The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-01-09
OPENING THE BIG MINES
The Fire In the Anaconda and st. Law
renee Believed to be EXtinguiShed.
Difficulties Overcome NV the WOrkWsrn-
Lots of Gas amt steam Hut pO Signs
of res~ Made by the
work men Yesterday.
Special to the standard.

BUTTE. Jan. s.-Thc process Of opening
mp the st. Lawrence and Anaconda miriss
to-day has been slow. IL is the policy of
those in charge to- feel their way, go slow
~ and cautiously So as to avoid the
danger of tanning any embers into flames
or increasing the violence of the fire in
case il should still he burning. Couse-
q,cntly not SO much progress has been
made to-day as was made when the mine
was opened 81 days ago. Since December
.. steam has been continually jumped
into the mines day and night. The shafts
meanwhile have been watched for indica-
tious of gas and smoke. Several days
ago il was determined to make n second
cnieavor tn enter the mines and recover
if possible the bodies of the five men who
were entumbcd i'm the Anaconda. On
Monday steam was shut of. From that
time until last night the closest possible
watch was kept for indications of smoke
or fire. but none appeared, and the work
began last night at IA late hour when
the buIkhead at the forty-foot
level of the Anaconda and the top of the
st. Lawrence shaft were opened. and re-
manned So during the night.
From the Anaconda shaft there arose
n volume of gas and steam. such that no
effort was made To- descend. The steam
has continued To- ascend all day. but in n
diminishing volume. From the 81. Law
renee. shaft arose "A lesser cloud of steam,
hut there was apparently no gas. A crew
of men was slowly lowered To the 100 foot
level of the 1T. Lawrence. They remained
a few minutes. and then. ON a signal. were
hoistcd IL the surface. They exported
little difficulty or Inconvenience, except
as resulted from the oppressivcucss of the
steam. A short time afterward, a crew
was lowered To- the ~ level and in safety
and with little Inconvenience.
\ half hour afterwarl "A crew was sent
down to the ir level. ON returning. they
reported much difficulty from the hot air
and steam. at that point, and We're unable
tn remain there long. 1t was then ascer-
tanned H. lowering a line that water had
risen in the -. Lawrence shaft To- within
three or four feet of the go foot level. 1t
IL concluded that the Anaconda is likewise
flooded Tn between the 500 and 500 level,
since the go foot level of the st. Lawrence
connects with the so of the Anaconda.
No signs IF fire had been discovered and
on ascertaining the extent of the tiooding
of the mine. efforts were directed to asctr-
tain if the fire had extended upwards
from the Co.,. Eudeavors were immedi-
ately made to place electric lights at the
levels down to the 400. Difficulty was ex-
pcricuced in accomplishing this. and the
work consumed the remainder of the fore
noon and until b:3D o'clock this afternoon.
by that time il was found possible to
work at the ivlfoot level and men then
began removing the buikheads at the 400.
IL was found that candle and torches
could not be kept lit at this point, but
with iudoInitable perseverance, this obsta-
Gle was overcome likc SO many others.
An electric light was rugged up, hose at
tachcd to the coinpressors and air forced
to the point visited 10y the men. The men
occasionally returned to the surface and
| reported that there were no signs of
smoke in the shaft ut that point. Late in
the afternoon the bulkhcads in the cross
cut AT the 400 had been removed.
The m n began working their way along
the level, but encountered gas in such
quantities that il was decided to let that
part of the mine vcutiiat. before working
farther. They have discovered no signs
of fire thus far. The bulk head and shaft
will bc left open Tonight and il is tn be-
licvcd the men will he able to proceed
lower tomorrow.
The hardest part of the work will. il i~
thought. he to progress from the 400 level
to- the scene of the fire. Ii cannot be
definitely stated whether or not there is
still fire in the mine, but no sign of il has
been discovered. Deputy Mining Inspec-
tor Trevarthen of Helena was present at
tn" opening of the mine.
a STANDARD reporter visited the st.
Lawrence min" at midnight. Air was
being pushed into the mine and prepare
tions being made to pump water from the
Gpfoot level and turn il ON the iDU-foot
level. These measures are for the pur-
pose of cooling and purifying the air at
the 4uu-foot level. Ii il reported to be like
an oven at that point. No fire has yet
been discovered.