Of the so miners rescued only II
were living tonight.
Despite the efforts of two score
mine experts. laboring amid the pols-
oned gases and debris. hope of res
cuing alive the 200 men yet in the
mine was remote.
There were 900 men in the mine
when the explosion occurred, $50 Of
whom escaped. Fifty were rescued,
and OF this number Sc died later.
There are supposed be 200 miners
still entombed, most of whom were
probably killed by the explosion.
The explosion, which happened
about 9 a. M, shook the countryside,
lifted roofs from many cabins and de-
molished numerous small buildings.
A moment after the explosion score
of panic-stricken surface workers
rushed from the mine, followed by
dense cloud of smoke and poisoned
fumes.
Appeals for Help.
Appeals for help were dispatched
to many towns, and residents organ
lied an emergency crew and began
the work of rescuing.
When the first rescue crew arrived
large force of men set about to
clear the shaft, working desperately,
as the means of the entombed men
came feebly from the mine. The
means became fainter and fainter,
and finally ceased.
Thousands of tons of rock have
fallen into the mine, and it is feared
the men, even had they escaped death
from the poisoned fumes, probably
were crushed to death by falling de-
bris. Most of those entombed were
working about 60 feet inside the
mine
No information as to what caused
the explosion has been given out, but
it is believed it was caused by gas.
Thomas Quigley, superintendent of
the mine, is among those entombed.
Early tonight two trains filled
with expert mine workers, doctors,
nurses and officials of railways arriv-
ed and the work of rescue was begun
in a systematic way. The experts
found jumbled in chaotic mass,
timbers, wagons and mining para
phernalia, indicating the force of ex-
plosion. The explosion tore both ends
of the pit and blocked up the interior
of the workings, making it almost
impossible to gain entrance. The fire,
which broke out following the ex-
plosion, later died out, but the gas
fumes made it impossible for the
rescuers to work effectively for sew
eral hours.
Most of the men are foreign born.
Rescue Work Progressing.
The rescue work progressed rapid
" and late tonight the entrance had
been cleared. Several miners were
rescued alive near the entrance and
little farther on few bodies were
found.
Several mine experts said tonight
it might be week before some OF
those entombed could be reached.
The mine in which to-day's disaster
occurred is but one mile from Frank
Alberta, where dister occurred ten
years ago. The mines have been op-
Grated at intervals for twelve years.
Because of the danger in working
them it has been difficult to get men.
This is the third great disaster in
the mines of this region. Four years
ago 35 men were killed in the Belle
vue mine and ten years ago Frank
was wiped out by the neighboring
mountain topping over and burying
125 inhabitants.
m IL