The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-09
Special Dispatch to the Standard.

Basin, Mont. April S.-The Hone
moist was consumed by fire this evening,
shortly after o'clock. Several men
are reported in the shaft; probably all
OF them are suffocated to death. The
men are:
JOHN BUCKLEY. shift boss.
PAT BUCKLEY.
MARTIN SULLIVAN.
HUGHEY M'KEwEN.
BARNEY WALL.
WILL BELDEN.
| ED McARTHUR.
| 1t is said that the flames were dis
covered coming up from the shaft and
| 1t is presumed that the fire took place
at the tunnel level which connects
about so feet from the surface, or on
one of the levels below.
The alarm was sounded by the engi-
neer. 1t brought the entire population
OF Basin promptly to the scene of the
confiagration; IL was at first supposed
that the mill and hoist were both in
hames. The spectators were at first
timid about approaching too close to
the flames, but the men who had been
employed in the mine, knowing the
whereabout of the powder, rushed i'm to
save the burning works. The pumps
were put to their full pressure. With
all the hose that could be procured sew
eral streams were brought to bear on
the burning hoisting works. and by
hard and desperate work the mill. situ-
ated about 100 feet east of the hoist
was saved
The shaft is an incline $50 feet I'm
depth. The company yesterday had de-
termined to suspend operations and had
discharged all of the men empIoved ex-
cept a few who were putting in bulk
heads on the different levels in order
to keep floating timbers and other ma
terial from the drifts from falling down
the shaft. The seven men were so en-
ployed, and at this hour there are
slight hopes that any of these men will
ever be taken from the mine alive.
All OF the men are well known
miners, having been employed in and
about the mines OF Butte before they
came to Basin. Pat and John Buckley
are brothers of Martin Buckley. the
foreman. John is a married man with
a family of several children who reside
In Basin. 1t is not known whether any
OF the other unfortunates were men OF
FAMILY, but 1t is presumed that some
of them are.
The scene of the fire was promptly
crowded with the citizens of Basin.
After it was learned that there was no
risk from powder. they seized buckets
In hope OF subduing the flames. Many
OF the miners who have been employed
In the Hope mine say that there is a
bare possibility of the men being res
cued alive. but the gallows frame and
timoers OF the burning hoist went
down the shaft, and this re-
suit dispelled any hope that the spec
tators had entertained for the safety
Of those below. There is but one inlet
Or outlet to the mine by way of the
shaft. there never having been any
other outlet completed for the safety
of the men beneath. How the fire
started cannot be learned definitely to-
night.
This terrible disaster has cast a gloom
'ver the entire community. Every
body is willing to help. but IL win be
lard to tell when il will be possible 10
20 down the shaft to ascertain the
worst. as it is undoubtedly burned 70 a
depth. The hoist was a
ude frame building. built into the
nountain. cribbed with tagging Of COM
'aratively light value. The collar Of
he shaft came to a height of 80 feet !
-bove the surface. all Of which was I
leavily timbered, and at the foot Of {
which was the blacksmith shop. These /.
tructures made a fire equal II not ,
reater than that at the hoist This :
art OF the shaft as IL was consumed. :
rashed down. setting the shaft on fire y
n its downward course '
In all probability there win be an 7
nort made tomorrow to rescue the
len, IL fortunately they are alive. al
hough everything possible is being
one at this moment. The compressor
kept running to furnish the men with
In and to regulate the air courses on c
ne surface as can best be done. in the &
ope that the lives OF the seven men :
Jay yet be saved.
Basin has suffered during the year :.
ast, two Of its largest plants having ri