The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-12-08
The Fire in the st, Lawrence Mine
Extinguished and the Loss
Only Nominal.
Shafts Opened and To-Day the
Bodies Of the Victims Will
Be Recovered.
The Project OF Subdulng the Flames b,
steam After the shafts Wew
sealed Successful.

Bur1E, Doc. Especial. The uncor-
tain,y in regard 10 the Anaconda mine fire
was expelled to-day and tonight there exists
no doubt whatever that the fire in the great |
mine has been extinguished and the belief |
is prevalent that tho damage 10 the mine
will be merely nominal. The result is
justification Of tho management of the mine
in the fullest sense of tie word There has
never been FIRE IN a large mine 80 ably
handled. From the start Of the FIRE, Just
two weeks ago, until to-day. the
steam from seven large boilers
has been constantly forced through
tho air compressor pipes into all parts of
the mine, NIL the outlets having been
blocked. The old discovery shaft Of the
Anaconda Is located a short distance west
of the main shaft, This shaft wus boarded
up 10 height OF about thirty feet above
the ground in order TO create draft and
carry of the foul gasses generated in the
workings by the fire and steam.
This shaft WAS opened first. al G O'Clock
this morning. Al o'clock gang Of men
went 10 work 10 open the main sinft
Of the Anaconda. These men were
under the direct supervision Of Foreman
Carroll. and the only witness present wrs ].
h. rrevarthn, deputy inspector Of mines
for the state Mr.. yreynrtben had been
notified by telegraph that the mine was 10
be opened, and was present nj the invitation
Of the management. The shaft of the Ana
conda had been stopped up at distance Of
forty feet from the surface. -Four layers Of
heavy plank were laid across Che shaft; on
top uf these came sacks and then dirt and
sacks were piled IN 20 the depth of five or
six feet. II took two hours 10 remove this,
owing 90 the limited number of men who
could be put TO work.
The shaft was clear from top To bottom
by . 9o'clock. The mine is brilliantly light.
ed 10y electricity and the fhaft was plainly
visible from top to bottom, The water in
the sump below the l,0o0-foot leyol could be
plainly seen ~ q il became evident that the
water in ehe mine had NOT risen more than
from ten 10 6fteen feet. II WIS also no
ticed that The timbers near the surface
were dripping wet. The upper levels
Of the Anaconda are naturally dry,
~ il was ne once seen that the mine had
been completely and successfully flooded
10y the steam. No smoke whatever issued
from the shaft, ard but little gas escaped.
Fifteen minutes nftcr the opening of the
shaft dog was placed in the cage aud
lowered totbo s00-foot level, the object be-
ing 10 discover if the air in the mine was
pure enough % sustain life. The cage was
held nj the $40 for ten minutes and then
taken out The dog WIS alive
when tho cage reached the
surface, but died only a
moment later After waiting half AN hour
n second dog was lowered to the iOO-foot
level, and left there for ten minutes. He
come out alive. hut WAS terribly sick and
unable 10 stand. He will get over the trip,
however. Al this point several miners vol
ontcered TO go down, but their offer WAS
pcremptorily rejected 10y Mr.. Carroll. The
shaft having been opened nearly two hours,
and there being no smoke or other evidence
that the fire hnd been entinguished.
Az II O'Clock orders were given 20 open
the st. Lawrence shaft. Al o'clock eight
men hnd opened this shaft, which WIS Sc
curely scaled in The snmo manner ns the
other. Dogs were lowered into this shat,
and came up alive, and two men were let
down. They promptly signalled TO be lifted
to the surface, however, and reported bad
air The cage was then lowered and raised
rapidly a few iimeg in the shaft and a cur
rent of air was thus created, which drove
the foul mir out. Miners were again low
cred and orders given 10 clear the ebulkheads
in all the levels connecting the ANA
conda and st. Lawrence This will create
a draft Of air down the 50. Lawrence and
up the Anaconda. The mir compressions
will then be get 10 work and the Anaconda
will be free from the poisonous yapors and
Passes in its depths
! he bodies Of the miners who LOST their
lives week ago can then be recovered, but
this will not be until some time tomorrow.
So far ms known there nre but five men in
the mine, Timothy Kelleher, Edward Dolan,
Jem Sullivan, John Murphy and Harry
Page. The sixth victim, John Lyons, died
Of his wounds after lying IN an unconscious
state for Just one week. The cntombed will
be given public burial, NJ the Miners
union has requested all the mines Of the
camp 10 close down on the day Of tho inter-
ment. Tbese men lost their lives in he
roic manner, and there is O general desireto
pay them last tribute Of respect