Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1881-03-03
THE BELMONT DISASTER.
Testimony Before 'Fhe CorOner's Jury

The following testimony before the Coro
ner's Jury relating to the Belmont disaster
we publish by request. Legislative proceed
} ings and other important matters have pre-
vented its earlier publication
Territory of Montana, County of Lewis an
Clarke-SS.
An inquisition holden at Belmont, in th
county of Lewis and Clarke, on the 10Th da,
of February, A. D. 1881, before Geo. r. Wood
ward, Coroner. Joe. Young was called a
witness, and after first being duly sworn tes
titled as follows:
Am foreman of Belmont Mining Company
and am miner by occupation. Friday morn
ing was called up at 2 o'clock with party
who said the blacksmith's shop at No. , tun
mel was on fire; dressed and hurried to thu
mine; started with shovels to No. 3 tunnel
tried to close mine, tried to close mouth of No
, tunnel to keep fire out of mine if possible
and found it could not be done; next wen1
to No. tunnel; run ore out of chute thai
connects No. ! tunnel with No. 3 tunnel
found chute was filled with ore; thought meI
were alive in No. 3 tunnel, but found they had
turned water into the chute which carries
ore from to / when | found no air passing
through the chute to No. 3, / gave up al
hopes of finding the men alive; run all ore
out of chute, knowing that was the only show
to get the bodies; got chute clear, and lad
ders in got up in No. level through chute
about o'clock and found air very bad ; found
four dead bodies in west end Of No. 3 tunnel
position of bOdies-tWO men with face down
| lying on their breast, one man lying on his
side, and one man partly sitting up; found
one man in No, 3, toward mouth of tunnel.
Juror-How far from mouth of tunnel?
Ans-About one hundred and fifty feet,
with face in water; there is still one body in
mine that we could not get, whose name is
James Braslin; thought saw his body lying
back of cave when first went to mine; be-
lieve said body was burned to ashes No fur
ther statement.
Juror.-How far was chute filled with ore
at time of fire?
Ans.-About twenty feet.
Q.-How did the fire originate?
Ans.-It has been customary for men to
build fire at blacksmith's shop to warm tea
and eat supper think that was the cause
of the fire.
Q.-Was shop adjoining mouth of tunnel? :?
Ans.-It was.
Odd you, as boss OF mine, ever forbid a
fire there?
Ans-No, sir, l did not; have cautioned
them to be careful with their fires.
Q:-Was there any wind blowing?
Ans.-Not much, if any.
Q.-Was there magazine near mouth OF
tunnel?
Ans.-There was.
Q-What quantity of powder in magazine?
Ans.-Fifteen pounds of giant and fifty
pounds Of black powder exploded in twenty
minutes after | heard of the fire.
Q.-Did men suffer death from explosion,
heat, or lack of air?
Ans-I think the men died from foul air,
caused by fire; don't think the powder left
in magazine had anything to do with their
death was no fire where the four bodies
were found in the west end of No. 3 tunnel;
the man found toward mouth of No. } tunnel
died from the effects of fire and smoke.
Q.-Was blacksmith shop in safe place,
with ordinary care, to have fire?
Ans-Considered it was as it was GUS
tomary for years to have fires there to Go
blacksmithing; building was well supplied
with water to put out any fire which might
occur if seen in time.
Q.-Why was work commenced at mouth
of No. tunnel first?
Ans.-Work was commenced for the pur-
pose of stopping fire from getting into the
mine where these men were supposed to be.
Q.-You thought they were alive?
Ans.-I did at the time.
Q.--When you went to No. / chute did you
find any air passing through?
Ans.-I did not.
Q.-What time did you find that out?
Ans.-About o'clock on the morning of
the 18th.
Odd you consider the men dead at that
time?
Ans-Did not, but gave up hopes Of get
ting them alive.
Q.-Was that the only way to rescue them
Ans.-It was the only chance at least it
was the only opening at the time.
Q.-Why did not you commence work
there first?
Ans.-The reason did not was because |
thought best to put out the fire if possible.
Q.-Was everything done the best it could
he under the circumstance?
Ans.-It was.
Odd you at any time previous to the
18th of February, hear any one express fears
of the shop?
Ans-Never heard any of my men say
about it, but since the fire have
heard men say there had been several fires at
the same shop; don't think the report true,
as had seen no signs of any fire in building.
Subscribed to this 18th day of Febru-
airy, A. ID. 1881. JOS. l.. YOUNG.
l.. c. Trent was next called and after first
being duly sworn testified as follows:
Am Superintendent of Belmont Mining
Company First / heard of fire the foreman
IF mill called me and said No 3 blacksmith
shop was on fire. Looked at watch and found
twas 2 o'clock. Soon as dressed started to
nine. Overlook Mr.. Young, foreman of mine;
,lso met miner coming from mine whose
name is Mckay He stated blacksmith shop
1t No was on fire, and had set fire to tun-
lel, and that he and his partner were barely
.ble to get out. Also stated there were six
men inside Asked him if door leading into
10. 3 was closed He said don't know. / /;
Knew that if precautions We're not taken to
hut it, it was not shut; and if door was not I
hut it lessened the chances of saving mems
ives very much The door was there for
purpose of checking violent draft in cold
weather. Went to mine as soon as
possible and met two trammers; don't know |
heir names or who they were-was so excited {
It time. One of them asked me if it would
lot be best to run ore olt of No. 3. | said !
,es; do it Immediately. Then went I
0 No. and when nearly there was checked ,
" Mr.. Young, foreman, who said there was