The Delta independent., 1894-11-21
FOUR MINERS SUFFOCATED.
Fire at the Mouth OF a Black Hawk
Mine.

Mine.
Denver. Nov. ia special from
Black Hawk to the Times-Sun says:
One of the most terrible accidents
ever known in Gilpin county, and GER
tainly the worst in recent years. oc-
Cured at the Perigo mine at an early
hour this morning, by which four men
lost their lives. being suffocated by
smoke and powder. The names of the
dead are as follows:
Durham Ivey, 40 years of age; leaves
a wife and five children.
Upper Wills, 30 years old, married.
Albert Sanders, 27 years, single.
James Whitlow, % years. single.
The accident was a most peculiar
one. The Perigo mine is situated about
eight miles north of Black Hawk, in
the Independent mining district. The
property is worked through tunnel
the new owners having been engaged
in driving the tunnel to catch the old
workings. There Is Il compressor at
the mouth of the tunnel, and in this
building is the machinery, powder and
tools used in working the mine. At
about 2 o'clock this morning fire was
discovered in the entrance buildings.
1t spread quickly, and before steps
could be taken to put it out. the entire
entrance was ablaZe There We're in
the mine four men-Ivey, Sanders.
Whitlow and Wills. Efforts to get
trough the burning timbers We're i'm
possible. The men were forced to
stay and suffer death.
The tunnel has been driven in dis
tance of 300 feet Its only entrance
is through the building at its mouth.
When the fire started, the timberS at
the entrance followed and a terrible
| mass of flames rolled out. To pass the
fire would have been impossible, and
the unfortunateS We're compelled to
breath in the smoke until death over
came them.
The mine buildings were totally de-
stroyed. and the machinery so badly
damaged that it will probably be use
less.
The fire originated from a workman
dropping Il lighted candle into box
! of giant powder in the compressor.
The workman, supposing the powder
would explode. evidently hurried to
get away. While the powder was ig-
nited, no explosion occurred, but the
powder burned rapidly and communi-
Gated to the wood near by. Within
ten minutes the building and shaft
| were ablaZe. There was a great quan-
| tity of powder destroyed as well as 40
cords of wood, the wood making q
great blaze and adding to the fury of
the fire. TO stop it, with the limited
| amount of water at hand, would have
been impossible, and to get through
the flames to rescue the miners, or for
the latter to force their way out was
| equally impossible. Smoke was driven
into the tunnel in dense clouds.
The fire died down later in the morn
| ing and efforts nffnpt ntrnn
and secure the dead bodies were made
Up to o'clock they had not been re-
covered.
The Perigo mine Is one Of the most
| widely known in the state. 1t was for
merly worked by the John Q. Rollins
Co., and later stood idle for a time.
Denver men took hold of it and 1t
has been worked under Mr.. II. II.
Lawrence of that city. Some $1,000
has been spent in boilers and engine
machinery and large sum in timber
ing and getting the tunnel in shape
the monetary loss will therefore prob
ably exceed $1,000. it being understood
that a partial insurance is carried.
The men were supposed to be work
ing about 100 feet from the mouth of
the tunnel when the smoke overcame
them. All of the miners were well
known, and when the news of the dis
aster reached here Il large number of
people went to the scene. The coroner
was sent for from Central City and
will take charge of the bodies on their
recovery.
A peculiar fact associated with the
accident is its resemblance to one oc-
curing in the A. T.. tunnel about four
years ago, when four men lost their
lives by suffocation in fire that
started in a manner greatly resembling
this.
Durham Ivey, one of the victims of
the disastrous mine accident, was born
in Cornwall, England. and came to
America when boy. He is well
known throughout Colorado for being
the champion "catch-as-ca catch-cau
wrestler of the state. He has also
bested a number of wrestlers from 9th
er states in the West. As an English
wrestler he leaves behind him a recorl
without a defeat.