Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1893-10-04
CAUGHT IN A FLOODED PIT.
Terrible Disaster in the Mansfield Mine
Near CRYSTAL Falls. Mich.

Near Crystal Falls, Mich.
CRYSTAL FALLS, Mich, Sept. 29.-The
most disastrous accident in the history
of mining operations in Northern Wis
consin and the Michigan Peninsula oc
cured last evening, when the Mans
field Mine, near this city, caved
in, letting in the current of
the Michigamme River. Every
man in the drift was caught
by the flood and persisted. The dead
number between forty and sixty. The
exact extent of the loss of life will not
be known for some hours, as the force
is constantly changing and the list of the
miners at work is not to be had.
The accident occurred at 9 o'clock last
night by the bursting of the river bed.
The mine filled with water in two hours
and only three of the men at work
escaped. They were III the shaft and
were literally blown out by the rushing
water and air, which made it impossible
for rescuing party to leave the cage
for the rescue of the others. 1t is i'm
possible now to obtain names of the
drowned men but thirty-seven are alb
solutely known to be dead. Nearly all
are Italians and Swedes.
The Mansfield mine is located seven
miles west of this city. 1t is one of the
Schlesinger group and is operated by
Corrigan, Ives 4 Co., of Cleveland.
The mine reaches out under the river,
but the earth between the workings
and the stream was supposed to be OF
such thickness as to make the flood
inc of the mine impossible, and no
extra precautions had been taken
against disaster of this kind. The
night shift of men wentinto the mine at
the usual hour and were deep in the pit
when the break occurred. As no one
escaped when the break occurred 1t is
not known whether or not the men had
any warming of the impending ca-am-
ity. but it is not considered possible.
The fee of the Mansfield mine Is
owned by the Caledonia Mining Com
pany, corporation organized at Flor
ence, Wis. The stock of this company
is meinly owned bv Edward keyes, A.
T.. Guensberg and DR.. Bond, all of Flor
enCe.
When the operators of the Mansfield
first began to take ore out below the
the river level, people used to remark
that some accident of this kind would
happen, for at an early stage OF the
mines development the miners began
to drift under the bottom OF
the stream. The main shalt was
so close to the Michigamme that
very short trough served to convey
to the river the water that the pumps
raised. The ore outcrops and forms
part of the river bottom at that point.
The Mansfield is not a very deep mine,
butts down to the fourth or fifth level.
EsCANApA, Mich, Sept. 29.-About
o'clock last night the Mansfield mine,
located about seven miles west Of Crystal
Falls. cayed in under the Mlchlgamme
River, letting the entire current
in the mine. Between fifty and
sixty men were in the mine
at the time of the accident. Only
twelve are reported to have reached
the surface alive. The mine is one OF
the best on the range and it is thought
will be entirely ruined as it will be I'M
possible to control the water.
The latest accounts from the mine
say that forty-tive miners were at work
in the mine. OF this number twenty
eight are known to be dead.
The cavern is about 80 feet
in diameter and the mine is entirely
filled with water to the river level and
it is Impossible for any one to be alive.
Following is a partial list OF the dead:
w. III. PIERCE.
s. JOHNSON.
NJ. HARRINGTON.
A. FORDsANI.
S. PETERS.
+. JOHNSON.
SAMUEL JOHNSON.
F. Rocco
SHELTNo ZADRA.
PETER FURY.
NICK FORTONo.
CHARLES PORT.
JOHN REGULA.
JAMES STRAGMAN.
Ole CARLSON.