The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-07
In THE HOPE SHAFT
The Bodies of the Fire Victims Lie
Deep Under Water.
A SLOW, TEDIOUS PROCESS
Recovery Is Far Distant and Time
and Much Money Must Be Elk
pended I'm the Task = Great
Difficulty Experienced.

A report from Basin yesterday was
that there is much more difficulty be-
ing experienced in getting the bodies
of the fire victims from the bottom of
the Hope shaft than was at first
thought there would be. 1t is now stat
ed that shortly after the calamity oc-
CURED, z. w. Bach, one of the super
intendents, expressed himself of the
belief that the present company would
not be able to recover the bodies at
all. The explanation Of this statement
is that for the past year there has been
disagreement existing between the
eastern and the Helena stockholders,
for the reason that the concentrator
did not give satisfaction in saving the
values of the ores. Ever since the Hope
concentration was built 1T has been
failure. II is said, and had the ore been
of a poor quality the mine would have
suspended operations long ago. Dur
ing the few years it was superintendent
by Mr. Young of Helena, while he
worked on the best ore chute between
the 200 and the surface, the mine paid
a handsome profit, but as the ore got
further from the shaft and the rich
pay chute dipped from the Hope into
the Katie ground ON the east, the COM
pany could no longer afford to lose the
so per cent. which the concentration is
said to have wasted. The eastern own
ers protested and it resulted in the mill
being shut down, but the development
of the mine continued. The shaft was
sunk to the 300 and the west drifts
were extended, opening up numerous
chutes of ore for which work the COM
pany overdrew it's account with the
First National bank at Helena in the
sum of 81 700.
After the mine presented so good
showing the company concluded to
start up the mill again to pay off the
indebtedness incurred, and after that
shut down again and reorganize the
company and build a better mill.
After the mill was started they found
that II continued to lose about so per
cent of the ore values and the out
put and after paying running ex-
penses, left little towards paying off
the overdraft, and the company again
concluded to suspend operations and
take steps toward a reorganization.
The order came to hoist the pumps
and everything had been Put in con-
dition for a permanent shutdown, and
the seven men were below hosting the
sinkers on the 300 when the fire oc-
Cured, and where their bodies now
are.
Immediately after the fire It was a
question whether the men would ever
be taken from the mine and from re-
ports IL was claimed that they would
remain where they were. An article
appeared in the Standard about that
time stating that should the Hope COM
pany conclude to let the men remain
where they were their bodies would be
recovered by popular subscription
gathered from among the miners OF
the Northwest. This the Helena peo-
pie did not approve Of and meeting
OF the prominent stockholders of the
bank was held at which A. ]. Davis
and Sam Hauser participated 1t was
concluded to allow the Hope corpora
ton further sum of $4,000 with which
to work for the recovery OF the bodies.
II was argued that II the bodies were
allowed to remain in the mine IL would
be a lasting disgrace to the city of
Helena. Since that time a force of
men have been employed. five sinkers
have been put in the shaft. and a few
days ago the water had been lowered
about 20 feet below the 100-foot level.
and II is feared that the $4,000 allowed
by the bank will not near complete the
work necessary to reach the bodies. IL
is said now that for a time there was
a serious question II the Hope company
would do anything in the matter.
A n. Spratt. the president or the
company. was correspondent with. but
he said that money was very tight in
| the East and he could not raise his
| share of the expense, so all the stocks
of the company was pledged to the
| bank for the money advanced. 1t Is
understood that Il. ID. Edgerton. the
manager OF the bank, pledged his In
dividual word to the stockholders or
/ the bank for the whole sum of $4,000
advanced to the Hope company.