Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-08-30
AN AWFUL DISASTER.

Fourscore Miners Caught in Fire Trap
and Half Their Number Sacrifced-They
Might Have Escaped, but Like Brave
Men stopped to Fight the Fire. and
were Overcome by Smoke and Gases.
SEATTLE. Wash. Aug. 2i.-A terrible
holocaust took place in the Oregon Inn
provement CO.. mine at Franklin,
thirty-four miles from this city at 1
o'clock yesterday afternoon. and al
ready thirty-seven dead bodies have
been recovered from the mine. 1t is
known that many others are i'm
prisoned in the fiery furnace. but the
number is only a matter of conjecture
as yet.
The first news of the tragedy was re-
ceived in this city by Manager Smith
at LEO o'clock this afternoon in the
shape of a telegram from the mine
superintendent which stated that the
mine was afire and that many miners,
both white and black. We're impris-
oned
Later telegram was received read
ing substantially as follows: Thirty
seven dead bodies We're taken out and
it is supposed there are more to be re-
covered"
What proportion of the dead men are
white. and what proportion are black
cannot at present be learned. but the
officers say they are equally divided.
Wives. children and comrades OF the
dead men are frantic with grief. and
form a picture that would move the
strongest to tears.
y telegram al 400 O'Clock stated that
the fire is out and the damage is not SO
extensive as at first supposed. The
smoke had the effect of decelvlng the
men as to the extent of the fire. No
more bodies have beeen recovered. but
men are now engaged in exploring the
mine.
\ driver on the sixth north level was
the first to see the fire. Notice was
sent to the men inside who We're work
ing in different places. As soon as 1T
was known that there was a fire many
Of the men in the gangways rushed
back to notify their comrades. while
others fled pell nell for the main shaft.
1t is known that all the men in the
breasts reached the gangway in safety.
In all about seventy men were at
work in the sixth level. and of that
number about forty fingered to fight
the fire. These are thought 20 have
constituted all those lost.
The breast was burning fiercely, and
before the miners were aware of it the
fire had communicated to breasts Nos.
60 and 81. Several of the men at breast
e. took warning and fled. 1t is
evident that all the men had
time to come out. for those at work
in the farther breast reached the shaft
in safety. while those who We're near
est the shaft persisted. They evidently
were of the impression that they were
safe from the fire. but while they ling
cred the smoke issued from some out
side place farther south.
The bodies were ali found within
space Of 800 feet. Many We're piled on
top of each other, indicating that while
in the throes of death they had sought
escape, and stumbling over the pros
trate forms OF their comrades, were I'M
able to rise.
Several men we're badly bruised. and
one cOlcred man was taken out with a
broken neck, their wounds Indicating
that they threw themselves against
posts and timbers of the gangway in a
wild and desperate endeavOr to escape.
But a majority of the bodies bear no
marks at all, not even a scratch, and
their features We're in quiet repose, in
dicating that their death had been
speedy and painless one.