The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-08-29

traled with their violent grief and de-
voted their time to methodicaily caring
for the dead.
The Superintendent Story.
Superintendent Ramsey, in telling
what he could Of the disaster, said:
"As soon as the alarm whistle sounded
the man at work at the fan on the top
OF the hill noticed smoke coming from
the air course and not knowing the
cause, Immediately shut down the fan.
He did just what he should have done.
aud had the miners not fingered so
long at the fire trying to put it out
they would have all been saved, but
the smoke surrounded them and before
they were aware of it they were over
powered and smothered. All of those
who were 200 and 800 feet up in the
breast had time to climb down to the
gangway aud some of them escaped
and reached the surface, not expert
encing she slightest unpleasant sensa-
ton. One of the men who stopped
with the others at breast g., seeing the
danger he was in, started TO run for
the main slope, shouting to his COM
panions: Come on, you'll not get out
But still they fingered aud five min.
utes later 81 men were dead.
"George W. Smalley was the first
man to go down into the slope after
the fire was reported. He answered
to my Gail for volunteers. and he and
three Others soon brought up the first
body. that If John Sanderson. Pre-
inn IN 10 iSN,A l.
serious the accident was, Lut when the
dead began to arrive tue voices o. the
people lamenting for their loved ones
WAS terrible to hear. again asked for
volunteers and several whites and
blacks responded. They went down
and worked diligently, bringing men
to the top of the slope, while others
who had gone from the south side were
bringing them along the galleries. The
excitement increased everyt.me body
was brought up and recognized. At
one time four bodies were brought up
at one time and such lamen able
noise of weeping women and men l
hope shall never have to hear again. /"
Rows of Dead on the Floor.
AS soon as The dead arrived at the
surface, Superintendent Ramsey had
another party carry them to the old
engine room, where they were laid out
in rows on the floor, 81 stalwart bodies
covering almost every inch OF space.
The sight was one that chilled the peo.
pie with horror. Thir!y-seven men
without scratch on them, Tut dead.
All had been lively and happy few
hours before with their families, their
friends little dreaming death was near.
The few who escaped. upon reaching
the surface, were greeted with cries CT
joy. while all evening men were shak
ing each others hands, happy that
they are not among the dead.
This evening all is quiet In the face
of this awful accident. The dead bodies
have been prepared, clothed, laid out.
and man is now among the people
seeing what disposition shall be made
of the bodies. Tomorrow the men will
dig the graves and the next day there
will he u tremendous funeral. All day
long the little telegraph office was be-
sieged with sorrowing people sending
messages to relatives living in other
parts Of the country notifying them of
the grief which has 50 suddenly be-
fallen them.
Origin Of the Fire.
The origin of the fire In breast 81 is
supposed to be due to spontaneous
combustion. caused by refuse and
screenings at the bottom of the breast
Stacking aud catching fire. The mine
was never in a safer condition. how
ever, and it seems mystery that the
fire could have burst out and gained
such Roadway ali at ouce. 1t Is sug-
gested that possibly it has been burning
for some time, perhaps two or three
days, and from smouldering blaze it
all ut once became a burning furnace.
Breast 81 is about 800 feet high and is
now all on fire. The fire has also
communicated to breasts go and 81 OF
the same level and the fifth level is
threatened. 1t Is believed that in three
months the fire will have been COM
pletely extinguished. With the sixth
level closed about l, 800 feet OF gaugway
and 40 breasts will be rendered useless.
These breasts formerly gave employ.
ment to 10 men.