The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-25

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! who is now numbered among the dead.
His boy. Evan John, is also dead. The
| bodies of father and SON were found lying
side by side, showing that the father had
remained in the gangway until he had
| found his son. but it was then too late
and both died.
| Evan john. who is IS years of age. will
! be remembered as an ex-Seattle newsboy.
He also sold peanuts in the Standard The
alter about three and half years ago. He
was commonly known as Peg" At the
mines he was recognized as bright young
| fellow, aud was boss driver Of the sixth
| level north.
! AS the bodies began to arrive at the sur
/ face of the main slope the excitement
among the wives and mothers, and for
that matter the whole population, became
| uncomfortable.
At O'Clock the last of the thirty-seven
bodies was recovered, and then the people
began to quiet down. Many of them were
completely Frustrated with their violent
grief and devoted their time to methodi-
cally caring for the dead.
Superintendent Ramsey, telling what he
could of the disaster, said
las soon as The alarm whistle sounded,
the man at work at the fan on top of the
| hill noticed smoke coming from the air
| course, and not knowing the cause, imme-
diately shut down the fan. He did just
what he should have done. and had the
miners not fingered so long at the fire try
! ing to put it out they would have all been
saved. but the smoke surrounded them,
and before they were aware of it, they
were overpowered and smothered.
'All those who were 200 and 500 feet up
| in the breast had time TO climb down to
| the gangway and some escaped and reached
| the surface, not experiencing the slightest
unpleasant sensation.
"One of the men who stopped with the
others at breast 81. seeing the danger he
was in, started to run for the main slope
shouting to his companions: Come on or
you will not get out But still thew lin
gered and five minutes later thirty-seven
men were dead.
George W. Smalley was the first man
to 60 down into the slope after the fire
was reported. He answered 10 my call for
volunteers and he and three others soon
brought up the first body, that of John @.
Anderson.
Previous TO this time no one knew how
serious the accident was, but when the
dead began to arrive the voice of the peo-
pie lamenting for their loved ones was
terrible to hear. again asked for volun-
teers and several whites and blacks re-
sponded. 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 gangway. The excitement increased
recognized. At one time four bodies were
brought up, and such lamentable noise
of weeping women and men l hope shall
never have to hear again"
AS soon as the dead arrived at the sur
face Superintendent Ramsey had another
party carry them to the old engine-room,
where they were laid out in rows on the
floor, the thirty-seven stalwart bodies
covering almost every inch of space The
sight was one that chilled the people with
horror.
ThiTty-seven men without a scratch on
them still dead. ALL had been lively and
happy a few hours before with their
families and their friends. little dreaming
that death was near. The few who es-
ca ped upon reaching he surface were
greeted with cries of joy. while all evening
men were shaking each others hands
happy that they were not among the dead.
One man said this evening:
II thought had some enemies the other
day, but l have not now. Every man l
meet l feel is nv friend. I'm so glad no
more are dead"
This evening all is quiet in the face of
this awful death. The dead have been
prepared, clothed. laid out and man is
now among the people seeing what dispo-
sition will be made of the bodies. To-
morrow men will dig the graves and the
next day there will be a tremendous fun
eral. All day long the telegraph office
was besieged with Borrowing people send.
ing messages to relatives living in other
parts of the country, notifying them OF
the grief which has SO suddenly befaHen
them.
This evening thoughtful crowd congre-
gated at the postoffice when the mail
came, in. The postmaster finding letters
for the dead in the room. would inquire
who was entitled to take care of certain
mans mail The dead seemingly out
numbered the living.
The origin Of the fire in breast 62 is sup
posed 10 be due 10 spontaneous combus-
the bottom of the breast Stacking and
catching fire. The mine was never in safer
condition, however, and it seems a mys-
terry that the fire could have burst out and
gained such Roadway ali at once. 1t Is
suggested THAT possibly the fire had been
burning for some time. perhaps two or
three days, and from a smouldering blaze
it all at once became burning furnace.
Breast 90 is about 300 feet high and is
now all on fire. The fire has also commu-
ncated to breasts 60 and of the same
level and the fifth level is threatened.
Superintendent Ramsey says that he
will bulkhead the sixth level and perhaps
the fifth level and Theoretically seal them.
thus shutting off the air and smoth ering
the tre The mine is troubled good deal
with blackdamp, but with the air supply
shut off the blackdamp will form and of
itself put out the fire. 1t is believed that
in three months the fire will have been
completely extinguished.
Men are still at work on the sixth level
north bulkheadiDg the fire district. and
though the fan is kept at work to give the
men air the fire is aided just that much
more for the time being.
With the sixth level closed about 1900
feet of gangway and forty breasts will be
rendered useless. These breasts formerly
gave employment to seventy men.
About half the miners were negroes.
having been brought from the East four
oun IN rnnIaca fri The win