The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1893-09-30
DOWN SANK The RIVER
Into The Bowels Of The Earth Il Rlhsd,
Ensulnns al Before Il
TWENTY.ElGHT MINERS LOST
SIX Parallel Levels Under the Bed
Of the Stream 100000
Beseemer Ore Mine De-
stroyed Forever.

CRYSTAL FALls, Mich., Sept. 0.-Mans-
field, the only producer OF Besssmer ore
In the Crystal Falls district. located six
miles from here, caved in at o'clock last
night. burying q workmen and destroy.
ing 100000 worth Of property. The
Mansfield working levels ran directly un-
der the Michigamme river and parallel
with II for several hundred feet. The first
level was IS feet below the bottom OF the
river. Five lower levels ran parallel 10
the first, the bottom being s2s feet below
the surface of tho water. The five upper
levels were stopped in the progress Of the
work, leaving only the 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 way OF the timbers
on the fifth level, allowing those above to
follow. and at last the river to pour In
upon the fated men. After the cave. the
river bed below tho mine was dry In an
hour and forty minutes. Forty-eight men
descended the shaft last night. Twenty
escaped and 2s perished. The bodies will
never he recovered. Most OF the surviv-
ors were at work on the bottom level,
which had not been stopped out and conse-
quently did not cave when the levels
above fell. Tho men heard the crash OF
the cave and started for the ladder way.
All but four on this level reached the lad.
der way before the torrent of water down
tho shaft cut of the avenue of escape.
Tony Bulletto, tho skip tender, was
standing with Frank Rocko, the night
boss, at the shaft on the fourth level.
They heard the crash and realised what
was coming. Rocko went into the drift
to inform his men of the danger and did
not return. Bulletto came to the surface
In the skip alone. Andrew Sullivan, an
other night boss, was on the sixth level at
the time Of the accident. He called to his
men to follow him quickly. All but four
men on this level reached the ladderway
in safety. As they assembled, however,
they were nearly suifocated. SO great was
the air pressure caused by the water pour.
ing down the shaft. They were able to
breathe only at oach landing place aud
came to the surface more dead than alive.
Mine Inspector Roberts says his deputy
has been employed in tho mine aud given
the work daily attention. He also says he
visited the mine personally at the required
intervals and the proper amount of tim
Der had been placed in position by The
company.
at is q clear demonstration" said he
''that the timbering system of mining can.
not be employed In that sort of ground.
The company had taken all necessary pre-
cautions in the conduct of the work."
The lost miners are: Samuel Peters.
married; James Strong, married; w. X.
Pierce, married; Frank Booker, Swan
johnson, Sam Johnson, Mike Harrington,
AL Tarresani, Frank Johnson, Sheltino
Zodra, Pete Tury, Nocolo Fontani, Charles
Pohl, married; John Holstrom, Bax Toru-
rail-, John Kirruppa, John Randall. John
Warner. Oscar Lundqu,st, Chiric Arcan-
zelo, Ant Stifano, August Coloena, Cd
CONSTANT, vigils Zodra, Celisti Nezri.
Mansfield was developed about six
years ago and has been worked continu-
ously since. II Is estimated that 200,0Jo
tons of ore were in sight when the acci-
dent occurred. To-day Il is worthless
pit, only marked by a small bay caused by
the sinking from its natural bed of tho
Michigamme by the cave.
The death Of tue % mon marked the end
of the Mansfield mine, for unless the river
can be forced TO seek another channel
this rich deposit Of iron orc can never be
worked again. Eight Of the victims leave
families Of children fatherless and about
half the remaining 20 wero supporters Of
their parents. What measures, IL any,
can be taken to rescue tho bodies Of tho
dead Is yet undetermined.