The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-13
TO PLACE THE BLAME
Last Weeks Accident at Basin Goes
to a Jury.
SOME FACTS BROUGHT OUT
Men Who We're Employed at the
Hope Mine Tell About the
Fire-No Nore Bodies
Yet Found.
Special Dispatch to the Standard.

Basin, April 12-Coroner Fletcher
this morning impaneled the following
jury to inquire into the cause of the
death of John Buckley in the Hope
mine: Louis Sponheim, Thomas SAN
ders. S. Southworth. p. Wilson. ]. L.
Murphy. James Felts. The following
witnesses were sworn: John Weber,
T.. A. Battle. Martin Buckley. F. ".
Fletcher, f.. w. Bach, A. l.. Harrison,
Pat Padden, Ben Moran. f. r. Sum-
ner, Dave Coleman and Fred Fisher.
The testimony was very exhaustive.
County Attorney W. l.. Hay conducted
the inquiry. He was assisted by
Charlie Macarthur. F. N. Fletcher rep
resented the Hope company. He Is a
heavy stockholder, controlling as per
cent. of the stock. The evidence pro-
duced thus far was very damaging. 1t
was to the effect that the ladders In the
mine were not as numerous as a mine
OF the Hopes size should contain and
that IL would be almost an impossibil-
ity for men to have gotten out with the
mine in the condition that II was at
the time of the fire.
Foreman Buckley testified that he
worked the mine in the style of his pre-
decesosrs and that there was little IL
any deviation from their rule OF min
ing. He said IL was by the old style
OF mining. 20 years behind the times.
80 hN NNoNibId tAl-iNs ONlHH 10 iHt EOIQ
formation of the walls I'm the Hope
the abandoned Slopes needed no waste
or filling to keep the mine from COM
ing together.
The most damaging testimony pro-
duced in the case was given by John
Weber. the engineer who was on duty
the night OF the fire He said that he
had been talking to a friend named
kimes, and that the signal rung five
and two ones, which meant that the
cage was wanted at the 10O-foot level
He said that, as the men were work.
ing at pulling the sinlSers from the 300
he was afraid he might interfere with
them at work and that, as he had re-
ceiVed strict orders to be careful when
the pumpmen were using the cage. ne
was more particularly so that night,
Tor the reason he knew the men were
pulling the pumps up. He continued
In conversation with Kimes, until he
heard tine signal which meant the loo.
but kimes claimed HTS attention by
saying, Weber, / smell smoke" and
Weber went TO investigate.
This was when the dense black
smoke rushed up the shaft binding
the hoist and knocking Kimes down by
the effect Of It's sudden appearance.
Weber, In the darkness. rushed for the
door and yelled TO Kimes. Here's the
door; come on" but ne failed 10 come
out Weber put his hand In the door.
seized him by the coat and, after he
had him at the door, said: Here
khmes. you go down and tell Carley to
blow the whistle"
Weber afterwards attempted TO get
70 the engine but could get only about
ndil @ way, as the room was full OF
smoke. The large reflector in. the
hoist had been extinguished by the
smoke. or the smoke was 50 dense that
ne could not see II at all. He went out
and saw Tommy Sullivan, Hay AxtelI
ana another man coming up the hill.
iommy said: why don't you save
the men," Then the whole three
smashed the window and the fire and
smoke dashed out, enveIoping the
building entirely.
There were other Interesting hits of
evidence which went to show thar the
mine was poorly supplied with ladders
ana that II would have been an Impos-
slDIilty Tor the men to have reached the
surface in the condition the mine was
n az the time OF the fire. without assist
lnce .ce from the outside. superintendent
rletcher testified that he was NOT An
expert quartz miner; that he had never
had any practical experience formerly
IN that line OF business, but that. after
inspecting the mine. he had given or
aers 10 Foreman Buckley and Foreman
Kellogg to place the mine In such a
that IL would be as safe as
human power could make IL. He SUM-
posed, as they were expert and expe-
rlenced mining men. that they had
taken all the necessary precautions for
safety.
During the time when Mr.. Weber wa.
being examined by County Attorney
Hay. he was asked the question: was
Z or was II not your duty to have an
iwered these signals that were given
% you and which you say you distinct
y heard?" To this question. Weber
PAUSED In an embarrassed and confused
way and then, when the question was
again put TO him. he declined TO an
iwer.
All day exploring parties, consisting
u experienced mining men. have been
'earching the old Slopes of the mine
lown TO the 200. which is filled with
water 20 feet above the level The old
topes and workings have been ex-
'ioied In the hope of finding more bo-
lies. but none as yet have been discov-
red. and II is believed that the other
TX men are, in all probability, in the
age at the 300. The inquest was post
'oned until Tuesday morning at a. m
Albert Boulware is fast recovering
rom his is hours in the deadly gases.
.ast night he was given up by DIR.
tainville. but this morning he rallied.
ma he Is now on a fair road to rapid
ecoVery. The water Is raising so rap
ily In the mine that. II the company
proposes TO continue the work. il will
ave 10 put the pumps at work at once.
he remains OF John Buckley We're
urned over TO the undertakers to-day
y the coroner and will be taken 10
suite for burial There are no pros
ects OF recovering any more OF the
odies until the shaft is cleaned out. as
Is now almost conclusive that there
re no more Of them in the Slopes above
he 200. Tom Bach. Z. w. Bach and F.
:. Fletcher are in town to-day in the
lterests OF the Hope company.
No Truth In 1t