Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1880-11-19
THE MISSING ENGINEER.
He Turns Up Alive and Explaiss
About shas Fatal Fire ~ the
9oodshaW Nine.

Bodie Standard.N ers, November is.
The following letter, ~postmarked
'Bodie. November a." and addressed
"Mr. Ross Colcord. Syndicate Mill.
Bodie, Csl.," Was received yesterday
(tbe day II was mailed) BY tho gentle
man to whom II was addressed. The
writer, Lowell Parker. was the engineer
in charge at the Goodshaw works on the
night OF the fatal FIRE. Mr.. Colcord,
superintendent OF the Syndicate mine.
had known Mr.. Parker for many years
a IN excellent and exceedingly vigilant
engineer. having had him In his employ,
both here and on the Comstock. and
hence the stricken man addressed the
letter to his old employer and friend.
The letter bears the impress Of truth and
candor throughout.
Mr.. R. Colcord-Dsar Sir: On . bed
Of sickness ! write these lines, praying
that you and the public may not judge
me too hsrshly.
On Monday evening. after everybody
had left, I made the usssl round. looked
in the chsnge-room and blacksmith shop.
turned the light nsxt TO the shaft down.
blew the candle at the engine Guido
ing the same when the men left at 8
A. n. About 10 o'clock Capt. Buckley
and Mr.. Hood came In and went down
into the mine. After they came up
Capt. b. went into the change-room.
As soon a. they left the building I again
turned down the light next the shaft,
but did not look In the change-room.
At 1880 I ats supper. When / finished
my supper I went to reading, sitting In
front OF the furnace TO keep warm;
would occasionally get up and put .
stick OF wood in the furnace. Re.
member distinctly OF looking at the
window in the back end Of the
change.room, 1t being In plain view
Of the furnace. II candle had
been left burning In the change 0 !
think I would have seen 1t. unless some
clothes were hung over the window-it
being Q small one. Clothes containing
matches may have fallen down on the
steam pipe used for heating the room.
and sm~ouldsred away for . long tims.
The room was very tight; about 1912
and z feet high. with . door In front next
to the shaft and . window behind, toward
the boilers. Was reading when the mid.
night whistles blew. About half an hour
later I went out OF the Are room door to
the privy. How long I was there / can
not say. The mental strain and close
attention on the sick for the previous
three days was too much; abused nature
could not stand II any longer. / was
startled by Q cry. Rushing out saw the
building on Are! As ! went through the
ere room door ! heard Mr.. Hood cry
out: "Send that tub to the bottoml"
Reaching the engine I started the tub
down. the top Of the shange-room, the
beams and raftsrs overhead being one
sheet Of flame. When the tub was part
way down the smoke nearly ovsrcame
me; I stopped for o moment to regain
my breath aud finally succeeded in get.
ting the tub to the bottom. I then
sprapg for the hose to connect II to the
pump, with the intention OF asking the
frst person who came In to keep me
vet down while I could hoist the men.
I did not succeed In eating the hose
connected, when I realized that no
human being could Stand by that engine.
Nearly craz-d with the thought Of those
being below, I lett the building just o.
Captain Buckley rushed In.
OF twenty-five years sxperisnce In the
shop and sngins-room this II my FIRST
accident.
With Q conscience free from any Grim.
ipal intent, but stricken with psia and
remorss. I remain, yours truly.
L. PARKER.