The San Francisco call., 1896-02-21
Arrest of a Man for Looting the
Residence of Two of the
Victims.
REMOVED TO ESCAPE LYNCHING
Working Shifts Removing the Debris
in Quest of the Remains of the
Unfortunate.

NEWCASTLE, CoLo., Feb. 20.-Rescue
work was temporarily retarded by the
placing of pump so as to draw the water
out OF the Vulcan slope. A large force
was working, never once ceasing except
for few minutes to eat mouthful.
This morning, about o'clock, party
went down, and in one of the side entries
found the bodies of Will Dore, who kept
the door, Nick Ross, an Italian miner,
Robert Cottle and Emil Funk, son of John
Funk, pit boss. Will Dore and Robert
Coitle evidently died from suffocation and
4 Ross and young Funk were instantly
killed by the explosion. All four bodies
were found in the first left entry, about
900 feet from the entrance to the main
slope.
From 1 o'clock in the morning, when
the brattice over the right entry was put
in place, the crews were kept steadily at
work clearing away the massive debris
from the entrance to the left east work
ings. The task was rendered dangerous
by reason OF the prevalent black damp;
but toward morning the fan had expelled
most of it from the workings, and by 5
o'clock the crews were able TO work out
the full two-hour shifts.
The first funeral service was held to-day
over the body of Ed Welsh the rope-rider,
who was blown out of the slope by the
terrible explosion. His sister arrived here
to-day from Cripple Creek in response TO
telegram sent by Mrs. Welsh before the
sccident occurred, she having been moved
by some premonition of impending trouble
10 do this.
The Coroner has decided not to hold an
inquest until all the bodies most readily
obtainabIe have been brought TO the sur
face. 1t is his intention then to probe the
affair TO the bottom by making the most
searching examination into the cause of
the accident, and to thus fix the RESPONSE
bility.
1t is impossible just now to say how
many bodies remain in the mine. The
clerk OF the Vulcan Company has made a
careful check of his books, and gives it ont
that the dead viii not exceed forty-nine in
Eumber, eight OF whom have been recov-
cred, and forty-one still remain within.
Concerning this estimate there is room for
doubt, however, as to whether it is large
enough. Many of the miners who worked
in the Vulcan and were off temporarily
the day of the explosion, insist that there
are four or five more men entombed than
is given on the clerks list.
Carl Schmidt at one time a saloon
keeper here, was arrested this afternoon
by deputy sheriff on the charge of grand
larceny. 1t is SAID that he riied the effects
OF John Funk in his house near the Vul-
can mine. Funk and his son Emil were
both killed by the explosion, and the
fathers body has not yet been recovered.
There was Indignation among the miners
over Schmidts alleged act, and while the
funeral of Ed Welsh was in progress this
afternoon mutterings OF an ominous
nature were heard on the street corners.
Schmidt was taken up back streets and
alleys until clear of town, and freight
train was tagged by the officers. He was
put on and taken to Glenwood Springs for
safety from a mob which would surely
have lynched him if he had remained in
Newcastle.
-Four more bodies were recovered at 2
o'clock this afternoon - those OF Chris
Seigle, Tony Tapero, John Gombard and
Charles Merchant - making a total of
twelve bodies recovered so far. Working
shifts of eight men are now steadily remov-
ing the debris. the work all being done in
the left entry, as it is almost certain that
nearly all of the dead are in there.
The town is draped in mourning; all the
stores and places of business have been
closed to-day and everything possible is
being done to assist in the rescue OF bodies
and console the mothers, widows and Or
phans of the dead miners. The ladies are
cooking and serving meals to all at the
mines, so those working do not have to
leave to get food.