Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1894-09-01

, they We're aware of it they were owe
powered and smothered. All of thos
who We're 200 and 800 feet up in til
breast had time to climb down to th
gang"ay and some of them escape
and reached the surface, not expert
encing she slightest unpleasant sensa
ton. One of the men who stoppe,
with the Others at breast 81, seeing th
danger he was in, started to run 10
the main slope, shouting to his com
panions: Come on, You'll not get out
But still they fingered and five min
utes later 81 men were dead.
George w. Smalley was the flrsl
man to 60 down into the slope after
the fire was reported. He answered
TO my call for volunteers. and he and
three others soon brought up the first
body. that II john Sanderson. Pre-
Nlous 10 this time no one knew how
serious the accident was, Lut when the
dead began to arrive the voices of the
people lamenting for their loved ones
Was terrible to hear | again asked for
volunteers and several whites and
blacks responded. They went down
ana worked diligently, bringing men
10 the top OF the slope, while others
who had gone from the south side were
bringing them along the galleries. The
excitement increased every time a body
vas brought up and recognized. At
one time four dodies were brought up
at one II lie and such a lamen able
noise OF weeping women and men |
nope l shall never have TO hear again."
Rows of Dead on the Floor.
As soon as the dead arrived at the
surface, perintendent 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. Thirty-seven men
without scratch on them, but dead.
All had been lively and happy a few
hours before with their families, their
irlends little dreaming death was near.
The few who escaped, upon reaching
the surface, were greeted with cries of
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. Ihe 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 be a tremendous funeral. All day
long he little telegraph office was be-
sleged with sorrowing people sending
messages to relatives living in other
parts of the country notifying them of
lie grief which has SO suddenly be-
tallen them.
Origin of the Fire.
The origin of the fire in breast 80 is
supposed to be due to spontaneous
caused by refuse and
screenings at the bottom of the breast
Stacking and catching fire. The mine
was never iii safer condition, how
sver, and it seems a mystery that the
ire could have burst out and gained
such headway ali at once. 1t IS sug-
sested that possibly it has been burning
or some time, perhaps two or three
lays, and from Il smouldering blaze it
Ill at once became a burning furnace
Bsoaot g. 10 chou, 900 feot l.is l. anu is
low all on fire. The fire has also
to breasts 60 and 81 of
he same level and the fifth level is
1t is believed that in three
JIetely extlnguished. With the sixth
evel closed about 900 feet of gangway
md 40 breasts will be rendered useless.
These breasts formerly gave employ
neut TO 70 men.
EXPLOSION IN PENNSYLVANIA.
two Killed and a Score Injured by an
Awful Accident.
ASHLAND, Penn, Aug. 24.-Two
men were killed and IL injured by an
explosion of gas in the Gilberton col
ery at this place today. The killed
ire:
FRANK MCCoRMICk, fire boss;
caves a wife and five children.
LEWIS BALL, driver.
The injured are: William Birming-
lain. fatally; Cornelius Lehi, inside
uperjntendent, fatally, has u wife ana
,ine children; James Tooney, miner,
,adly burned; George Davis, miner.
,adIy burned; William Davis. miner,
Harry Birminghan, miner,
,adly hurt; William Penn. miner,
,aaly burned and bruised; William
schultz, miner, badly burned; Enoch
fingle, badly bur1ed John Kesler,
criously burned.
Caused by a Fall of Coal.
The explosion, which occurred short
y after noon. was primarily caused by
fall of coal which became dislodged
" mining operations. This released
n immense volume of gas and at the
anne time forced it along the gang
Ways to a distance of more than 1000
ards, sitting and choking the miners
$ it swept along. Finally it reached
he gaug Of miners who were working
With naked lamps and instantly ig
ited. An explosion which shook the
arth and was heard by people in their
ZONES above followed.