Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-07-12
THE EVENING STAR.
SATURDAY
A Silver Mine on Fire.
THREE MINERS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN sI-rFo
CATED-THR EEEnRTs 70 sayr ruru


THREE MINERS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN sUrFo.
CATkD-THR EFFORTS TO SAVE THEM.
Last evening, about O'Clock, an alarm or fire
was sounded from the Imperial Hosting Works
Gold Hill turned out and were at the works as
soon as possible. They were not needed how
ever, as they soon ascertained that the fire was
Ing the 1900 and the 2,135 levels OF the mine
The Information was brought up by carman
ana pqmpman who had gone down to the
smoke that compelled.their retreat as ranidix
as possible. When they reached the surface
ole OF the men was In q fainting condition, and
had to be lifted from the cage.
At about the same time the men at the Rul
lion discovered that something was wrong
First pun OF white smoke came up from the
succession OF little clouds of smoke came fer
seconds later, and then sharp ringing OF the
oeh TO hoist the cage was heard. The cage was
AS 1t came up those about the shaft were specu
lating as to how many would come up on IL.
ana they watched anxiously for its appearance
CLING smoke added to the alarm of those watch.
ing. When the cage finally came to the surface
out nve men were seen. Two OF them were In
fainting condition. There should have been
eight, to constitute the whole shift. The roll
was called by the time keeper and VIM. Terry,
john Crocker and ID. O'Donahue were found 10
be missing.
Dense volumes OF smoke arose from the ssaft.
IL came up In thick masses OF white and yellow,
which, under the rays OF the glaripg hea1lirhf
1 uS1 uaeS Oh Lhe engineer, seemed like solid
coIumn. superintendent Schultz OF the Bullion
expressed the opinion that the missing men had
taken refuge In the cooling station OF the 1 6O0
,,eveI, where they would be perfectly safe for "a
hours. The draft up the incline would take all
TIE gas and smoke past the goo. and with plenty
OF air the men, he thought, would be all right.
The speed OF the air compressor was at once in
creased, and 1t was kept running all night at a
pressure OF sixty-five pounds. Mr. Schultz ad-
oeo Slgnlhcantly, however. to those working
''If they did pot stop at the 600 level but at.
tempted to come up the incline they are dead
already, for no man can live a minute In that
smoke and gas"
he then tied handkerchief over his mouth
and went to the main air pipe and made hole
ID IL with pick. hose nozzle was next In
serted and water turned on. This was done to
cool the air which was being sent down. IL was
Impossible 10 60 anything further than keep I'd
the supply OF cool air, and the hope was enter
tanned that the men might discover the pipes at
the junction OF the 600 level with the 1nclire
and save all the air for themselves by cutting
it Oh from the levels below. The gas was so
powerful that candle held over the shaft was
extingulshed instantly, and no human being
could survive In IL for over minute
All danger from fire is now considered over
The damage cannot be over $500, and possibly
much less. AS soon as practicable the mine
Wlii be searched Tor the missing men. The the
DRY that these men retreated into the LOGO drift
ara disconnected the air pipe was given up
when 1t was discovered that the air from this
pipe was circulating In the 800 level Of the I'm
pertal The presence OF air at this point rem
ders probable the sadden1ng theory that the
men never reached the 600 cooling station at
all, but were suffocated In the incline.
blush tint as IL 1t came from Charcoal
superintendent Schultz intended to go down
with squad OF men and search for the bodies
hour set Is o'clock) the fumes OF charcoal com.
ing up the shaft rendered the attempt 1mpos-
sible. It is the general opinion among miners
that the Bullion Mine cannot be entered for sew
eral days to come. The origin Of the fire is stu
uIknown.-(V Virginia City Chronicle