Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1869-04-19
Chapter second In Our Gold HIn Mining
(ninmity-The Mines Reopened-
Plenty Of smoke and Gus Hut No Fire
-HorribIe nnd Entail Accident.

Cninmity-The Mines heopened-
Plenty Of smoke and Sa. But No Fire
T.. Horrible md Fntnl Accident.
Last Saturday forenoon it was con-
cluded by the powers controlling the
Yellow Jacket mine to reopen the shaft
and ascertain if possible the damage
and general state Of affairs existing
in the valuable subterranean regions Of
that mine. Accordingly the doors and
windows Of the hosting works building
were carefully barrieaded against the
admission of all outsiders, not u soul
being allowed inside except the officers
OF the mine aud those controlling it,
and what workmen were required. AT
noon the shaft being uncovered, the
ponderous machinery was in full opera
ton and the blower sending q supply OF
fresh air from the surface down into he
lower levels of the mine. Considerable
gaseous smoke came from the shaft, but
in rather q greater volume, OF course,
than it had for the past few days, while
it was closed. The shaft timbers
we're found to be 10 badly swollen and
sprung out Of place by the steam which
bad been injected down the shaft while
|. was closed, that the cage could not
pass, therefore q vast amount Of hew-
ing and trimming had to be done. This
work was necessarily slow, and attend
ed with great danger, rs the workmen
Aulr.h1r ,cnhyNtataA hy tho
not, foul smoke and gas within that
narrow compartment Of the shaft, and
several were brought to the surface that
afternoon and evening sick and disabled
for the time. Indeed, one man, who
stood it longer than the rest ard
worked over an hour below, was taken
very sick some little time after coming
out and soon became so conyulsively
violent that it took FIVE or six men to
hold him. DR.. Hall attended him and
to-day he is at work again. II was
midnight before they were able to get
the cage down to the 900-foot or lower
level Of the mine. where the air was
found to be much better than above.
THE OTHER sHAFrs R%EorENED.
At 3 p. NJ, Saturday, Hank Smith
foreman Of the Gown Point mine,
sounded the shaft, and found less than
200 feet Of water at the bottom. That
shaft, however, was Kept covered until
! o'clock last evening. The covering
of the Kentuck was removed q few hours
earlier. From the Grown Point shaft
considerable gaseous steam and smoke
escapes, yet, although several men have
been up and down the shaft since last
evening, none OF them have been made
sick. The Kentuck shaft is pretty clear
OF gas or other poisonous ~exhalatious,
and several parties have been down into
both il and the Crown Point, passing
through to the Yellow JACKIE. line. At
noon to-day q large lot Of throe-inch
iron piping vas being put down the
Crown Point shaft, in order TO carry
steam from the boilers directly down to
and into the 500 level OF the mino. No
fire had been discovered, but should
there be any, it is thought to be about
the line of tue Crown Point and keu-
tuck.
DAMAGES TO THE MINES.
Uul CAplOEuLlOuS u''V wv" "N'S
since this last reopening, have devei-
oped no great mount of damage dono
beyond what previously existed in the
two last mentioned mines, and of which
we gave q description last week. By
reasou Of the deadly foul air and the
repairing and fixing of the Yellow
Jacket shaft, the exploration in that
mine has been comparatively limited.
No FIRE has been discovered but there
are considerable caves to clear away,
and much retimbering to be done. The
fire did not extend north from where 1t
first commenced, but worked south
through fhe Kentuck and Crown Point.
The blockade at the Yellow Jacket
works still exists, no outsider being ad-
mitted, hence all sorts OF wild rumors
are alont regarding the true state OF
affairs there.
APPALLING ACCIDENT.
About midnight last night, William
II. Williams was killed in the Yellow
Jacket shaft. He aud another work
man were down at the 400-foot level,
engaged in trimming out the shaft
timbers where they interfered with the
passage Of the cage. They were
strictly ordered not to 80 away from
the cage into the drift, on account OF
the foul air but it seems that he dis
obeyed the INJUNCTION by going into the
drift, where he sat for Is or 20 minutes,
while his companion was working IN
the shaft. Soon, apparently feeling
sick he desired 10 90 up TO the surface,
and getting upon the cage, rang the
bell himself to go up. They went up
together but n short distance, when
Williams suddenly sank down against
the side Of the shaft, where ne
was dragged past two sets o,
timbers, and then his body roiied
down between the heavy nmoers
and the side of the cage, falling over
500 feet to the bottom of the SHAFT
When brought to the surface, atterwaro,
nearly every bone in his body was found
to be broken, and his head torn COM
ple,ely of below the chin, Il small piece
of scalp alone remaining attached o'ne
back OF the neck. Coroner SymonS
held an inquest on the body hts lore
noon. and the verdict Of the jury was In
accordance with what we have reiateu,
He was 80 years Of age and a natlSe .,
Kca County, Cornwall, Canada wnese
he leaves y wife and three cniloreu,
His funeral will take place from Theatre
Hall, Gold Hill, at 2r. NJ, o-mDrLo"
under the auspices Of the Miners 0n''"'
of which he was n memoe''
NJ ,,r At WuIrE PlNE.-"e