The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1888-06-08
CAVE IN THE ST. LAWRENCE.
A Serious Disaster in One of the Great Mines
Of Butte.
Foar Miners Imprisoned and Three Rescued.

Foar Miners Imprisoned and Three Rescued.
About five minutes before noon last Sun
day, says the Inter Mountain, q disastrous
cave occurred in the st. Lawrence mine at
Butte.
For some days past it was noticed that the
surface ground was cracked for . distance OF
about 200 feet, and also that the timbers In
the mine seemed settling, which created con-
siderable alarm among the miners - to the
safety Of the underworkings. When the day
shift went to work yesterday morning, the
situation looked serious to many Of them and
about fifty men returned to the surface and
refused to work, as they intended to take no
chances on the impending danger. A shift
consists Of about 12o men. When the dinner
hour arrived the men were unusually M
ious to get to the surface as quick as possible.
After the cave occurred and the time
keeper had called the roll the location of
three of the missing men was known to be in
a drift nine floors above the 2O0-foot level,
which is reached by means Of ladders from
the level: In . few minutes after the occur
renee Superintendent Carroll started a gang
of men to work from the Anaconda side on
the 400-foot level, which uns into the St.
Lawrence mine at the 200. Over q hundred
men were there ready to work with all their
might and main to release those who were
imprisoned. Three unfortunate men who
were in the mine in a drift ON the 200 foot
level were told by a brother miner to leave
there at twenty minutes before IL o'clock,
but it appears that they didn't want to stop
work before time. Many other men were
working near the anne place, but they left.
While the work Of rescue was progressing
the working party heard q signal come from
above which consisted of rapping on the
wall. One of the victims had found q ham,
mer and gave the usual miners signal for
attracting a~ttention-by striking the rock in
a lumber of quick taps, and then gave three
slow raps, which indicated the number Of
men in that place. The workmen were
then about fifty feet below the drift which
held the unfortunate men, and an upraise
was at once commenced. This was no easy
task, as an opening had to be made through
the caved ground, which gradually dropped
through as soon as any progress was made.
The men worked hard and changed off every
ten minutes. The rescuing party worked
vigorously all night. At half past twelve
when they were within three sets of the men
they opened communication with them by
shouting, and owing to the loose condition
Of the ground a voice could be family heard.
No definite information as to just who was
imprisoned and how many were still living
was learned until this time, when one of the
imprisoned men shouted that three of them
were there and their names were Michael
Sullivan, Patrick Cooley and Patrick O'Neil;
also that they were all right, had plenty of
air but were without light. They said tn at
Tim Harrington was missing and that prob
ably he had been caught in the cave while
descending the ladderway, down which he
started Just before the accident. He has not
yet been recovered.
determined at present, but is supposed to he
400 feet east and west 100 feet east of the
shaft and 800 feet west running into the Ana
conda, aud from the 2OO-foot to the 5OO-foot
levels.
The released men tell a thrilling story of
the occurrence. The st. Lawrence was one
of the best timbered mines in Butte or any
ether camp, and the event demonstrates the
danger Of mining, ever where the greatest
skill and precautions are used. The ave
occasions an immense loss to the Company
i and it is not yet known to the public what
its extent will be, the loss entailed OF what
! will be lone to restore the workings. 1t is
/ creditable to Supt. Carroll that he was the
| first man to greet the imprisoned miners
| through the opening.