Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-08
FLAMES IN 4 COPPER NINE.
Three Miners Smothered in she Burning
Calumet and uecln.

A Uoughton. Mich. special says \ seri-
OILS fire is raging in the Calumet and IIecll
mine at Calumet. The lire was started sat
urday night. At this time the bodies OF
two persons suflOcated in the mine nave
been recovered, and rumOrs are ailOat that
others are missing. The mine cannot be
entered, and all openings OF the surface
nave been sealed III hopes OF smothoring
the fire. Parties attempting 70 reach the
fire have been brought 10 the surface i'm
mcdiatey. No cause Is known. and inccn-
diarism i. suspected. Owing TO the large
extent of openings and the vast quantities
OF lumber used in the mine serious c0use-
qu,nces may result.
A Cleveland (Ohi0) telegram says: Spe-
cia adyices received here tonight from
Hancock, Mich, give the details OF fire
which is now raging in one OF the large
cOppcr mines in that district. The fire
wa, discovered late Saturday night in
di>uscd portion Of the Calumet and Ilecla
mine. in the eleventh level, between Shafts
Nos. 3 and 4. This level ha> not been work
I'd for several years. but during that time
has been utilized - a sort OF workshop for
shaping wooden wedges TO hc used by the
miners. The fire is supposed 10 have
originated among some plies OF chips aad
sbayings that have been allowed to accu-
mulatc.
gang Of men were ordered to 90 down
in The mine on saturday night 10 put out
the fire with common hose connected
with pumps in the cnglne-hOu,c. The
smoke was 80 dense that they were I'M.
able TO proceed but few feet in the
level before they were driven back nearly
smothered. One OF them. Thomas Crib
BILE, was completely overcome, aud sank
10 the ground unconscious, and owing
TO their exhausted condition his COM
rades were obliged TO abandon him to
his fate. All further efforts were given
up that night. saturday morning John
Robson. with several other men, yOlun-
tered TO descend into the mine and recover
the BODY OF Gnbbe. They were no more
successful than the first party. The fire
was still burning. and dense clouds Of
smoke chOked upfhe passages OF the mines.
They started back, but before they reached
the shaft Robson and one other. whose
name is unknown. became unconscious.
and were left 10 their fate by the rest OF
the party, who barely escaped with their
own lives. Another volunteer, Il. Berry
man. then descended the shait, although
warned that it was almost certain
dcalD. lie maze splendid cliOrt
TO recover the bodies OF his unfortunate
comrades. Cropping through hcsuif'ocating
smoke he picked up the bodies OF three
men and deposited them one by one in the
hosting basket, and then. more dead than
alive, he was hoisted 10 the surface. Here
it was found that the two l1st-nImed vie
tins were still alive. There i no hope OF
their recovery, however. Grbble. OF
course, was dead.
There is great danger Of the fire reaching
the large iramway in the main mine. This
Is saturated with oil, and would conduct
the tire to other levels. Being Saturday.
there were few men at work in the mine at
the time, otherwise the loss Of life would
have been much larger. The extent or
progress Of the fire is unknown. The mine
Is filed with smoke, and the shafts are
being closed to prevent draft. This Is
the first underground fire ever started in a
Lake Superior copper mine, and is the first
suspension OF work in this particular mine
since the strike OF 1872. The mine Is
heavily timhered throughout with pine,
and j.. i'm consequence, very inf1mmable.
To-day a large force Of men are at work in
No. ) shaft fighting the fire. The loss will
be heavy.