The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-09-13
A SAD
Two Miners Caught IN a Cave.
N al Gallagher Dies-J. Costello
Rescued Uohurt.

SlOrCIv DeIOT6 SIX OClOck p. Ill.
yesterday an unfortunate accident
occurred in the La Plata mine, by
which Neal Gallagher. a kind
hearted man and an old, experienced
and careful miner, lost his life.
Some six or sever years ago this
mine was worked IN the place where
the accident occurred to within
fifteen feet of the surface. The mine
was timbered and in this Wine was
thought to be stulls enough to an
swer every purpose. The mine was
reopened a few months ago. In
working it became necessary, for
some reasons known to miners and
that the uninitiated do not under
stand, to retimber a portion of this
worked out part of the mine. For
this purpose a shaft was let down on
the lead about twenty or thirty feet
from the main shaft and the work of
timbering this pant of the mine
was carried on through this new
shaft. The men had been working
without accident or even fear of dan
ger all day, though they knew that
it was a dangerous part of the mine.
They had during the day put in sew
eral stulIs and were just going down
with timbers to wind up the work of
the day. The foreman of the mine
had only a few minutes before this
been in this part of the mine examin-
ing the timbers, the walls and the
work. He did not notice any signs
of danger more than usual, though
he was careful before he went out to
caution them against taking any
chances that were not absolutely nec-
essary. These men, Gallagher and
Costello, hardly needed being cau-
toned, for they have long borne the
reputation of being very careful and
iudicious miners. Soon after the
foreman left, these men came out to
get timbers, ard were returning
when the cave occurred. They had
gotten down only a few feet when q
Communion named Sullivan, who was
working with them but happened to
be on the surface, heard the two men
call for help, that they were being
caved on. Sullivan gave the alarm
and ran to their assistance. Unmind'
ful Of the danger to themselves, the
men at once went down into the
mine to render whatever assistance
might be possible. They found dai-
laeber pressed against the WALL a
stnll living across his breast. Costello
was caught by the same timber be-
low the knees and in such a way that
he was unable to help himself. The
timber kept pressing more and more
heavily upon Gallagher's breast
Two strong men with crowbars tried
to raise it, but were unable to do any
thing with it or even to prevent 1t
closing in on him. The space Was so
narrow in which the men had 10
work that they could render no
help. Gallagher, poor fellow. soon
found that it would be impossible TO
free him before death should occur
and he go told his friends. He hand
cd his watch to one of them. He told
the foreman, Steve Hughes. that he
had a brother in Sugar Loaf "a ,
and requested Steve to write to him.
tell him about this accident, and also
tell him of a deposit of money IN =
hank in San Francisco. But 90 moi
think that while this CONVEX.
sation was gong on work n"o
ooosod. Nv no means. Hughs n
Sullivan were with him all the time,
working as hard as rortals could
work. listening while they labored'
encouraging the imprisoned men,
hopipg to get them out before tae
accident should prove fatal to either
nj Them. But in about an hour aftel
the rave occurred Gallagher ceased
to speak. 1t is supposed that he dice
soon after. In about an hour and I
half the men succeeded in getting
h stull raised so that Costello wa
taken out. He was, for a wonder
not hurt at all. A few minutes a1te'
the body of Gallagher was taken out
life had left. He was not married,
gas about forty years Of age, and tn
| onlv relative he is known to hav'