Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1893-10-04

CRYSTAL FALLS. Mich. Sept. GA
mine casualty without parallel in the
annals OF the mining industry OF this
country, Il not the world. occurred at
the Mansfield, the only producer OF
Bcssemer orc in the Crystal Falls min
ing district and located six miles from
this city. at o'clock Thursday night
The mine caved in from the top 20
the bottom, burying twenty-eight
$500. 600
The Mansfield shafts are located on
the west bank of Micgigame river. and
the working levels Of the mine ran d.
rcctly under the stream and parallel
with 10 for distance OF several hun
dred feet The first level was thirty
five feet below the bottom OF the
river. and the lower levels. five in
number, ran parallel 20 the first
the bottom being 42s feet below
the surface 81 the water, the Ave
upper levels having been sloped out In
the progress of the work. leaving only
timbcrs and pillars OF ore 20 boar the
mighty weight OF the floors OF ore
above. The accident is supposed To
have been caused 10y the giving way Of
the timbers ON the fifth level. allowi ing
those above TO follow, and at last the
river TO pour in upon the fatcd men.
After the cave the river bed below the
mine was dry for an hour and forty
minutes
Forty-eight men descended the shaft
Thursday night or this number tvonty
escaped an awful death and twenty
eight found watcry graves Their bod
les will never Ice recovered Most Of tho
survivors were at work ON the bottom
level which had not been slopcd
out, aud consequently did not cave
when the levels above fell. Tho mon
heard the crash OF the cave and started
for the Underway. All but four OF this
level reached the Underway before the
torrent OF the water down the shaft
cut of their avenue OF escape.
Tony Bulletto. the slSip-tcndcr, was
standing with Frank Rocco. night
boss at the shaft, ON the fourth level
They heard the crash and realized
what was coming. Rocco went into
the drift 90 inform his men OF their
danger, but did not return. Bulleto
came 10 the surface in the skip alone
Andrew Sullivan. another night boss
or foreman. was ON the sixth level at
the time OF the accident lie realized
his danger and called 20 his men 10 fol-
low him quickly.
All but four men on this level reached
the Underway in safety. As they as
ccndcd. however, they were nearly suf-
located by the water pouring down the
shaft, 80 great was the air pressure.
They were able % breathe only as each
landing place was reached. and came
20 the surface more dead
than alive Mine Inspector Rob
erts states that his deputy has
been employed in the mine and has
given the work daily attention. Ho
also says that lac has visited the mino
personally at the required intervals.
and that the proper amount az timber
has been placed in position by the com-
pany. 1T is only clear dcmoustra-
tion, said he "that the timbcring sys-
tenn OF mining can not be employed i'm
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 been worked con
tiuuously since u was producer OF
high grade Bcsscmcr ore. and 10 is csti-
mated to have contained zoo. 900 tons in
sight when the accident occurred.
Friday IL is "a worthless pile only
marked by small bay sunk from the
natural bed Of the Michigammc by the
cave
The death OF twcnty-eight men
marked the end Of the Mansfield mine.
for unless the river be forced 20 seek
another channel this rich deposit Of
iron ore can never be worked again.
Eight Of the victims leave families II
children fatherless and about hale Of
the remaining twenty were the sup
port Of parents