Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-01-31

y
done to reach the bodies as speedily as
possible. All hope of finding any of
the buried miners alive has long since
been abandoned. Threats were made
this evening against Superintendent
Robinson and Mine Boss Gibson, prin-
cipally against the latter, and serious
trouble is feared. Robinson is at the
mine experimenting the work of
searching for the bodies No special
fears are entertained for his safety,
but strong guard has been placed
about the residence of Gibson to pre-
vent violence. The threats do not
come from men engaged in the mine,
but some who have been discharged
take this opportunity to make trouble.
The scene at the mine is a rost pitiful
one. Wives and children of buried
men still hover around the entrance
to the mine, and their lamentations
add to the distressing scene.
SEARCHING FOR THE DEAD.
DENVER, Col, Jan. 9.-For thirty
six hours a force of from twenty to
thirty men has been constantly at
work searching for the dead bodies of
the miners buried in the Crested Butte
mine. The work is necessarily very
slow, as the mine is badly choked up
with piles of displaced timber, heaps
of coal, rock, and other distractions.
At noon to-day ten bodies had been
found. These were all in the main
entry, and being subjected to the full
force of the blast their bodies were ter
ribly burned and blackened. In sew
eral cases arms and legs We're found
broken, and the bodies otherwise mu-
tilated. Ia this entry were also found
the carcasses of nine mules and a
large number of empty coal-cars which
had been battered out of all shape.
The workmen gained entrance to
chamber No. 1, this morning, but
found no bodies there. Searching
further, eighteen bodies We're found,
almost in a heap, in the air passage
leading to the up-cast near the en-
trance, The men, alarmed but not in
iured by the explosion, had evidently
tried to reach the furnace-room, and
were overcome by afterdamp when
within two hundred feet of it, Fifty
feet further back six more bodies were
found. All had evidently been suf-
located, and some had tied handker-
chiefs over their mouths. This makes
a total of thirtyfour bodies found up
to this time, and includes all who
were at work in chamber No. l. These
bodies are now being brought out to
the main entry, and will soon be con
veyed to the surface.
The workmen will then begin the
search for bodies in chamber No. 2.
This latter is further into the mine,
and is undoubtedly where the eXplo-
sion took place. 1t is expected that
the bodies there will be found badly
burned 1t is now known that there
were ffty-nine men and boys in the
mine. To the list of names sent last
night may be added David Thomas,
John Thomas, and Miles Roach,
which makes the list complete, except
one. Among the killed were two
boys, Tommy Lyle and William
Meath, each about ~ years, and Nor
gan Meath, II years. The two form
err were gatekeepers and the latter a
driver.
The cause of the accident can not
be definitely told at this writing. AS
before stated, the mine has been sub
iect to gas, but the owners have done
everything possible to overcome this
by the use of all the latest and most
approved appliances for mine ventila-
ton, and it was considered one of the
best ventilated mines in the country.
1t was examined by an inspector
about six weeks ago, and in his report
he stated that it had the worst air and
best ventilation of any coal-mine in
the states. The owners claim that
the air supply was more than
four times the amount required
by law. The fireman made his reg
| ular rounds yesterday morning, be
fore the men went to work, and found
small quantity of gas in three
rooms. In two of these the men were
warned and given safety-lamps. The
miner who belonged in the third was
told not to 90 in until a break in the
brattice caused by letting down a car
the night before, could be repaired.
The carpenter came out of the mine
to get material to mend the brattice,
and just as he reached the open air
the explosion occurred. 1t is thought
that the miner disregarded orders and
went into the room with a lamp, caus-
ing the explosion.
OF the men killed, eight or nine
have families, but quite number Of
Others have families in the east. As
fast as the bodies are brought out
Il ey are to be taken to the city hall,
where an inquest will be held to-mor-
row. Many of the unfortunates be
longed to the Masons and Odd-k'el-
lows, and all unclaimed bodies viii
probably be buried by these socie-
| ties.
a new danger was discovered last