Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 January 1893 — TWENTY-SEVEN COFFINS. [ARTICLE]

TWENTY-SEVEN COFFINS.

Terrible Casualty in a Colorado Mine. Premature Explosion by Which TwentySeven Miners Lost Tlielr Lives. An order reached Denver,Tuesday night late, for twenty-seven coffins from Como, Col., on the Denver & South Park division of the Union pacific. Tho Associated Press agent Immediately secured a wire to tho latter place, and at 3a. m., succeeded In getting particulars of one of the most serious mining accidents In tho State's history. Tho Union Pacific owns and operates coal mines at King, Col., four miles from Como, where it employs 200 miners. Tuesday afternoon a premature explosion occurred in one of the chambers where twenty-eight miners were at work. A terrific explosion occurred, or as miners call it, a ‘‘dust explosion.” Tho shock killed twenty-seven of the men, only one > escaping, ho being near tho entrance. The bodies were not recovered until midnight on account of their blackened condition only eleven of the twenty-seven were recognizable. Half a dozen other miners are missing and may be in the ruins. Very little damage was done to the mine, but it will be l«v closed until the State Inspector arrives.