The Portland daily press., 1896-06-29

When he was brought up, his story,
freighted with direful statements.
gave to the few bosses present, doubt as
TO the safety of any of the men AMI boys
below. From him was secured the first
information of the number who appeared
likely to be in the shaft. The most con-
servatlye estimate WAS, that not less than
one hundred or more workmen, had
suffered or were likely to suffer a
horrible death.
Word cams from the pit that the men
were ready to be brought up. John
Riker, a runner boy, Jacob Adam and
Frank FL. Sheridan, company men, were
soon brought to the surface and told the
true and frightful story.
Several days ago the officials discovered
that a rock badween the fifth and sixth
veins had commenced working and, to
prevent the continuation of this, all day
Saturday and Saturday night, q full
complement of day men, and such others
as could be pressed into service from off
the streets, were set at work pillaring
and propping she sixth vein, to ensure
the safety of the workmen who were to
go to work Monday. Saturday night the
regular night force was working at a
point about three thousand feet from the
shaft, at the foot of number three plane
at point under what is known as the
flats, little east of the ExtOn railroad
yards
The force was under the supervision of
Superintendent Langdon and his assist
ant, Michael Lynott. Orders had gone
as possible should be sent down to assist
in this dangerous work, as the constant
cracking and splintering of the roof gave
Indication that the possi bilities Of danger
were strongly founded. In accordance
with this order between twelve and one
Saturday morning, about thirty addi-
tional workmen left home and went to
work in the mine.
The new force of men enlisted in the
work was placed at point beyond that
of the night hands, and the three men
brought to the surface. stated that all of
those, q hundred or more men, had been
caught and either crushed to Immediate
death, or imprisoned and would surely
perish.
Responsive to this diScouraging news
the excitement and disturbance became
more demonstrative. 1t was found to the
CONSERVATION of the few workmen
present on the surface, that all the mine
oremen, superintendent and bosses,
who had gone to supervise the work were
also with those imprisoned. This gave
the work Of relief no systematic head.
-Four resouers, providing themselves
W1uu GNAOty Aulupb AuiIlOtR W un0 1ulA6
carriage and were lowered a Thousand
feet or more, into the mine.
After half an hour of suspense they re-
turned with the story that the caye-in
had become more extensive, that the
search party had faced inevitable danger,
and no news had been secured of the un :
fortunate men. With no delay they again
went to the foot of the shaft with other
men. Again they made heroic efforts to
get what information they could, but
returned again baffled and discouraged.
Bor third time (at p. m.) with
more men, they went into the pit, and
tried by oircuitous route to reach the
prisoners. After journey of nearly one
thousand feet, they met distractions in
mum erable, the force of the oonoussion
having created great havoc, the brattioe
work, pillars, air conduits, doors, cars
and top rock, having been piled pro-
misouously.
A congregation of gasses occurred and
this made it dangerous for any effort to
reach any where near the imprisoned
miners. Not subdued by these obstacles,
| the resouers tried last resource to reach
and save the unforsunates.
q General Manager Law, who has been
| several days on bed Of sickness, arose
and appeared at the shaft and gave In
struction to the rescuers.
Special messengers called to the mine
all the compaDy's workmen. 1t having