Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-09-30
Twenty Eight Ore Miners Drowned
Like Rats in a Pit.
THOSE ON THELOWER LEVEL
Escaped the Awful Fate-The
Mine Was Located Under the
Bed of Michigamme River, and
When the Supports Let Go the
Bed of the River Dropped, and
Was Dry Below the Pit for
Over an Hour.

EJ.-A mine Casually Wl1AOHN
in the annals Of the mining industry In
this country If not the world, occurred
at the Mansfield, the only producer OF
Bessemer ore in the Crystal Falls min
ing district, and located six miles from
this city, at nine o'clock last night
The mine caved in from the top to
the bottom, burying twenty-eiGht work
men and entaiing loss OF 5000, 600.
The Mansfield shafts are located on
the west bank OF the Mlchigamme
river, and the working levels OF the
mine ran directly under the stream ana
parallel with it for distance Of several
hundred feet.
The first level was 35 feet below the
bottom of the river and the lower lev
els, five 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 pieces OF ore
to bear the mighty weight OF the noors
of ore above. The accident is supposed
to have been caused by the giving away
of the tlmbers on the fifth level, allow
ing those above to follow, and at las1
the river to pour in upon the fated men.
After the cave In, the river bed below
the mine was dry for an hour and forty
minutes.
Forty-eight men descended the shaft
last night. or 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 hao not yet
been sloped out, and consequently dld
not cave when the levels above fell.
The men heard th5 crash OF the cave
and started for the ladderway. All
but four on this level reached the lad
derway before the torrent or water
down the shaft cut off their avenue OF
escape.
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 Rocke went into
the drift to inform his men OF their
danger, but did not return.
Buetto came to the surface In the
skip alone.
Andrew Sullivan, another Light boss,
or foreman, was on the sixth level at
the time OF the accident. He realized
his danger and called to his men to fol-
low him quickly. All but four Of the
men on this level reached the ladder
wav in safety. AS they ascended, how
ever, they were nearly suffocated 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 has given the work daily at
tention. He says that he has visited
the mine personally at the required in
tervals, and that the proper amount OF
timber had been placed in position.
ut is only clear demonstration" J"
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 lost miners are:
Samuel Peters, married; Jas. Strong,
married; w, II. Pierce, married; Frank
Rocko, Swan Johnson, Mike Harring-
ton, Frank johnson, Sam johnson,
Shetimo Zodra, Pete Tury, Nicolo Fon-
tani, Chas. Pohl, married; John Hol-
strom, Belax Forturali, John Kirmuppu,
John Randalo, John Warner, Oscar
Tundquist, Chiric ArcanzOlO, Ant Ste
fano, August Cologna, Cd CONSTANT,
Vigils Zodra, Celisti Mezri, -- Alto
resSani.
The Mansfield was developed about
six years ago and has worked continu-
ally since. 1t was a producer OF high
grade Bessemer ore, and 1t is estimated
to have contained 500, 900 tons when the
accident occurred. To-day it Is a
worthless pit. only marked by small
bay sunk from the natural bed OF the
Michigamme river, by the cave.