The herald., 1895-04-09
Explosion in a Mine That Cost
Many Lives
STORY OF AN EYE WITNESS
Ten Bodies Have Been Taken Out by
Rescurers
Terrible Work Done by Coal Damp in a Mine
Near Whateom--Gas Drives Explorers
Out of the Tunnel

SEATTLE, Wash. April s. A New
Whatcom special to the Post Intelligencer
says:
News has Just been received of a terri
Bile explosion in the Blue Canyon coal
mine, on Lake Whatcom, seven miles
from this city. Ten dead bodies have
been taken out and thirteen men are still
in the mine.
Every possible effort is being made to
rescue them. A steamer has gone out
from this city with Superintendent Don
ovan, three physicians, ten miners and
press correspondent on board. The
mine was inspected three weeks ago and
pronounced safe.
W. A. Teiord came from the mine to-
night. He was at the bunkers when the
explosion occurred. He went to the in
cline and found James kearns at the
mouth of the shaft nearly dead with cX-
haustion.
kearns said all in the mine were dead.
He had carried Ben Mogan as far as he
was able and dropped him. Morgan, he
thought, was dead. Kearns and Cullen
were the only ones who escaped out OF
twenty-four who were at work.
Tom Valentine and J. Q. Anderson
were the incline men. and they escaped.
At the switch of the gangway, eight
hundred feet from the mouth of the tun-
mel Ecklund and Telford found the body
of George Roberts, and beyond were three
loaded cars which had been blown OFT
the track. They next found The BODY OF
Bon Morgan. where 1t was dropped by
Kearns, Ecklund and Others.
They were unable to go beyond room
twenty -one, five hundred feet from the
angle OF the tunnel and gangway.
Their safety lamps went cut and the
gas drove the explorers out. In room
thev found the bodies OF Thomas Conlin
and James Kirby. 1t is supposed that in
addition to the four found, seventeen
peished. The gas was 50 thick that the
rescuing party was unable to stay longer
time.
The missing men with families are: ID.
y. Jones, uperintendent; J. Kirby,
Charles Silyerson, Mike Zeiliski, Andrew
Anderson, james McAndrcw.
The single men we're Iucius Latka, +.
p. Chase, Thomas Conl, George Roberts,
derson. william E"ans. Isaac Johnston,
William Lyster, Charles Ram berg, Sam
Olsen, J. A. Morgan and liartin Blum.
Engineer j. J. Donovan of the mine
was notified at his home in Fair Haven
and left with party of men experienced
i'll underground work. lhey ieit ms thls
evening on Il special train over the Bell
ingham Bay and EasterASpAad took the
steamer Thistle to - faxsne Physi-
clans accompany tneln
Mr.. Donovan says he does not under
stand how the explosion occurred, as safe
ty lamps were used everywhere out in the
gang way. The tunnel is 800 feet long
and the gangway 1000 feet long, and has
twenty-siX rooms opening from 1T. The
fans were kept running all the time and
the cause Of the explosion is unknown.
The Blue Canyon m inc is the property
of the Blue Canyon Coal Mining Com
pany, composed of NJ. Z. Downs, a. L.
talists 1t was opened in 1880 by J. +.
Wardner, who sold it to its present own
ers The coal is of high quality, and is
now being used on United States war;
ships. The company had spent much
money in opening the mine, and had Just
got it into paying condition.
Post -lntelligencer correspondent re-
turned at = a. m. from the scene OF the
disaster at the Blue Canyon mine, on
Lake Whatcom, and is in possession of
all the particulars now obtainable.
In the blacksmith sfop, >ear the en-
trance to the main tunnel, lie the black
ened bodies of twenty three dead miners,
mine when the explosion occurred lived
to tell the story of the .rightful catas-
trophe and their own miraculous escape.
Following are the names OF the killed:
Mine Superintendt mt David \. Jones,
leaves wife; Andrew Anderson, wife
and one child; James McA ndrews, leaves
WIFE James Kirby leave 5 a wife; Kirk
Clnske, wife and four chill 1ren.
All the others were sing lie men. Their
names are:
Charles sherman. c. l,amsberg Will
liam Lyster, Samuel Olsc n. James Nc
Nulty, J. A. Morgan, Ma rtin NJ. Blum,
+. T. Chase, Cha lies Carlson,
II. Ravctt whose home is in Fair Haven;
Philip Binkle William Eivans. j. Will
liams, Alexander Hendricks son, Ben Nor
gan, George Roberts, Tn Jmas Conklin,
Lucas IotaKa.
The two men who escape are Edward
Gellon, of Fair Haven, VIII, was working
at the outer switch in the nine, in COM
pany with George Rober is and James
kerns. The latter was wor king with Ben
Morgan in room l6, off the gangway, the
outerm ost of all the works in which work
was going on.
The explosion occurred shortly before
3 O'Clock, when the Shift would have
been changed, and the mi ners were al
ready climbing the steep hill from the
clubhouse to take the plac rs of the men
killed.
The disaster was undoubi edly caused by
an accumulation of fire daI mp. which was
exploded by blast in the breast of the
gangway. The faces of the men who
were working in the bre asst are badly
burned.