Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1870-06-29
A MINING CALAMITY
Cave in the Yellow Jacket Mine.
FOUR MEN

hDOut ~ ClOSh iaoL ONciiiiS C1NC
occurred between the 800 and 9OO-foot
levels Of the Yellow Jacket mine,
whereby four miners were buried and
killed. Their names were Manuel
Alameda, Patrick Doherty, John Ken
nedy and r. Hanson. The point where
the cave occurred is in the rich body Of
ore between the levels mentioned, at
the seventh and eighth floors above the
9OO-foot level. The ore vein has an
inclination Of As degrees, and at this
particular point it was excavated five
sets of timbers in length, including q
space nearly thirty feet long, by ten or
twelve feet wide. Above there the
floors and excavations extend to the
SOO-foot level, and below, to the 900
foot level.
Cause Of the Gave.
A seam of clay charged with a seep-
age of water, allowed a large flake of
ore and vein matter to disconnect itself
from the hanging wall, crushing by its
immense weight In q lateral as well as
perpendicular direction, the heavy sets
of timbers, carrying the seventh
floor down upon the sixth with a heavy
crash. The excavation being recent,
all the timbers were new, placed III
sets five feet apart, and solidly keyed
against either wall, so that above the
cave the timbers are still as firmly In
place rs ever, preventing further cav
ing. There were 30 or40 miners work.
ing in the vicinity, but only the four
mentioned were caught by the cave
and buried beneath the debris of broken
timbers and ore. These men were
employed wheeling ore and dumping
it down a shute. Tom Quirk, the fore
man ut that point, came very near
being caught, and it was only by being
pretty lively in his movements that he
escaped. None of the other miners
were injured; these tour were the only
victims.
To the Rescue,
AS soon Us the cave occurred several
brave men from the floors below hur-
ried I'm the ladders to the rescue,
knowing full well that some OF their
comrades must be there and in need
of immediate help. The danger was
great, for timberS were still cracking
and pieces of ore falling. yet they
ventured close to the ruins, and the
light of their candles revealed one man
jammed among the debris and
ssilI Alive.
This man was Hanson. They could
get near enough to touch him and he
was able to freely converse with them.
A heavy timber acros his hips and
Others about his legs held him fast.
Only one or two men could work in
the narrow space, ut a time, and very
cautiously, by reason Of the danger
from the still moving mass. They
worked like heroes with saw and aX,
and for over two hours the poor fellow
talked with them as they worked. He
called for water, and they gave it him
three or four times. He was In great
pain, but cool and sensible to the last.
Once he complained that his head wa
heavy in the reclining position he oc-
cupied, and asked for something to
support It. They brought him 4 couple
of shirts for a pillow, and he said it
felt easier. Ono of his comrades babe
him keep up good spirits, and they
would have him out shortly. "Ah!
boys" said he, "good spirits Is getting
played out" Then, at times, In his
agony, he would beg them to end his
sufferings by splitting his head with
the az. At length his voice could be
heard no longer, and OH examination
he was found to be dead. 1t was about
one o'clock this morning before his
body was rescued and brought to the
surface. The Superintendent, General
Winters, and James O'Donnel, the
Foreman, were down In the mine
nearly all night, directing operations
and doing their best toward rescuing
any possible survivor. Only the three
mentioned still remain beneath the de-
bris, and as portions Of their bodies can
be seen. they will probably. be recov,
cred this afternoon or evening. All
four victims were now hands, and, we
believe, unmarried. They were from
20 to IS years Of age.
Damages.
The real damage to the mine is tri-
fling, the extent Of the cave being
merely three sets Of timbers In length,