Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-07
DOWN IN THE DEPTHS.
Three Lives Sacraficed Because-sf an
Insecure Rope.

The Goldsmith Min the Scene of an Awful
Disaster-What the Jury Say.
Yesterday merning one Of those terrible
accidents that are a part Of a miners life
occurred at the Goldsmith mine near
Walkerville, the result being the death Of
three hearty, stalwart men. The victims
we're Atwater Lawrence, Fritz Deel and
James Reegins. At the mine a bucket is
used instead OF a cage, and at 7 O'Clock the
three men entered the vehicle on their way
to work AS usual. The shaft is 22O feet
deep and the rigging was supposed to be
entirely secure, although the management
had on the ground a new wire rope ready to
he placed in position in connection with the
hosting apparatus. Mr.. Hoar was hand
ling the engine when the men entered the
bucket and according to his statement they
must have descended one hundred and
seventy feet before the accident occurred.
He gauges his theory by the time usually
occupied in the descent and thinks that it |
is reasonably correct. At about the time |
that would have been occupied in
reaching q point within fifty feet of the !
level Mr.. HOar noticed that the rope slack |
ened and at once concluded that an acct |
dent had occurred and so told Mr.. Bohme,
the top man, by eXclaining. 'the rope has |
broken and three men are killed." A Sec
ond later his suspicion was verified ard
the two in a state of nervous excitement
rushed to the residence OF Atwood Law
rpuce, the foreman OF the mine and notified
hiru Of the occurrence. There was natur-
ally considerable excitement and it WAS
some time before it was decided how to res
cue the victims. Finally a new bucket
was rugged and a man sent down the shaft
to ascertain the condition of affairs. The
sight that met his eyes was appalling 10
even the stout heart of a miner. The three
men who had so shortly before been speci-
mems OF perfect manhood were lying in the
mud and water almost unrecognizable.
They W. re crushed and bleeding, one dead,
another unconscious, and the third in the
a.ohies Of death. Acloseinspection showed
that Lawrence had been instantly killed,
that Dell, though conscious, was dying,
and before he could be taken to the sur
face. although he uttered a few
words. he died in the pit. Reegins
showed considerable vitality, and was as [
soon SIS possible hoisted to the surface, and
medical assistance summoned, but the .
shock had been too severe, aEd after lin
gering several hours, in an unconscious &
condition. ne died, not haVlng SpOke Il
word. The other two men had in the !
meantime been brought up and the man =
gled bodies laid upon the foor and the :.
coroner, DR.. Amsden, summoned. I
A jury, consisting of NJ ssrs. Kessler, q
Gates, Reynolds, Frances, Woods and r
BelIinger, was ~empanelled, and after exam '
ing into the circumstances and hearing the t
testimony Of Engineer Hoar and Topman
Bohme, returned a verdict that the acct
dent was unavoidable, and that no blame #
c uld attach to any one. The rope broke a
exactly at the eye OF the handle of the .
bucket, and it is supposed that in the de. \
,ent the men graphing with each other was \
the cause OF all meeting their tragic deaths a
Dir. Lawrence was a brother-in-law OF h
Geo. Tong, and a brother Of the foreman OF t
the mine, was 2S years old and leaves a b
and one child who reside at Walker a
Vile. t
Mr.. Rcegins was a comparatively young n
nan and leaves q wife but no children. ="
Mr.. Dell was about 40 years of age, but q
was unmarried. He has a sister in the v
east who was advised Of his untimely taking
IF by telegraph. After the inquest the
body Of Reegins was removed to his home d
and those OF Lawrence and Dell were taken h
o Undertaken Kirby to be prepared for ig
Interment. After they had been placed in W
as presentable condition as possible they .
were taken to the residence of Mr.. Tong, y
which place the funeral will take place. The Il
mother OF Mr.. Lawrence is at present re- -
siding at Big Hole and a messenger was a
to that point Immediately to apprise y
Ter OF the sad fact. -,