Carthage, New Mexico
Mine Explosion
December 31, 1907
NINE DEAD IN MINE
Explosion Hurls Bodies 500 Feet from Pit Mouth.
OTHERS ARE FATALLY HURT
Gas and Coal Dust Cause a Disaster in New
Mexico.
Many Miners Away at Dinner at the Moment, or
Death List Would Be Larger – Country Shaken for
Miles Around – Rescuers Try to Enter Workings
Filled with Deadly Fire Damp. Three Burned Men
Rescued in Ohio.
Albuquerque, N. Mex., Dec. 31.-At least nine
miners were killed, three fatally, and two
seriously injured in an explosion of gas and
coal dust at noon to-day in the Bernal mine at
Carthage, Socorro County, N. Mex., one of three
large coal mines owned by the Carthage Fuel
Company.
Nine bodies have been taken out, and although
the mine is still filled with gas, it is
believed that no more victims remain in the
workings. O. L. WILCOX,
an American mine boy, is among the dead. The
others were mostly Mexicans.
All Blown to Death.
All of the men had apparently been killed
instantly and some of the bodies were mangled
beyond recognition.
Supt. C. P. Weber,
with a party of rescuers numbering several
dozen, have been busy working all afternoon in
spite of the gases with which the mine workings
are filled. Women and children are with
difficulty kept from the mouth of the mine.
Carthage is a small town on a branch line
twenty miles from San Antonio, N. Mex., on the
Santa Fe Railroad, and communication is
difficult. Had it not been for the fact that the
explosion occurred during the noon hour the
death list would be larger. The explosion shook
the country for miles around, and several of the
bodies were thrown clear out of the main
entrance to the mine. Two bodies were blown
nearly 300 yards away.
A force of about fifty men was employed in
the mine, and all but those who were killed or
injured had gone to dinner.
The Washington Post, Washington, DC 1 Jan
1908
Miners Killed By Explosion
Albuquerque, N. M., Jan. 2. – At least
nine miners were killed and three fatally and
two seriously injured in an explosion of gas and
coal dust in the Bernal mine at Carthage,
Socorro county, New Mexico, one of three large
coal mines owned by the Carthage Fuel Company.
Nine bodies have been take nout [sic], and
although the mine is still filled with gas, it
is believed that no more victims remain in the
workings.
The dead are: C. L. WICOX, an African mine
boss; JUAN ARCHULETA, a miner, native of Socorro
county; IGNACIO ARCHULETA, a miner, Socorro
county; C. T. NASTERSON, American miner; THOMAS
ARCHULETA, Socorro county; ANGELO LIGNORE,
Italian miner; three natives of Old Mexico,
whose names have not been learned.
The injured: Bonnardino Navaratta, probably
fatally; Benito R. Cuchildessa, probably
fatally; Max Walker, probably fatally; Matt
Brooks and George Jockovitch, seriously injured.
The Evening News, San Jose, CA 2 Jan 1908
The dead:
C. L. WILCOX, an American mine boss.
JULAN ARCHULETA, a miner, native of Socorro
County.
IGNACIO ARCHULETA, miner, Socorro County.
C. T. NASTERSON, American miner.
THOS. ARCHULETA, Socorro County.
ANGELO LIGORNE, Italian miner.
Three natives of Mexico, whose names have not
been learned.
The injured: Bernardino Vaveo, L. Varetta,
probably fatally; Benito E. Guchildessa,
probably fatally; Matt Brooks and George
Jockovich, serious.
All of the dead men had apparently been
killed instantly and some of the bodies were
mangled beyond recognition.
Dallas Morning News, Dallas, TX 1 Jan 1908
ARticles transcribed by
Jenni Lanham. Thank you,
Jenni!
 Search
for more information on the Carthage Mine
Explosion and other disasters in the Historic
Newspapers Collection. Search
over 1000 different newspapers at ancestry.com. Use this
Free trial to search for your ancestors.
Search for ancestors in
Carthage, NM among billions of names at ancestry.com. Use this
Free trial to search for your ancestors.
Arizona and New
Mexico Territories Census Late 1800s Searchable database at ancestry.com.
Use this
Free trial to search for your ancestors.
|
