Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-05-03
DISASTER In
NINE DUE TO
ENEMY PLOT?
Explosion, Not Fire. Is Said tt
Have Caused Death of 119
in Immense Colorado
Workings.
FIRST BODIES BROUGHT OUT
Inspector Had Just Completed
Tour of Property When Men
Were Killed-Inves-
LEGATION Begun.
FIRST BODIES BROUGHT OU'

Hastings, Colo. April 30-The 119
men trapped in the Victor-Ame1itan
sue Company mine here yesterday are
lead. Bringing out the bodies was re-
newed this afternoon. An explosion
caused the disaster. Austrian miners
We're employed.
AS soon as the first rescuers emerged
another crew entered the mine bearing
stretchers to bring out the bodies. Out
side the mine scores of volunteers
pressed Onward eager to be in the next
shift to go inside. Foremen went about
among the crowd picking the sturdiest
and most experienced men.
You can go tWos,' the superintend-
ent told them.
David Reese. safety inspector for all
of the Nictor-American companies'
properties, was in the mine making an
inspection when the. explosion oc-
Cured. He is believed to have been
lost.
Explosions Cause Mystery.
We cannot explain the explosion"
said Bartlett. Electric lights were
used in the mine, no miner was per-
mltted to have electric caps for firing
blasts, and all blasts We're fired by "a
shot firer. The mine was frequently
inspected: Every precaution was taken
to make it safe"
Leslie l.. Hubbard, attorney general
OF Colorado, and an assistant arrived
TINS morning to investigate rumors that
the explosion was the act of an alien
nemy TO probe into conditions touch
ing the observance of mine safety laws.
The condition of the mine lends
some color to the theory that the ex-
ploslon was of an origin that you don't
think Of" said Attorney General Hub
bard.
Besides Mr.. Hubbard, James Dali
rymple, state mining inspector; Joe
Basoni, Italian consul, and a deputy
Inspector. went into the mine this
morning. Basoni is looking after the
interests of any Italians among tho
entombed miners.
Plot Caused Explosion.
Mr.. Hubbard said:
The fire boss who INSPECTED tho
mine yesterday morning, coming out
three hours before the explosion saws
In MS report on file. in the office. the
mine was in excellent condition then
ana that he would not be afraid to
carry a lighted flame in it.
The men coming out report there
was evidence of an explosion. There
be no explosion without gas or
Ihe actual setting off of something.
rms leaves a possibility of something
OF this kind-actual design in the IN
plosion."
James r. Moran, of Pueblo, president
OF this district Of the United Mine
workers, offered the local union
through its secretary, all the fnancf.3
aid it needed. Moran said all the en-
tonlhed men were members of the or.
ganlzation. Tom Jolly, who was a
member OF the rescue crew coming out
this morning, gave the following ac-
count or nus experiences:
Known Dead from Gas.
We did not get in much farther than
the fourth north entry (about 5000
feetl, which was as far as the shift
before US went. In the fourth north
entry we found the bodies. Some of
them We're crushed and some hadn't a
mark on them. Just died from the gas.
We did not identify any of them. We
spent most of u time setting UP brat
US. We found little fallen
rock"
SO far no effort had been made TO
bring out bodies. Mine officials an
n h a this would not be at
tempted until there was no more hone
of saving any lives.
One mar did not go into the mine
yesterday because he had lost his can.
While he was in the store getting a
new one the explosion tool place.
The first bodieS-seyen in number
We're brought out of the mine this after
noon
1t has been ascertained definitely that
the disaster did not contain the ele-
ment of fare to any great extent, but
was an explosion.
.rNaM