Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 November 1908 — 302 DEAD IN A MINE [ARTICLE]

302 DEAD IN A MINE

Only Six of the 380 Who Went to Work Eecape Alive and Uninjufed. THIRTY-SEVEN DEAD ARE FOUND Thirty-Five Others Are Brought Oak Badly Wounded. lie Chance for the Rescuers Because or Flame and Smoke— Those in the Mine Cur not Be Saved!. .fr Hamm, WcutiAalla, Germany, Nov. lfi.—The greatest mine disaster in many years in Germany occurred yesterday morning at tbe Radbod mine, about three miles from this place. There was a heavy explosion lu the mine about 4 a. m., and almost immediately the mine took fire. Of 380 emitters working under ground at the time, only six escaped without Injury. Thirty-five were taken out badly Injured and thirty-seven were dead when brought to the mouth of the pit. TUe remainisg 302 have been given up for lost Flames and Smoke Aid Death. Tte was unusually violent, destroyed one of tbe shafts, which bad to be partly repaired before tbe rescue work was ltegun. In addition the dames and smoke proved almost Insurmountable obstacles in the early efforts of the rescuing parties. A special corps, composed of the men who rendered such valuable aid hi the terrible mine disaster at Courrieres, France, in March of 1908, arrived upon the eceue later, but was unable to enter tbe mine, being forced to await tbe raanlt of tbe determined efforts of the firemen to keep tbe flames in check. No Hope for the Men Entombed. Meantime heartrending scenes were being enacted at the mine when the dead and wounded were brought to the surface, and there were similar scenes In the town when the iujured were transported through the streets to the hospitals. At Ip. m., tbe fire bod made great headway and later in the afternoon, after a consultation of the engineers, It was decided that any farther attempts to rescue the entombed men were vain, owing to the impossibility of entering tbe galleries. At the aame time an order waa issued to flood the mine. Cause of the Calamity Unknown. First reports indicated that the accident was the result of an explosion of coal dust, but tbe statements of the injured men render this improbable, and it is uot clear just what caused it.