The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1894-11-23
FOUR MINERS suFFocArEp.
Firo at tho Mouth Of Black Hawk
Mine,

Mines
Denver, Nov. ia special from
Black Hawk to the Tlmcs-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 ut am 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, % years, single.
James Whitlow, % years, single.
Inc accident was n most peculiar
one. The Perlgo mine Ia 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 compressor ut
the mouth of the tunnel, and in this
Dui!ding Is the machinery, powder and
toois used In working the mine. At
about o'clock this morning fire was
discovered In the entrance buildings.
IL spread quickly, and before steps
could be taken TO put 1t out, the entire
entrance was ublaze. There We're In
tne NINE four men-Ivcy, Sanders,
Whitlow and Wills. Efforts to get
trough the burning timbcrs were i'm
possible. The men We're forced to
stay and suffer death.
Ihe tunnel has been driven In n dis
lance of 800 feet. Its only entrance
Is through the building at its mouth.
When the fire started, the timbers ut
the 'itr2nce followed md n terrible
rms 6Ao1mes rolled out. To pass the
| hssr41 have been impossible. and
---xNortisnates were 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 1t will probably be use
less.
The fire originated from workman
dropping II lighted candle into box
OF giant powder In the compressor.
Inc workman, supposing the powder
would explode, evidently hurried to
get away. While the powder was ig-
nitcd, no explosion occurred. but the
powder burned rapidly and communi-
Gated to the wood near by. Within
ten minutes the building and shaft
We're ablaze. There was n great guam
tity of powder destroyed, MS well as 10
cords of wood. the wood making II
| great blaze and adding to the fury of
the fire. To stop 1t, with the limited
amount OF water ut 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 10 effect an entrance
ana secure the dead bodies We're made.
Up to o'clock they had not been re-
covered.
The Pcrlgo mine is one OF the most
widely known In the state. II was for
merly worked by the John Q. Rollins
Co, and later stood idle for a time.
Denver men took hold of II and 1t
has been worked under Mr. ii. H..
Lawrence of that city. Some $1,000
has been spent In boilers and engine
| machinery and n large sum In timber
Ing and getting the tunnel In shape.
the monetary loss will therefore prob
ably exceed 5000. II being understood
that partial insurance Is carried.
The men were supposed to be work
linz about 100 feet from the mouth of
| the tunnel when the smoke oycrcame
| them. All of the miners were well
known, and when the news of the dis.
aster reached here large number of
people went To the scene. The coroner
was sent for from Central City and
viii 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. +. tunnel about four
years ago, when four men lost their
lives by sufrocation In n fire that
started In n manner greatly resembling
| this.
| Durham Ivcy. one OF the victims OF
the disastrous mine accident. was born
In Cornwall, England, and came to
America when boy. lie IL well
known throughout Colorado for being
the champion ''catch-as-catch-ca
wrestler Of the state. He has also
bested n number of wrcsilers from 9th,
er states In the West. As an English
wrestler he leaves behind him record
without a defeat