Devils Lake world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1914-1915, 1914-06-25
HANNA AND GRONE1A
VICTORY ASSURED
TWO HUNDRED AND FIVE MINERS DEAD
IN MINE EXPLOSION AT HILL CREST

Lethridge, Alta, June 10 = A
mighty explosion, coming without a
momens warning entombed number
miners employed in mine No. 20 Of
the Hill Crest Collieries, Ltd. OF 4s
rescued today 20 were alive tonight
Despite the efforts Of two score of
mine rescue experts laboring tonight
amid death dealing gases and debris
the hope of rescuing alive the 1872
still in the mine is waning.
A silent group Of white faced
wives and mothers, after standing all
day at the closed mouth of the mine
tonight returned sadly homeward, an
action expressive Of the general feel
ing Of hope lost.
Tht explosion occurred at O'Clock
this country and shook the country
side for miles around. A moment la
ter few surface workers rushed
from the mine, followed by a cloud
Of smokt and poisonous fumes.
When the first rescue crew arrived
this afternoon large force of mea
set about to clear the main n shaft
turning despertely from one poiu'
to another as means and cries from
the bowels of the mine gradual,
ceased. No information is given out
regarding the cause of the explosion
which is believed due to gasses form
ing in the lower levels. Thomas
Quigley, superintendent of the mine
is among the entombed.
Tonight two trains Of expert res
cuers, doctors and nurses, arrived at
the mine, and the wrok Of rescue
was begun in a systematic manner.
As they entered the mine they found
jumbled chaotic mass of horses
wagons and mining paraphernalia-
a scene indicative of the force Of the
explosion.
Fire Broke Out
Al fire broke out soon after the ex
plosion, but almost Immediately diet
out, although the gasses made it i'm
possible for men to work effectively
for hours.
The majority of the entombe'
were foreign born, but largo mum
ber were English speaking.
The work Of rescue has progre0ei
rapidly, and late tonight the entranc
was cleared.
This is the third great disaster fall
en- to the inhabitants Of Crows Mes
pass. -Four years ago IS men wer
killed at Bellevue mine; ten year
ago Frank, Alta, was wipel out witt
loss of 1875 lives when a mountain
toppled over, burying it.
Thomas Corkel, a we'll known of
cial Of the miners union is anon
4 those killed. y
The British Columbia governmen
mine rescue apparatus from Ferni
station together with Alberta prov
ince rescue cars with one hundre
men arrived at. the mine tonight
Several rescue experts expressed tn
opinion that it would take at last
week to reach the bodies of some {
those .entombed as a large numbe
of the men are reported to have bee
far into the workings.
$50 Entered Mine
According to the officials Of II
company, $50 men went into the mil
8 at II O'Clock this morning At 81
the terrific explosion was heard al
men came rushing out of the entrant
oEby. the score. Panic spread thrope
other parts Of the mine:and 1os er,ss;
Y minutes later over 300 had ssscapet
Z There were no fire appliances sui
q able for forcing an entrance into 7
mine and this Handicapped the wol
Of rescue. It is estimated that 2
i men were working in the slope whe
} the explosion occurred and whie
I sealed them in. None Of the N.