The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1896-02-27

Caused by Internal Fires in that Dis
trict.
Denver, Feb. 2o.-A special to the
News from Newcastle, Col, says: An
explosion occurred at the Vulcan mine
at 11:2o this morning which was the
most disastrous ever known in the his,
tory of this camp. Tonight dozens of
homes in our little city ale desolate
because of some loved one, father, hus-
band, brother or son, who this morning
left their homes with not thought CT
danger or the awful death that so surely
awaited them, and are now lying lifeless
at the bottom Of the Vulcan slope.
All business is practically suspended;
everyone is dazed at the awfulness of
the sudden disaster No warning was
given the peaceful villagers until sud
den report as from hundred cannons
resounded throughout the valley, max
ing the earth tremble. People rushed
out of homes and places of business to
see what had happened, and one look
toward the Vulcan mine was sufficient
for 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, distance of nearly
two miles from Newcastle. A glance
was enough to dissipate any hope for the
lives of the entombed men. The force
of the explosion had caused a cave-in,
filed with the fallen rock, earth and
timbers. Both fan-houses were wreck
ed and the slope and vicinity were so
full of debris and the gas SO bad, that it
was hard and dangerous work TO begin
the rescue. Nevertheless, willing hands
were soon at work and FIVE men went
down as far as possible to ascertain the
condition of the slope, and found it such
that it will require much labor to regain
the miners. The gas was so bad that
after the party had got 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 Immediately
upon hearing of the disaster and sent
their entire force of loo men to help
rescue the unfortunate ones. The con-
struction of temporary farmhouse was
commenced at once, and the work of
pumping fresh air into the mine will
soon begin. 1t is hardly possible. 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 the explosion occurred was
Ed WEIGH, who was near the mouth of
the tunnel and was blown out, his skull
being fractured, arm broken, the face
badly cut and burned and all the hair be-
ing burned from his head He was
breathing when found, but expired short
ly after without regaining conscious
ness.
Two young miners, Tom Connolly
and James Petrie, met with narrow es-
capes. Their eyes becoming sore, they
quit work in the mines and had just
emerged from the tunnel when the ex-
explosion occurred
The cause of the explosion is not yet
known. The coal fields in which the
Vulcan mine is located have been trou-
bled with subterranean fires for many
years. In many places over a distance
ofeighty to an hundred miles smokee has
issued from crevices in rocks since the
country was first known to white man.
and in late years more than one valua-
bic mine has been destroyed by fire
breaking into the workings. Little over
ayear ago the mines of the Vulcan had
to b. flooded on this account, and the.
ed, the drift where today's accident oc-
Cured being new one. 1t is thought
that the disaster may have been caused
by breaking into an immense pocket of
gas generated by these everlasting fires
On February s, State Coal Mine In,
specter Griffith inspected the mine and
pronounced it in splendid condition, ano
the work is said to have been done at al
times in the most careful manner possi
BILE.
The number of victims cannot be &C
curately stated, estimates running from
fifty to seventy. Those best informe,
think the number is very likely between
fifty-fve and sixty The excitement a
present is so intense, that efforts to Sc
cure a complete list is useless.