The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-09-30
TMENIY-EIGHT LOST.
The Awful Death that Overlook
Iron Ore Miners
IN TIE MICHIGAN MINING REGIONS.
Forty Men Were Enmtombed BY q
Sudden cave.in of the AIanStleld
Mine, Only Twenty Getting out
Before the Waters Rushed. ON
Thom7-The Bodies of tho Lost
Miners viii Mover be Found.

caYsrS1 RA11s, NICE, Sept. GA.
mine casualty without parallel in the
annals in the mining industry in this
country, if not the world, occurred as
the Mansfield, the only producer OF
beSsemer ore in the Crystal Falls
mining district, and located six miles
from this city, at 8 o'clock last night.
The mine cayed in from the top to the
bottom, burying twenty.eight worllmen
and entailing a loss Of S600,000. The
Mansfeld's shafts are located on the
west bank Of the Mighigamme river,
and the working levels of the mine ran
directly under the stream and parallel
with 1t for distance OF several hum
dred feet. The first level was 50 feet
below the bottom Of the river, and the
lower levels, Ave in number, ran
parallel to the first, the bottom being
42s feet below the surface Of the water.
The five upper levels have been sloped
out in the progress Of the work, leaving
only timbers and pillars Of ore to bear
the mighty weight of the floors OF ore
above.
The accident is supposed to have been
caused by the giving away Of the tim
bers on the fifth level, allowing those
above 70 follow, and at last the river 70
pour in upon the fated men. After the
cave in the river bed below the mine
was dry for an hour and forty minutes.
ONLY TWENTY ESCAPED.
Forty-eight men descended the shaft
last night OF this number twenty
escaped an awful death, and twenty
eight found watery graves. Their bodies
will never be recovered. Most OF the
survivors were at work on the bottom
level, which has not yet been sloped
out, and consequently did not cave when
the levels above fell The men heard
the crash Of the cave, and started for
the ladder-way. All but four on this
level reached the ladder-way before the
torrent Of water down the shaft cut of
their avenue Of escape.
KNEW WHAT WAS COMING.
Tony Buletto, the skip tender, was
standing with Frank Rookie. a night
boss, at the shaft on the fourth level.
They heard the crash and realized what
was coming. Rookie went into the DRIFT
to inform his men OF their danger but
did not return. Buletto came to the
surface in the skip alone. Andrew Sui.
liyun, another night boss, or foreman,
was on the sixth level at the time OF
the accident He realized. his danger
and called to his men to follow him
quickly. About four men onthis level
reached the laddersway in safety. as
they ascended, however, they were
nearly sutfocated by the water pouring
down the shaft so great was the air
PRESSURE They were able to breathe
only as each landing place was reached,
and came to the surface more dead
than alive.
Mine Inspector Roberts states that
his deputy had been employed on the
mine and had given the work daily at.
tention. He says that no has visited
the mine personally at the required 10.
teryals, and that the proper amount OF
timber had been placed in position:
at is only clear demonstration, said
he, "thatthe etimbering system otmining
cannot be employed in that sort OF
ground. The company has taken all
necessary precautions in the conduct Of
the work"
The Mansfield was developed about
six years ago, and has worked continu-
ally since. It was a producer OF high
grade bessemer ore, and is estimated
TO have contained 100000 tons when
the accident occurred. To-day it is 9
worthless pit, only marked by a small
bay, sunk from the natural bed OF the
Michigamme river by the cave.
Following is a partial list Of the dead:
w. Il. Pierce, Fl. johnson, NJ. Har-
rineton, A. Fordsani, S. Peters, F. john
son, Samuel Johnson. +. Rocco, sheltno
Zadra, Peter Fury, Nick Forloro, Charles
Pope, John Ragula, James stragmaI,
Ole Carbon, Joseph Kolla. John Holl-
strom, B. Fortunate, John Kirphu, John
Randalo John Warner, o. Linqutst,
Chris Arcengelo. A. stepheno, August
Cologuns, A. Caustaulo, W. Zadea, Celest
Negrtl. 5l