Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-03-16
pEArv TO .MInEac
Five Victims of the New Mexico Disaster
Two Men Killed In Manitoba.


Two Men Killed In Manitoba.
DENVER, Col, March IA special
telegram from Albuquerque, n. NJ,
says 1.-The fire in the Old Abe mine
near White Oaks has been brought un-
der control, when the eight imprisoned
miners were brought to the surface.
Five of the men were dead"
There were several narrow escapes.
Three men-Keith, Gallagher and How
gate-were on the sixth level and
made their way through the fire
by tying their coats around their
faces and rushing through the
air shaft to safety. They were
only slightly scorched. George Will
kinson, who discovered the fire, was
going down the shaft in the bucket.
The fire broke out above him when he
was at the ninth level, and the cage
dropped to the thirteenth level, throw
ing him out and stunning him. He re-
gained consciousness, however, and
climbed the ladder to the air shaft and
escaped.
WINNIPEG, Man, March 12. The Sui
tana mine shaft house at Rat Portage
took fire in the drying-room Monday.
1t is supposed to have been started by
pipe in the pocket of a coat hang
ing on the wall. Foreman John
son, noticing the fire, called on
the men to assist in putting
it out, but all ran away, being afraid
of explosives in the drying-room. Mr..
johnson rushed into the fiery room and
removed two boxes of powder, and
then directed attention to an attempt
to save the building. The fire started
at o'clock and until 1:30 no eff
fort could possibly be made to assist the
men in the shaft. AS soon as the ruins
were sufficiently cooled it was found
that the timbers lining the shaft were
blazing and water was then directed
on these timbers. but in the excite
ment greater portion fell useless
down the shaft. About this time fire.
men arrived from Rat Portage and
shortly after . o'clock the fire was ex-
tinguishsd in the shaft, and Messrs-
Motley Bell, assayer at the mine, and
Foreman Johnson rugged a hoist and
descended the shaft. They found six
men on the first level, apparent
ly all suffocated. They descend
ed to the lower level and
found three more, but these men were
in better shape than the others, and
efforts were begun to raise the miners.
The first three raised were suffering
badly, but were resuscitated after
short time under Dr. Mac cDonnelrs at
tendance.
The fourth man, John Lagier, was
very low when he arrived at the sur
face and died shortly after. He was
Frenchman and had been working
since last fall. The others were in crit
ical condition when brought to the sur
face, but all recovered excepting b. r.
Erickson. The eight rescued are: Alex
Nelson, Randolph Erickson, J. Ericlx-
son, p. Strand, w. Prynn, Charles Eng
strom. c. c. Peterson and Charles Oon-
William Prynn upon examination
was found badly burned on the back
in three places by burning sparks fall
ing on him. 1t seems the air shaft
was ignited and caused a suction of air
from the bottom of the shaft, depriv-
ing the men of fresh air and causing
smoke to descend the shaft, and when
found all were unconscious and leaning
against the side of the shaft. Mr.
Caldwell and assistants did everything
possible to relieve their sufferings. The
building is completely consumed, but
the loss is fairly covered by insurance
The fire does not affect the mine prop
err, and the work will continue during
the erection of new shaft house.