The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-09-08
FORTY DEAD MINERS
Men and Boys SufOcated in the
Works Of the 0Sceola.
JUST IMPOSSIBLE TO ESCAPE
Many OF the Workmen Find Their
Way to the Surface. but
Those Now Underground
Are Doomed.

Calumet. Mich. Sept. 7.-At about !
O'Clock to-day fire broke out In the
shaft of the osceola mine. and at this
men and boys have been burned %
death or suffocated. The names Of the
men known to be In the mine are as
follows: Trembath. mine boss; Rich
ard Blcket. Michael Johnson. Richard
Grcnfell. Michael shuttle. John Matsen
William Bryant. Frances Lander Alex
Danfell. John Cudllp, Thomas Curtis
Robert Johns. Peter Martin, Joseph
Sahte. James Harrington. William Don
aid. Barney Elgore. Anton Scezweak
all miners; Peter Stangard. Walter
Dohle. drill boys. The fire started In
shaft No. .. which Is used to carry the
miners TO the surface from the mine
and when the fire broke out. all OF the
men and boys employed in the mine,
about 200 in number. made a rush for
the shaft In the hope OF being taken to
the surface. The Are was too rapid
for them. however. and the chance of
escaping by the shaft was entirely cut
on by flames and smoke.
The majority OF the imprisoned min.
ers made a break for the crosscut. AMI
In this way managed to reach another
shaft from which they were taken tc
the top. Forty were missing when the
roll was called. Within a short tImd
after they had reached the surface
smoke began issuing from all the shafts
and the escape Of the men below was
entirely cut on The men In charge say
now that there Is not the slightest
chance for any OF the men now In tho
mine to escape with their lives. II they
are not burned they must have been
choked by the dense smoke within a
short time after the fire started. There
Is not the slightest thing that can be
done for the men. and no effort Is be-
Ing made to extingulsh the flames
There is nothing known OF how the fire
originated.
The fire broke out In the eth level.
The Osceola IL a copper mine located
two miles from Calumet. As Captain
Richard Edwards was making his way
to No. shaft he smelled wood burn.
ing. On nearing No. 3 shaft he me-
Captain Trenbert and party Of mer
who were looking for the fire. and or
reaching the shaft they found a larg,
quantity OF logging on fire. Word wa,
Immediately sent to the men In the
mine to come to the surface. which
many succeeded In doing. but there still
remains In the dry house 20 suits OF
clothes and It Is opposed that that
number is unable to get out In time
and are entombed 200 feet below ths
surface with no possible avenue oi
escape. Ever since 1890 o'clock smoke
has been pouring out OF the mine II
huge volumes from No. 3 shaft. The
scene at Oppeche shaft. where man,
Of the men came up was deeply heart
rendlng. thousands having gathered
around the mouth OF this shaft. man,
women and children looking around
for their husbands and fathers. BE
sides the men mentioned many NOR
are known to be entombed but In tn
excltment 1t Is impossible to Obtain
their names. They are mostly Aus
trian trammers. The mouths Of tn
shafts have now all been battened u
to stop all drafts and all hope Is nov
given up OF ever rescuing the mel
alive. This Is the greatest loss OF III
that has ever occurred In the coppe
country