The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-12
ROSLYl ASKS FOR HELP.
An Appeal on Behalf Of the Families
Of the Miners Killed.
FURTHER DETAILS OF THE DISASTER.
The Report Of the State Inspector Shows That
the Mine Was Well Ventilated and in
Coed Condition for Working.
Special to THE MoRN1No CALL.


AT midnight. much to the regret of the
rescuers, they were compelled TO cease their
labors owing to the excessive accumula-
tions of fredamp, but early this morning
the work OF rescue was resumed.
There are seven drifts in the stope, and
the IA bodies thus far recovered were found
between the first and fifth. The sixth and
seventh have not been reach ed.
The rescuing party are building brat
tice, which caused several hours delay.
1t is expected large number of bodies
will be found when The last two drifts are
reached. as most of the men were at work
there at the time Of the explosion.
The work of rescue proceeds slowly. The
men are carefully using canvas and lumber
TO head the fresh air to the front, where it
is being pumped into the mine.
The scene at the morgue is one to touch
the hardest heart The sight of two little
children walking hand in hand looking for
papa" of weeping women seeking hus-
bands, fathers and brothers among the
charred and mutilated remains, is a most af-
fecting one.
General Manager Kangley of the North
ern Pacific Coal Company has announced
that the company Will relieve ali immediate
wants of the distressed.
General Manager Kangley of the coal
company arrived from Tacoma this morn
ing with a corps OF undertakerS and two
boxcars loaded with collins. The company
will bear the entire expense of inter-
ment.
Relief Work Is Slow.
Justice Gamble of Clealum impaneled a
Coroner's jury this morning and after view
ing the bodies recovered adjourned. The
jury will convene from time 10 time as the
bodies are taken out, but no inquest will be
held until the bodies of the remaining en-
tOmDed miners are recovered.
Relief work is progressing as randly as
the fearfully wrecked condition of the mine
interior viii permit, but possibly another
4S hours will be consumed before the lowest
level is reached.
Various rumors as TO the cause of the ex-
plosiOn are rife, but it is altogether prob
able that the true nature of the disaster
and the circumstances that led to it will
left to tell the story. The most
reasonable conclusion that can be arrived
at is that the working miners Unexpectedly
encountered strong gas feeder. Reports
have been circulated TO the effect that the
slope work has been considered unusually
dangerous for the past three months; out
series Of interviews with the men who have
been working steadily in that department
diseountenance the statements 1t is a sig
nihcant fact that q great, majority Of the
men who have been working in the slope
were skilled miners. Many of them having
formerly been superintendents and fOremen
themselves.
The construction of the new slope has
been practically under the direction of
George Harrison, the mine boss, and az
present acting superintendent
Not Dangerous at Auy Time.
In an interview with Mr.. Harrison, your
correspondent was given to understand that
the mine was not considered dangerous at
any time. The works are examined thor
oughly every morning by competent fore
man, and reports of the condition of all
parts of the mine are placed on bulletin
board at the entrance. III there is
any danger the miners are forbidden
to 90 in until the foreman removes
that danger. These bulletins are recorded
in book as well as on the board, and these
reports are signed daily at noon by the
mine boss. Gas is removed from room by
stretching canvas through the center and
then creating an inward and outward air
course. On the morning OF the day Of the
explosion gas was reported in the sixth west
entry and the sixth east manway. All
these gases were removed by Foreman Shaw
and the men were put TO work at Z A. y.
At u o'clock noon Harrison stated that
the mine was entirely Tree from gas The
7-o'clock shift went off at o'clock, and the
800 clock shift had just entered and got
TO work when the explosion occurred. The
slope is Is feet wide and 1000 feet long,
with an average downward pitch Of IS deg.
Double side entries turn away at every 500
feet, one being an air course and the other
an entry proper. Manways are driven one
on each side of this, 80 feet from the slope,
leaving 50-foOt solid pillar between them
and the slope. There are ways to furnish
air and TO permit the miners to travel
to aud from their work, so that they
will keep off the slope. A large cyclone fan
forces air into the slope.
Report of the state Mine Inspector.
State Mine Inspector Morgan, in report
l. 1orF lit fAa1 -. til.
December last, says:
"ROSlyn No. 1.-The water level workings
were exhausted before l had my first visit
there. No. 1 is therefore confined to the
slope, which is down to depth Of 2700 feet.
As the slope descended entries were Opeped
at intervals of 300 feet to the east and west
There are now four entries opened on
the east AID west and not a single
room is worked in each entry at
a distance of 80 feet from the slope.
Travelling roads are opened connecting all
the levels to the third, and the other levels
will be completed In due time. This forms
an ingresS and egress for 250 men and mules
upon each particular side without coming
near the hosting slope. In the near future
the foot of the slope Will be connected 10
large shaft, thereby having two separate
openings to the mine containing from IS to
| Is entries. Ventilation is produced by
new 10-foot Cyclone fan. The outlet for
! this fan has been changed from an eleYa-
tion to point near the air course, which
materially adds TO its effectiveness and in
creases the volume of air. leaving is done
| by double engine
The interior OF the slope was so badly
| wrecked that it will require at least a
month to place 1t in proper shape for work.
| 1t is thought that other bodies will be
reached by tomorrow morning. The loss
] to property cannot be estimated at this
| time but will aggregate many thousands of
| dollars.
This morning Mayor Miller appealed for
| help to the people at large through the
| Mayors Of Seattle. Spokane and Portland,
responses to this call for relief have been
| literally made Portland has already tele-
graphed $780, and several individuals have
contributed sums ranging from $50 to 500.