From the S&S archives: 4,500 attend memorial rite for 286 Saar miners

SAARBRUECKEN, Germany (S&S) — West Germany's President Heinrich Luebke led a grieving nation in mourning Saturday at an open air memorial service for 286 coal miners who lost their lives Wednesday in an explosion at the Luisenthal mine.

Appearing bareheaded and without topcoat, Luebke told the estimated 4,500 persons, including 1,500 close relatives assembled near the flower bedecked metal coffins, that an entire nation mourned with them.

He praised American and German soldiers for their prompt response when the  call for help came, noting that the American contribution of blood plasma, ambulances and other medical supplies end equipment saved many lives.

Luebke said that the government heads of all friendly nations had cabled their sympathy to him.

Church bells tolled at 11 a.m. as the service began. Hundreds of miners, garbed in their traditional black, brass-buttoned dress uniforms, and wearing hats with red, black and yellow plumes, and lighted miners' lamps, stood alongside the families of the deceased.

In the huge throng were miners who had come from all over Germany, and groups of French and Belgian miners who came to pay their respects..

West German cabinet members, church and political leaders and heads of local governments were present. British and Austrian miners wired their condolences.

Among the Americans present were Brig Gen Robert B. Skinner, CG, 9th Medical Center, Landstuhl, and Brig Gen. Howard P. Persons, CG, 32nd Arty Brig.

The ceremony was held in a small park adjoining the entrance to the disaster-stricken mine. Two metal elevator towers formed a dreary backdrop as white steam rose slowly from the mine's ventilation shaft.

The coffins stood in square roars of 10 or 11, each draped with flowers and wreaths sent by officials, friends, relatives and trade unions.

As the miners' band began playing Beethoven's Mourners' March, women and men wept uncontrollably.

As the crowds walked slowly down the hill from the mine, many paused in front of a bulletin board where the names of all the dead and hospitalized in Germany's second greatest mine disaster were listed alphabetically.

Funeral services will be held Sunday.