The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-19
DEAD In A COAL MINE
Nearly go Men Sufocated in a Black
Tomb in Colorado.
EXPLOSION IN THE VULCAN
Hundreds OF willing Men Enlist In
the Army OF Rescuers, but the
Smoke and Gas Prevent
Entrance to the Slopes.

| Denver, Feb. 1S.-A special to the
News from New Castle, Col, says: An
explosion occurred at the Vulcan mine
at 11:20 o'clock this morning, which was
the most disastrous ever known in the
history of this camp. Tonight dozens
of homes in our city are desolate be-
caused of some loved one-father. hus-
band, brother or son. who this morning
left their homes with not a thought of
danger or the awful death that so sure
ly awaited them. and are now lying
lifeless at the bottom OF the Vulcan
stope. All business is practically sus-
pended; every one is dazed at the aw-
fulness of the sudden disaster. No
warning was given the peaceful viii
layers until a sudden report. as from
hundred cannon, resounded throughout
the valley, making the earth tremble
People rushed out of their homes and
places of business to see what had hap
pened. and one look toward the Vulcan
mine was sufficient. for a dense cloud
of smoke issuing from the mouth of
the stope met the eyes of the gazers
and told the tale OF death. A throng of
people were soon at the scene, a dis
/ tance of nearly two miles from New
Castle. glance was enough to dissi-
pate any hope for the lives of the en-
tombed men.
The force of the explosion had caused
cave-in and the tunnel and air
courses were filled with the fallen rock.
earth and timbers. Both fan houses
were wrecked, and the stope and vicin-
ity were so full of debris and the gas
was so bad that 1t was hard and dan
gerous work TO begin the rescue
Nevertheless, willing hands were soon
at work. and five men went down as
far as possible to ascertain the condi-
tion of the stope and found Il such that
II will require much labor to regain the
miners. The gas was so bad that after
the party had gotten 200 feet they were
compelled to recede
The Consolidated mine shut down
Immediately upon hearing OF the disas-
ter, and sent its entire force of $50 men
to help rescue the unfortunate ones
Ihe construction of temporary fan
mouse was commenced at once, and the
work or pumping fresh air into the
mine VIII soon begin. II is hardly pos
sible that any of the miners are alive.
The only man who got out of the mine
at the time the explosion occurred. WAS
Ed Welch, who was near the mouth OF
the tunnel and was blown out, his skull
pelng fractured and an arm broken
the face badly cut and burned, and all
the hair burned from his head. He was
breathing when found, but expired
shortly afterwards without showing
consciousness. Two young miners Tom
Connolly and James Petrie. met with
narrow escapes. Their eyes becoming
sore, they quit work in the mine and
had just emerged from the tunnel when
the explosion occurred. The following
are all the names OF miners known 70 /
be at work that can be obtained up 10 !
this hour:
William Haggerty Joseph Dorr. Abel /
Dorr. VIII Dorr, James Harrison 1
Thomas Larigan. George Ward. Ed |
ward Welch. John Funke and his 1s- |
year-old son Emil; Charles Merchant. |
Tom Addison. Louis Cinotti. Fred Rod |
anzli, Peter Patricio, Dan Marris. Ga |
briel Gleece, Frank Tossio. Baptisto |
Chowchett, August Matteve. John 1
Scaife. Alex Scaife. Philip Bacha. Peter
Becker. Fred Sigimund. Antonio Patri-
clio. John Pastorio. John Coughlan
William Webb. Domenic Matteno. Sam
Jones. Frank McCourty. Bob Cottle
Aleck Reno. Frank Simonic. Robert
Setiger. Jack Jenkins, Domenic ozeIlo
John Oleno. James Fraegno. Donenic
Rosetti, Peter Tappero. Antonio Tap
pero, Andrew Rollando. Peter Magenta.
Antonio Martino David j. Evans.
As soon as the news of the explosion
reached New Castle Superinfendent
Paul Blount closed the mines OF the
Colorado Fuel company and. taking IN
all the miners. left for the Vulcan
mines. where all are actively at work
aiding in the attempts at rescue.
There are two shafts In addition TO the
one in which the explosion took place
In the upper OF these two OF the res
cuers are in about 300 feet and IL IS
thought that air can be forced into
some Of the rooms. but none Of those
In the mine have come out and IL is
feared that this Is conclusive evidence
that all are dead. In this main tunnel
men are at work building a division
with boards and canvas through which
air can be forced In on the one side
and the foul gas driven from the other.
but this Is slew work
The cause Of the explosion Is not
yet known. The coal fields in which
the Vulcan mine Is located have been
troubled with subterranean fires for
many years. In many places. over a
distance Of so 10 100 mile. smoke has
Issued from crevasses in the rocks
since the country was first known 20 I
white men. and in later years more
than one valuable coal mine has been I
destroyed by fire breaking into the I
workings. II Is thought that the dis
aster may have been caused by break I
INK into an immense pocket Of gas I
generated by these everlasting fires.
The number of victims can not be ac-
stated. Those best informed
think the number is between IS and 60
A Dozra r rsons Injured.