Crittenden Press

Eagle Pass, Texas, June 4. - Twenty-six miners, employed in the Fuente coal mine, in Mexico, four miles from here, were burned to death yesterday afternoon.

The Mexican International railway, which recently came into the possession of the mine, is operating a narrow gauge road with a small locomotive, which penetrates the main entry, hauling in empty and bringing out loaded cars. This main entry is lined on the side and at the top with creosoted lumber, and three airshafts supply the mine with ventilation. The entrance of each track is on the north side of a range of hills, through which it passes as an incline to the mouth of the mine on the banks of the Escondido river.

The workings are all to the front of the main entry and fifty men were employed taking out coal.

At 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon, shortly after the locomotive left, the mine was discovered to be on fire and smoke and flames were seen issuing out of the airshaft. About one-half of the miners were working near the main tunnel and these made their escape leaving twenty-six of their number to perish from the heat and smoke and from the poisonous gases which spread like lightning to every portion of the mine.

The miners employed were Mexican and most of them left destitute families. It is reported that the persons responsible for the management of the mines have been placed under arrest pending an investigation of the cause of the disaster. But for the prompt action of the officials of the Mexican International railway and their heroic efforts, the mine would have been destroyed, and none of the bodies would have been recovered.

This is the first disaster in the history of coal mining in Mexico. Large numbers of friends and relatives of the unfortunate miners are gathered at the mouth of the mine mutely awaiting the recovery of the bodies of their sons and husbands. When a body is taken out there is no outburst of grief but a look of quiet resignation and deep grief appears on every countenance. Hundreds of people from Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras have visited the scene to-day, and the smoke is still issuing from the airshafts, impressing on all the folly of hoping any of the imprisoned miners are yet alive.