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

| of tunnel were all on fire; water was pouring
down the roof inside of door caused by heat
| melting snow; got out and ran down the
| trail turned and saw Mckay looking back
into the tunnel after he had got out; told
him to come down as the magazine was liza
| BILE to explode. He said Braslin was at his
heels and wondered he did not come out;
said he might have turned back; he said he
was gone if he attempted it; the whistle
blowed between three and five minutes after
we got OUT was box of caps exploded
about the time the whistle blew; then start
ed for No. to tell the boys the mine was on
fire; stayed there some time trying to get a
light to go into the tunnel; Mckay came
down and told me to 60 down and tell Mr..
Young; that he would light his candle by
the fire and 60 into the tunnel; came down
opposite Mr.. Young's house and there met
Mr.. Trent. He asked me how the mine
caught fire. he asked me if we closed the
edoor when we came out? told him did not
know as Mckay came out after me.
Odd You have supper that night?
Ans.-I did.
Odd you have fire in the shop?
Ans.-We did.
Q-What did you use in building fire?
Ans.-Chips from timbers.
Odd you leave fire in the forge when
you went to work?
Ans-It was all burned to ashes
Odd you use any snow or water to eX-
.tinguish any remaining fire?
Ans-The men who left last usually put
out the fire..
Q-What time did you commence work in
the Belmont mine?
Ans-Between 18th and Goth November.
Q-Haye you any idea how these previous
fires around the door originated?
Ans.-Suppose it caught fire by sticking
candlestick in post near corking.
Q.-Do you know whether there was
candle left, on the night of the fire, ON or
about the door? .ae,
Ans.-Could not say, as started first into
the mine, except Dan. Mckay, who went
with me.
Q.-How many men were working directly
with you that night?
Ans.-Four.
!. Q.-In the same stope, or level?
Ans-At foot of west stope, near winze
Q.-You first discovered the mine was ON
fire by smelling the rags?
Ans-Yes, sir.
Q-Please state your opinion as regards
the explosion of powder in mine-whether it
would effect or not the men in~the mine?
Ans.-I think it would drive q strong cur
rent Of air into the mine.
Q-Do you think had there been no ow-
der in mine that the heat was suffic to
exhaust all the air for several hours?
Ans.-The heat might have exhausted the
air up to the time No. chute was opened.
Q.-Would the shock from explosion have
any effect upon men inside?
Ans.-I think it would.
Q.-How long after you left mine did
powder explode?
Ans.-About twenty minutes
Q.-Who were working with you?
Ans.-Dan Mckay. JAS Braslin, James
Keegan.
Odd you attempt to alarm the other
men?
Ans.-I did.
Q.-How far was the fire which you ate
supper by from the door.
Ans-Between 80 and 40 feet.
Q.-Do you think there was any danger from
the condition the fire was left in?
Ans.-I did not think there was.
Odd you all eat supper at same time?
Ans Mckay and I was out first and had
supper when the others came out.
Q.-Do you think the fire started in shop?
Ans.-I think it did, as it had caught sew
eral times before.
Q.-Do you think fire could work its way
back from the door (by candle) to mouth of
tunnel
Ans.-Think not, as draught was so strong
Q.-Was any wind blowing?
Ans.-Not much, but it was so cold that it
,aused considerable draught to come into the
nine.
Q-Would that draught effect the fire in
he forge?
Ans-It would not
Q-Why did the fire start or what is your
'eason for supposing it started in the shop?
Ans.-Because it had done it before when
/ few Goals were left.
Q.-Do you know whether the men built
my more fire after you left?
Ans.-I don't think there was, as Pat.
Iaughlin remarked that he thought every
hing safe.
Q.-Did you all go to work together?
Ans.-We did not. /:
Subscribed to this the 18th day Of Febru-
ry, A. d. 1881. ALEX. INNS. I
Dan Mckay was next called and after be-
ng duly sworn testified as follows:
Was at work in Belmont mine on night of I
re in east stope below the level; James
leegan and Braslin at work ten or fifteen !
eet higher up in stope; my partner Alex
nnis started to look for drills; while he was I
one Braslin noticed peculiar smell; was 1
own below him short way; he and his c
artner Jas. Keegan said there must be a fire I
) soon as he spoke / noticed the smell OF j
re, also the four men who were below us i'm v
he other stope; asked Mr.. Braslin which a
ay Alex. went; he said he thought he had a
one inside; said let's get out of here; the v
ur men who were below started as did !; l
got onto the bench where Keegan and q
raslin were at work my light went out as !
lere was strong draught there; asked "
r light, I got one and then Braslin turned Il
Id went ahead of me; Keegan did not start "
passed; Braslins light went out shortly Il
ter he got ON the track: | carried my light l
,hind him thirty or forty feet; smoke was h
zen pretty strong; we walked along slow u
where the tunnel got wide; he said once "
e can't make it; answered, yes we can le
hen we got within a few feet of door he l
Opped or staggered off to one side and OF
'pt right ON by him, stumbled over truck IL
nich was ON track and rushed out through Il
g fire; as soon as | got out turned around
see If Braslin was there; as turned Innis, m
no was ahead of me said to me look out for
agazine, You viii be blown to pieces! H.
any of you have light in going out ?
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