The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1894-02-14
MET DEATH IN A mine
Thirteen Men Crushed by tho Rock Of q
Falling Roof
EFFORTS AT RESCUE FUTILE
All Hope CT Getting Any of tho Min
ere Out Alive Abando ned-Ten
Widows and SO Chi dren
Left Mourning,

town OF Plymouth is in mourning tonight
over a terrible accident that occurred i'm
the Gaylord collIery this morning. Thir-
teen men, all citizens of that town, lost
their lives while in the discharge of their
duties. Their names are: Mine Foreman
Thomas Picton, Thomas Jones. Richard
Davis, John Morris, James Kingdom,
Thomas Merriman, Thomas Cole. Joseph
Olds, Daniel Morgan. John Hammer,
Peier L. Mclaughlin, Michael Walsh aud
Thomas Leyshon. All the victims except
two leave families. One lost his wife only
n month ago and four littlo children sur
vive them, consequently the disaster
throws 10 widows and IS children on the
worlds charity.
The Gaylord mine is owned by Daniel
Edwards, one OF the wsalthiest operators
in the anthracite region. IL is operated
by the Kingston C,ai company. Of which
Edwards is prezident. The best coal in
The mine was taken out years ago. Then
II was abandoned because IL could not be
operated with profit. About three weeks
ago the company decided to resume ope-
rations and party of expert miners was
sent INTO the mine to make an ezamina.
ton. They found matters in bad shape.
The last men at work in the co!lery had
"robbed' the pillars supporting the roof
until they were very thin. A great many
falls had taken place. The passages were
blocked by debris and the air current was
poor. Mining experts gave their opinion,
however, that the mine could be put in
good condition again with small outlay
OF capital. The company decided TO 20
OH with the work at once.
Monday morning large number Of ex-
pert miners, carrying safety lamps. en-
tered the mine and began the work of
clearing up the old gangways and prop
ping the roof. They had not been AT work
long until a squeeze came, which COM
PEELED the men to retrace their steps.
Foreman Picton, with Il selected miners,
volunteered to go down the shaft and see
what could be done. The descent was
made at 10 o'clock last night. Picton's
object was to get as near as possible 10
the most dangerous part, where the
"squeeze" was greatest, in order to stay
its progress by beaming the roof with
heavy timber. The efforts of Picton and
his men did not prove success, as the
cave extended far beyond the danger
limit and a much greater distance than
where the men expected would be safe If
they retreated at the indication OF a heavy
fall. This is shown by the vast area of
tue cave and no one left to tell the story.
Tho supposition is tho men were
busi!y at work timbering when
tho rock of tho roof camc tumbling
down upon their heads, crushing them out
OF all semblance to humanity and putting
wall of debris between them and the
mouth Of the shaft 400 feet IN thickness.
AT first there was soms hope that If the
men could be reached in reasonable
timo they could be saved. This was a
false hope, however. The rescuing party
had been in the mine only short time
when they were Obliged to retreat on ac-
| count of further caving. A second rescu-
Ing party under Superintendent James w.
DAVIS went down the shaft this afternoon,
but soon came back thoroughly disheart-
ened. and at 3 o'clock all hopes of rescu-
ing the men were given up. The news Of
the abandoning of hope soon spread, and
the wives and children of the men in the
, mine. who had assembled at the mouth of
the shaft expecting at any moment to see
their loved ones brought up alive, set up a
most pitiful cry Of distress. Two wotnen
tainted and had to be carried away by
friends.
There was one way the men may have cs.
| capped instant destruction. but only 10
meet death in slower form by imprison.
ment and starvation. Opening from tho
gangway are number of cross headings
to on old gangway. II the men had few
moments warning they are possibly now
in these workings. waiting for help. Tho
| distance 10 this old gangway from the foot
of the shaft is about go feet through
| closed up passages which must be re.
| opened and re.imbcred before they can be
travcrsed. Gangs are working with fever.
ish haste and hoped TO get through by
| midnight. If the men are not there il il
thought there was possibility OF their
having had time TO escape in another di.
rection into other workings, and Efforts Ia
reach these places are also being made.
| Inside Superintendent Picton, whose son
was in charge OF the missing party, says
lie will not give up hope until the dead