San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-09
RESCUE WORKER
DIES IN NINE;
172 ENT0MbED
Explosion Wrecks Coal
Workings and Fire Adds
to Horror.
NO BODIES RECOVERED
Blaze Will Cremate Inn
prisoned Victims, Off
cials Think.
Castle Gate. Utah. March s.-One

Castle Gate, Utah. March S.-One
rescue worker lost his life here to-
night attempting to penetrate mine
No. .. Utah Fuel Company, where
172 men were entombed today follow
ing a series of explosions. He had
gone 500 feet back toward the IN
terror workings and was overcome by
black damp.
Other workers managed to bring
the body to the surface.
None of the bodies of the men IN
the mine at the time of the explosion
have been recovered and workers be-
lieve their recovery at the present
time is practically impossible.
A majority of the men employed
in the mine are said to be natives
of Utah, who came here two years
ago during strike troubles, bringing
their families with them.
No. / mine was closed down last
week and practically all the single
men had been dismissed and married
men were placed in No. 2.
A check up of information from
several sources here leaves the fol-
lowing descriptive story,
At about Z 80 q. m, the first ex-
plosion occurred. This closed No. !
of two main entrances.
Second Blast Closes Exits.
A few seconds elapsed, then, q
second blast came, blowing out all
bulk heads leading to No. = entrance.
This left all exits closed.
When the third blast occurred, sur
face men said they saw the first IN
dications of smoke. These indications
rapidly became pronounced, until late
tonight. the interior was evidently n
mass of flames.
Rescuers who broke through debris
at the entrance were hurled back 10
the surface by dense cloud OF heavy
smoke. which was soon belching from
the mouth of the shaft in clouds that
rolled into a thick pail over the town.
With this new development, every
vestige of hope that any of the en-
tombed men could remain alive was
given up. 1t is doubtful now If even
the bodies can ever be located. IL the
fire continues all will be cremated ID
a furnace that could leave nothing put
ashes.
Air. shafts were all severed. the en-,
france is buried in tons of debris ana
deadly gas is escaping from the tun-
mel. until IL has been impossible Tor
fifteen rescue parties working at the
mine to lend any assistance.
Relatives on Hand.
Hundreds of relatives of the Ill
fated miners took up their watch at
the portals soon after news of the dis
aster spread about the camp. Guards
have entirely fenced the area neces-
sary for work of rescuers 10 prevent
the hordes Of anxious watchers from
paralyzing activities.
1t is almost impossible. officials ad-
mitted this afternoon, that anyone
could live in the tunnels. Gas that
would cause almost instantaneous
death was still pouring from the en-,
trance and with every air vent closed
there was no chance for the entombed
men to barricade themselves from the
fatal air vapor.
So dangerous was the vicinity OF
the explosion that even rescuers did
not dare approach the tunnel with
out gas masks.
Every available piece of equipment
was rushed to the scene from scores
of mines around. but little, if any,
Roadway was being made toward I'M
tangling the mass of ruins at the
mouth Of the. mine, which must be re-
moved before the workings are ex-
plored for bodies.
Sick Men Escape.
Only three men scheduled to have
entered the mine this morning are
known to have escaped. These three
were ON the sick list when the shift
went on duty. They could give no en-
tightening information on. the PROB
able cause of the blasts.
Gas damp, the eternal enemy OF
those who make their living in under
ground workings, is considered by
mining men the most probable cause
of the explosions. Utah mine prop
critics, however, have all been consid-
cred excellently equipped to detect
presence of gas, and to deal with
emergency situations as they arise.
From external appearances, the ex-
plosions must have wrought destruc-
ton almost unparalleled in the history
of mine disasters. Three tremendous
blasts were heard by workmen on the
surface, followed by a number of les
ser vibrations.
Then everything became quiet and
soon the gas found its way to the sur
face.
Air vents were Immediately tested
by the surface crew and all were
found to be shattered. Nothing thea
remained to be done but to rush res
que crews TO the scene and wait for
ulher crews.
The feverish haste somewhat sub
sided when rescue crews made suffi-
Gent Roadway to discover that an in
tense fire ragged through the passage
ways.