The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1873-05-22
The Burning Mine.

cons are known to have persisted,
and half OF them were married
men. There were several air
shafts all on fire at once, and the
blue flames assembled 20 to %
feet.
Thomas Lowthier, testified that
the mine was carefully attended
during the time the miners were
out on the strike, SO that there
coudrhave been no accumulation
Of gas when the miners returned
to the works.
James Dunston, who was in
the e,ine when the fire occurred,
testified that he found nothing
unusual in the mine when he dos.
cended. When word was passed
that tho mine was on fire, all
hands were requested to 60 and
put it ont. Those who refused to
assist were ordered to leave, as
Try remaining they would only
impede tho progress OF others.
Had the men obeyei the order
when it was found possible to stop
the fire, there would have been
plcnty of time to get it out. The
same level had been on irc be-
fore, A man was always station
cd in the cabin 10 give miners
information rs to the condition
of their places and to warm them
of danger. These regulations
were attended to, as were also the
furnaces for ventilating the same
levels. ra..,
Alexander Lo;met was called.
The gist Of his evidence was in a
statement that if powder HAD not
been used by Mcleod the pit
would have been all right. When
he heard the alarm given he went
TO the pumping pit, having heard
cries for help, and assisted John
Bonnell to the surface. Andrew
Mcleod brother OF Robert Nc
Leod, testified he was inside cut
ting coal when the fire took place.
They always worked their place
with sulphur. Ho couldn't say il
he found much gas in the ford.
He always used powder after the
third shot, They had fired two
shots and wore preparing to fire.
They endeavored to put it out by
ordinary means with wet bags,
but after working for over fifteen
minutes and the fire gaining Oh
them they called for assistance
and two men came. The witness
was exhausted and mado for the
slope. Some went ont to the
landing. shutting the door behind
them. Joe Richardson then came
down and directed the fire, but he
soon returned and gave direction
for all the men and horses to come
out. The witness then started
for the opening and had scarcely
reached the mouth of the slope
wl,cn the mine exploded. throw
ing him out on the bank. There
were some men behind him and
one before him,
Adam Larimer testified that he
was in the mine when the fire
took place. When the explosion
occurred he made his way out as
fast as possible. When he got to
the slope he found it Obstructed
with boxes and rubbish. There
were over thirty men lying down
at this point, all evidently injured
AS they were grooming. Some were
as if they could neithor move nor
epeak. I.arimer was obliged t.
stop and crawl over their bodies
in order to make HE way ont o.
slope. On the way up he passed
several mea lying down cry
ing and grooming, but unable t.
help themselves. lie was the las
man alive out of the pit and wa
helped out by his brother. liz
pasced man dead on the tol
landing. The Inspector OF Mines
Pools. said the witness testimon.
relating to firing shots had a mos
important bearing on the canse O
the disaster. 1t was evident tina
the fret and second shots had
decided effect and blew down tn
coal there. The third shot, how.
ever, was only a blow out ehot. !
opened crack in the bench
which then became reservoir {
accommodating gas. The latte
immediately ignited and set fir
TO the coal, which burned wit
great rapidly, engcndering in
tense hest and smoke, and max
ing it ina possible for tho men
work in putting ant the flames.
1t was truly iseartrcnding I
pass through the square Of build
iros were the families Of the 10
miners reside. Tho windo
blinds were down, and the po'
widows of men whose charre
remains were far down in u
burning sepulcher mourn incc'
.santIy and piteonsly tho loss
those who have been 60 sudden
taken from tbss,. AZ you pa
close to the saddene& bones
these families you can hsaS the
sobbing and crying.
TIE formal coronation Of Csc
a