, 1897-11-15
MINE ATTIRE.
AND THE PROSPERITY OF THE
ENTIRE CAMP is PLACED IN
JEOPARDY.
Flooding Will be Deferred Until All
Other Means Fail-Many Men
Frustrated in Trying to Save Prop
erty-But Their Bravery Does Not
Serve to Check the Flames.

Aspen, Colo, Nov. IA nre That
gives fair promise of closing down ev-
cry big mine in the camp is raging in
The cause of the catastrophe that has
set all Aspen agog is supposed to be
spontaneous combustion, although
there are a few who are inclined to the
theory that a careless miner and a
candle are responsible. So far the fire
is confined to a large crib and is burn
ing at a point about 500 feet below the
surface. This crib is so feet wide, 164
feet long,and 800 feet high. 1t contains
many thousands of cords of dry tim
Der. At the point of the fire, and for
so feet above. it is filled with waste,
put the timber is dry and punky and
will shoulder for many months unless
quenched. So far as known these tim,
bers have not broken into a blaze. but
the supposition is that the entire base
of the crib is burning.
All efforts to reach the fire have
proven unsuccessful and an attempt to
place bulkheads in the connection came
near losing the lives of some so men.
Over 40 of these were so overcome by
the deadly gas that for a time their
lives were despaired Of.
The burning crib is located about 30
feet from the Mollie Gibson and the
Smuggler- Mollie connection furnished
a draught for the fire. Owing to this
the miners in the Mollie were the first
to discover that something was wrong.
Thinking the trouble was in that prop
erty. some three hours time was con
sumed in making a search for the
blaze. This was most valuable time
lost, as shortly after the seat Of the fire
was discovered the gas had become &C
heavy that all the men were driven
from the mine. The Mollie Gibson
people attempted to bulkhead their con
n%ections, but came near losing a num-
Der Of men. At one time IL unconscious
miners were hoisted from the mine and
gu ouN vi NHS olloll ilouoS llSSl.
Shortly thereafter six more we're hoist
ed out in an only slightly less serious
condition. Although physicians were
on the ground, it took the energetic and
vigorous efforts of all the bystanders
to bring these men around within
three-quarters OF an hour. A miner
named Ed. Hodgeson. while in a dazed
condition, fell from an ore chute and
sustained serious, although it is believ-
ed not fatal, injuries.
The Mollie people became panic
stricken about the time the unconscious
miners were brought to the surface,
and were ready to abandon the mine to
its fate. The pumpmen as well as the
miners deserted their posts and the
pumps stopped. Hearing of this Master
Mechanic Alex. Carsons Of the Snug
gler crawled through the connection
and started the Mollie pumps before
they were drowned out. This heroic
act probably saved the mine, as shortly
thereafter another attempt was made
to put in the bulkhead with success,
This confined the gas to the Smuggler.
and tonight the Mollie is working as
usual.
Al tho smuoo,or No,.aor u.,,o..
was IN tho oro,,nd oI, d.v III r.ooh.d
the mine Of e.ao MI. morr;n. ond ala
mt leave q INIT, E ,.c,ooL t,n,aht u
made sevoro, tr,ns into N. u;na .na
wos once ho,stoa .o tho .,r,,oo ~
consc,ous uo onao,vorod to h,,1rbo.a
tho ohovo Tho ero ond .,,on,
n IN smo,Ider Thi. u,. rns,oo...,,I
a,tboueb some OK mon uoro o,orooma
nv the pas in tho ottomn+
,o.oo
.h.s.s Go" n" WY
80. 80
$500, 49, ~ su.s
$50 %,
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ahas ~. IT, ~ ~
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