Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1889-12-05
THE BURNING ANACONDA.

la
BUTTE, Mont, Nov. 25.-The shafts I
of the Anaconda and St. lawrence mines I
have been closed since Saturday and all
draft shut off from one to the other.
After making an investigation Saturday, ,
Superintendent Carroll descended to the |
50O-ioot level. Finding the timbers all
on fire and hopeless prospect ahead, he
assembled and ordered the shafts Of both
mines closed. This had the effect Of
shutting off the draft and tended to
smother the fire. Later 1t was learned
ffom investigation that the 500 and 700
foot levels were seriously jeopardized, and
so far as it could be done the drifts we're
bulkheaded and every precaution taken
to prevent the spread of the fire. Fear
ing that it would communicate to the
other leads, Superintendent Carroll
arranged for the introduction Of hose into
the mine and proposed to fill them with
steam in hopes If subduiug the fire.
How far this may have been successful
remains to be Seen, as no definate results
have yet been made visable. Mr.. Carroll
believes that the only practical method Of
extinguishing the fires lies in the intro.
duction Of steam aud the cutting of Of
the draft. The latter preventive has
been adopted and to-day he will intro
duce steam. An immense quantity Of
hose, closely wrapped with twine, has
been prepared, and today it vii. be
lowered into the mine.
A careful revision of the payroll
shows five meu-Pagc, Sullivan, Murphy,
Dolan and missing. Anxious
search has been made for Dolap, but
;. without satisfactory results. He can not
be found at his residence, has not been
seen since Saturday, and the prevalent
!. belief is that he, with the. four others,
perished in the mine.
A rumor was current yesterday that at
>, late hour Sunday evening the electric
bell reaching the 800 foot level had been
:, rung, indicating that one or more miners
= = we're alive and calling for aid. Inquiries
at the shaft house settled this question
- negatively and proved conclusively tha
there was no truth whatever in it. Thu
,a air compressor supplying the lower level
=, . has not been in operation for aevera
:. days, and hence no one could exist in th'
l. 800 and 90O.foot levels for the lengtl
', Of time which has transSired between
the hour the accident occurred and th
=. time when it is alleged the bell rang
-. To what extent the fire has invade'
- the mines remaios as yet a matter Q
-, pure conjecture, but the absence Q
, smoke and heat implies that IT has bee
:, gotten under control and will shortly b
subdued. Every possible precaution b,
been taken to prevent its spread, an
!, there is but little apprehension enter
=, tanned that will spread beyond the limi|
:. to which it was originally con6ned. Th
expressed fear that the Ere would con
81. muuicate to every portion Of the mir
~ and close down operations until spriu
:, m is considered as not justified by prese'
=. circumstances. There are good reaso'
for believing that within two weeks Il
Tho Ere will have been suppressed and Il
i'm mine placed in working order. II
~. management is confident Of success
:. that direction and excellent grounds exi
:, >. for belief 10 ruccessful fruition Of th
but hope.
~. With reference to the number Of M
If left beyond the hope Of rescue there is
nd. data upon which to base accurate info
he nation. Five men are known to ha
perished. aud possibly four others M
be have shared their fate, though it is pl
N. bable that the four men unaccounted
di- may have escaped and will yet materi
.fl ire. Meantime suspension Of operatio
of throws between 400 and 500 men 0
ZEN. Of employment. Superintendent Carr
and has adopted every possible precaution
liah !suppress tho dre. and with the iDtrodu
tiou Of steam to day there il Aattssil
Of prospect that success will crown
nor. efforts.
u.l. John Lyons aud Matt Salkvsn, d
re.t two miners Who barely escaped, ere q
nat. Ialisc, though Lyons VA, coasidssed 70
..v highly daseeroas oosditioa yestsrda
pev afterooop.
~ The great disaster sill contiouss to I
the general topic of d,sess'os on q
=. Issrssts, and though there ass nsny Pr
s.e tdisposed 70 give il the nest gloon