Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-03-12
MINERS SUFFOCATED.
Shafthouse Burned and the Air
 Supply Cut Of.
A FEW OF THEM REsUsoITATED.

 Twenty Men Were In the SuItana Gold
 Mine at Rat Portage. Man., When the
 Flames Stopped Their Fresh Air-Res-
 cuers Found Pitiful Scene In the Shaft.
 WINNIPEG, March 12.-The shafthouse at tho famous Sultana gold mine, 14 miles from Rat Portage. caught fro early yesterday afternoon, and before tho flames were discovered they completely envoloped the building This of course shut off the air supply to the mines, in which were working 20 or a miners.
 A messenger who arrived at Rat Port age from the mine says that when he left at o'clock only four men had been brought up. A number of doctors were working over these in the hope of resusci- tating them, but with small chance of success. The other men in the mine were certainly suffooated and practically given up for lost.
 Tho shafting and shaft machinery be- ing destroyed. hindered the work of res cue. The families of the men live at Rat Portage, and there is great excitement, as their only communication with tho mine is a circuitous and somewhat dangerous wagon trail No further particulars are expected until tonight.
 4 Pipe Started the Fire.
 The shafthouse took fire in the drying room. 1t is supposed to have beon started by pipe in the pocket of coat hanging on the wtlll. Foreman Johnson, noticing the fire, called on the men to assist in put ting it out, but all ran away, being afraid of explosives in the drying room. John son rushed into the fiery room, removed two boxes of powder and then directed his attention to an attempt to save the building. There was no fire protection, and a bucket brigade was organized, but it was of no avail, as the shafthouse was completely consumed.
 The fire started at l o'clock, and until 1 80 no effort could possibly be made to assist tho mon in the shaft. As soon as tho ruins were sufficiently cooled it was found that the timbers in the shaft were blazing, and water was then directed on these timbers, but in the excitement the greater portion was falling useless down the shaft.
 Shortly aftor 2 o'clock the fire was OK tinguished in the shaft and the men de seconded it and found six men on the first level apparently all suffocatod. The res cuers descended to tho lower level and found three morc but these men were in better condition than the others, and of- forts were begun to raise the miners. Tho first three raised were suffering badly, but were rcsuscitatcd after q short | time. Tho fourth man-John Lagier- was very low when he arrived at the sur face and died shortly afterward. The oth- l CTS wore in critical condition when brought to tho surface, but all recovered excepting Randolph Erickson.
 The eight rescued arc Alexander Neil son. Randolph Erickson, J. Erickson P. Strand, w. Prynn, Charles Edgstrom. c. | c. Peterson and Charles Con. Prynn, upon examination, was found badly burned on the back. It seems the airshaft ignited and caused suction of air from the bottom of the shaft, depriving the men of fresh air, and also causing smoke to descend the shaft, and when found all were uncon- scious and leaning against the shaft.