Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1881-03-03

| Q.-W as there any apparent ruSn OF heated
air in level as Innis opened the door to 60 out ?
Ans.--The heat increased; neglected to
say that as l was getting light from Braslin
and Keegan, we heard Mr. Innis call ''fre."
Q.-Do you think all the men in the tun-
mel heard the alarm of fire given by Innis.
Ans.-I do.
Q.-Please state what effect you think the
explosion had ON the men in the mine.
Ans.-Dont think it had any.
Q.-Do you think the gas from the explos-
ion of giant powder in the mine would en-
danger the lives of the men inside?
Ans-I think it would.
Q.-Do you think the explosion had ten
dency to force bad air back into the mine?
Ans-I think it would. Z
Q-Where did you eat dinner that night ?
Ans-In the blacksmith shop.
Odd you all eat together?
Ans.-My partner (Innis) and myself had
done eating when the others came in.
Odd you have fire?
Ans-We did
Q.-What was it made Of?
Ans.-Chips
On what condition was the fire when
you went to work?
Ans-Fire was in ashes, with few Goals
Q.-Was any fire made after you went to
work?
Ans-Don't know of any. k
Odd you all 60 to work together?
Ans.-Nearly so.
Q.-Do you think there was any danger
from fire as you left it?
Ans-I did not.
Q.-How long have yon been at work in
the mine?
ofN
Q.-How many times do you know of the
shop catching fire?
Ans.-Twice.
Q.-Please state the cause of fire, il yon
know on those two occasions? d
Ans-I think by sparks lodging'in roof.
Q-Had you ever been warned of fire here?
Ans-No, sir.
Q-Had you ever thought there was dam
ger from fire?
Ans.-I had.
Q.-Where do you think the fire started
Ans.-From outside on the roof, or from
candle in the tagging.
Q.-Do you recOllect seeing any candle on
the wall?
Ans-I do not.
Q.-What distance from mouth of tunnel
did you see fire. ~ lsA&st Il
Odd you use bellows that night to
blow the fire.
your way out?
Ans-Atter fell and got up I could see
the way out.
Q.-Hsw high from floor to roof of shop?
Ans.-About ten feet.
No tha fha fro
was left in when the building caught fire
before?
Ans.-Do not know.
Q.-When you went to work that night, |
did you see anything that caused you any
uneasiness as regards fire?
Ans.-I did not.
Q.-Was the forge against the wall?
Ans.-It was.
of fire except through No. 3 tunnel?
Ans.-Out through No. 4, but was not ac-
quainted very well with the passage.
Q-At the time of the fire was the chute
closed or opened connecting No. and No. 3
levels?
AnS-Ihere was some ore in it.
Q-Do you know how long it took to open
the chute and take out ore?
AnS-I do not.
Subscribed and sworn to this the 18th day
of Feb, A. D. 1881. DAN. MCKAY.
Barney Baker was next called, and after
being duly sworn, testified as follows:
Am at work in Belmont mine as miner;
started and reached the mine at I o'clock on
the morning of the 18th. When got there,
Mr.. Young told me to 60 up and cut bitches
in the rise. Went up to the rise and came
back. Found the air was sufficiently good
for man to work there.
Q.-Do you know if there was any ore in
the chute?
Ans.-It was nearly all out at o'clock.
Q.-Did you put up ladders, and if so, at
what time?
Ans.-Yes; between 10 and II o'clock
Odd you 60 up Oh the ladders after
hey were put up?
Ans.-I did; went.up to the cross-cut with
Mr.. Wilkinson. He stopped at the cross-cut
md went up about 20 feet further.
Q.-What condition was it in when you got
Ans.-It was quite hot and bad. {
Q.-What did you see when you reached
he place where the men had been at work ]
Ans.-I saw one drill sticking in hole. {
then went down and told them to open No. l
and / wonld bring the bodies down in fif- {
cen minutes. l then met Mr.. Young, and /
e went up with me- The air was then quite t
ool. We went up seventy feet further I
lore or less-than had been before in No. v
level. There we stopped moment, and it
Tas quite hot. Young said, Il wish we had
little fresh air." / said, "We can get it
boye the chute" and we went there. Then b
re went to the east end of the stope. There v
found Mr.. Keegan, with his head against c
,e water pipe, lying on his breast, and Mr.. s.
Dung turned him over. From there we n
ent to the water tank. / told Mr.. Young "
stop there with two of the lanterns and 81
ould go on in. l went in and there b
und the four bodies. The first man II
found was Jack Shorter. He was lying on W
IS breast. The next man was Hugh Me- is
onald who was lying on his back. Next tt
as Thomas Woods, who was lying ON his h
# side, with his mouth near the ground. Il
he next man was Mr.. Laughlin, who was CT
i his knees. Their candle sticks were stuck r.
the tagging, with the candles in them par T
ally burning. s
Q.-How long have you worked in the Bel o.
ont mine? s.
Ans.-Since last September. fl
Q.-Were you at work in No. 81? e.. d
Ans.-I was. Al