The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-10-04

World.
CRYSTAL FALLS. Mich, Sept. 90
A mine casualty without parallel In the
annals of the mining industry Of this
country. If not OF the world. occurred at
the Mansfield, the only producer of Bes-
semer ore In the Crystal Falls mining
district. and located six miles from this
city, at o'clock last night. The mine
caved in from the top to the bottom,
burying eight workmen and entailing a
loss of 5000
The Mansfield shafts are located on
the west bank of the Michigamme river,
and the working levels Of the mine ran
directly under the stream and parallel
with it for a 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 to the first. The bottom one is
AIS feet below the surface Of the water.
The five upper levels having been slope6
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 IL supposed to have
been caused by the giving way of the
timbers on the fifth level, allowing those
above to follow, and at last the river TO
pour upon the fated men. After the
cave the river bed below the mine was
dry for an hour and forty minutes.
Forty-eight men descended the shaft
last night OF this number twenty es-
capped an awful death and twenty-eight
found watery graves. Their bodies will
never be recovered. Most Of the sur
vivors were at work on the bottom level,
which had not yet sloped out and con-
sequently did not cave when the levels
above fell. The men heard the crash of
the cave and started for the Underway.
All but four OF this level reached the
ladder-way before the torrent of water
down the shaft cut off their avenue OF
escape.
Tony Bulletoni, the skip-tender, was
standing with Frank Rocco, a night boss.
at the shaft on the fourth level. They
heard the crash and realized what was
coming. Rocco went into the drift to in
form his men Of their danger, but did
not return. Bulletoni came to the surface
in the skip alone. Andrew Sullivan.
another night boss OF foreman. was on
the sixth level at the time Of the acct
dent. He realized his danger and called
to his men to follow his quickly. All
but four men on this level reached the
ladder-way in safety. AS they assembled,
however, they were nearly suffocated by
the water pouring down the shaft, so
great was the 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 in the mine
and has given the work daily attention.
He also says that he has visited the
mine personally at the required inter-
walls and that the proper amount Of TIM
Der has been placed in position by the
company.
1T is only clear demonstration"
said he, that the timbering system Of
mining cannot be employed in that sort
Of ground. The company has taken all
necessary precautions in the conduct Of
the work" The miners lost are;
SAMUEL PETERS, married.
JAMES STRONG, married.
w. H. PIERCE, married
FRANK ROKO.
SWAN JOHNSON.
MIKE HARRINGTON.
FRANK JOHNSON.
SAM JOHNSON.
SHELTIME ZODRA.
PETE TURY.
NICOLO FONTANI.
CHARLES POHL.
JOHN HOLSTROM.
BAX FORTURALL
JOHN KIRRUPPU.
JOHN RANDALL.
JOHN WARNER.
OSCAR TUNDQUIST.
CHIRIC ARCANZELA-
ANTONIO STEFANO.
AUGUST COLOGNA.
Cd CONSTANT.
VIGILS ZODRA.
CESLISTI NEZRI ALTORESSANI.
The Mansfield was developed about
six years ego and has worked continu-
ously since. 1t was a producer of high
grade BeSsemer ore and 1t is estimated
to have contained 100000 tons in sight
when the accident occurred. Today II Is
a worthless pile. only marked by small
bay sunk from the natural bed of the
Michigamme by the cave.
The death Of twenty-eight men marked
the end of the Mansfield mine, for unless
the river be forced to seek another chan
mel the rich deposit Of iron ore can never
be worked again. Eight of the victims
leave families of children fatherless and
about half Of the remaining twenty were
the support of parents. The news was
slow in reaching the outside world. The
nearest telegraph Office is at Crystal
Falls, six miles away, and though a rail-
road track runs into the mine, IL was
used 20 haul out ore. A courier carried
the news to Crystal Falls last night,
but not until this morning was the news
flashed abroad. In the number OF lives
lost this is believed to have been the
greatest disaster that ever occurred in
the Lake Superior iron regions. What |
measures, IL any, can be taken to rescue
the bodies Of the dead are yet undeter- |
mined.
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