The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-02-19

DENVER. Feb ia special to
the News from Newcastle, Colo, says:
An explosion occurred at the Vulcan
mine at II 20 this morning, which was
the most disastrous ever known in the
history of the camp.
Tonight dozens Of homes in our little
city are desoIate because of some loved
one-father husband. brother or SON
who this morning left their homes
with not thought of the awful death
that so surely awaited them, and are
now lying lifeless at the bottom of the
Vulcan slope. All business is practi-
caHy suspended.
EVERYONE IS DAZED
at the awfulness of the sudden disas-
ter. No warning was given the peace
ful villagers until sudden report as
from a hundred cannon resounded
throughout the valley, making the
earth tremble. People rushed out of
homes and places of business to see
what had happened, and one look to-
ward the Vulcan mine was sufficient,
for a dense cloud of smoke issuing
from the mouth of the slope met the
eyes of the gaZers and told the tale of
death A throng of people were soon
at the scene of disaster, a distance Of
nearly two miles from Newcastle. a
glance was enough to diSsipate any
hope for the lives of the entonbed
men The force Of the explosion had
caused a cave-in, and the tunnel and
air courses were filed with the fallen
rock. earth and timbers. Both fan
L. 7
and vicinity were so full Of debris and
the gas was 50 bad that it was
HARD AND DANGEROUS
work 70 begin the rescue Neverthe-
less. willing hands were soon at work
and five men went down as far as pos
sihle TO ascertain the condition of the
slope, and found it such that it will
require much labor TO regain the min
ers. The gas was so bad that after
the party had gotten 200 feet they
were compelled to recede. The party
consisted of superintendent Herrick Of
the Vulcan and John Evans, William
Reese. Sam Hills and Robert Temple
man from the Consolidated mine The
last named mine shut down immedi-
altely upon hearing of the disaster
ana sent their entire force of $50 men
10 hello rescue the unfortunate ones
The construction Of a temporary fan
house was commenced at once and the
work of pumping fresh air into the
mine viii soon begin. It is hardly pos
sible that any of the miners are still
alive. but the starting Of the fans will
be made as soon as possible in the hope
that if any have survived they may
BE KEPT ALIVE
until help reaches them.
The only man who got out of the
mine at the time of the explosion was
Ed. WEIGH, who was near the mouth
Of the tunnel and was blown out, his
skull being fractured. arm broken, face
badly cut and burned, and all the hair
burned from his head. He was breath
ing when found, but expired shortly
afterward without showing conscious
ness. Two young miners, Tom Con-
nelly and James Petrie. met with mar
rntS escapes. Their eyes becoming
had Just emerged from the tunnel
when the explosion occurred. The fol-
lowing are all the names of miners
known to have been at work that can
be obtained up to this hour:
William Haggerty, Joseph Dorr Abel
Horr, James Harrison, pit boss;
Thomas Larlgan. pit boss; George
Ward Edward Weich, driver; John
Funke and 13-year-old son Emil.
Charles Merchant, Tom Addison. Louis
Cinotti, Fred Rodanski, leaves wife
and nine children; Peter PatTicio, Dan
Morris, Ca briel GIeece, Frank Tossio,
Baptisto Chowchett, August Matteve,
John Seattle, Alex Seattle, Philip Racha,
Peter Becker. Fred Siginund. Antonio
Patricio, John Pastorio, John Cough
Ian, William Webb, Domenic Matteno,
Sam Jones, Frank McCourty, Bob Cot
tie ir Aleck Reno. Frank Simonic
Robert Settger. Jack Jenkins, Domenic
Ozello, John OIeno, James Fraegno, |
Demenic ROsetti. Peter Tappero, An !
ionic Rollando. Peter Magenta, Anto-
MO MARITIME, David J. Evans.
AS soon as the news Of the explosion |
reached Newcastle superintendent Paul |
PIount closed the mines of the Colorado |