The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-11-20
Situation at the SmuggIer Mine
Causes Much Anxiety.
GAS PENETRATING VEIN
DOWN FROM THE EIGHTH TO
NINTH LEVEL.
Announcement That the Pump Men
Had Been Driven from Their Posts
Would be no Surprise This Morn
ng-Infainmable Gas Beginning
to Permeate the Mine.

Denver, Nov. ia special to the
Republican from Aspen, Colo, says:
The danger of losing the Smuggler
pumps has greatly increased over last
night. In fact, the situation in this
particular is most serious, and the an
nouncement that the pump men had
been driven from their posts would be
no surprise were it received before
morning. This morning the heavy or
dead gas was noticed penetrating
through the vein down from the eighth
to the ninth level, or pump station
MaSonS We're Immediately sent for and
the work of constructing solid ma
sonry bulkhead was commenced. Be
fore this was completed, the gas be-
came so heavy that two men were
overcome and were restored to con-
seriousness with great difficulty. The
mason and helper We're also knocked
out by the fumes, but finally recov-
cred sufficiently to complete the work.
The bulkhead was constructed with
suction pipe through it, the intention
being to connect this directly with the
big pump and force the gas to the
surface through the main water line.
It is hoped the bulkhead will hold it
from penetrating into the pump sta
ton and that it can be handled by
means of the water 1t is reported to-
night that the gas is escaping through
the pump and that some other means
of keeping the station clear will have
to be adopted.
DANGER TO PUMPS
This report has not been verified, but
is generally believed. The gas is car
bonic oxide and is most deadly. Should
the Smuggler management fail in their
attempt to handle this gas and keep
the ninth level clear, the pumps are
doomed in which case the Aspen dis
trict would be flooded.
Another alarming feature developed
today was the discovery that an in
f1ammable gas was being generated
and was beginning to permeate
through the mine. To what extent this
character Of gas has accumulated is
not known, but it is supposed to be
forming quite rapidly above the eighth
level and that candles will have to be
thrown aside and nothing but safety
/ lamps used. A large number of safety
lamps have reached here from New
castle, and from this time on they will
be used by the Workmen working on
the new drift on the seventh level,
which is being cut around the stope.
EXPERTS EXAMINATION.
A smoke and gas expert in the per-
son of the master mechanic for the
Colorado Fuel & Iron company at New
castle, reached here last night with
smoke protectors, and expected to
make an examination of the burning
stope this morning. After visiting the
mine, he came to the conclusion that
The undertaking was too dangerous to
tackle without the aid of experienced
men. and two more experts were tele-
graphed for at Newcastle. These men
viii reach here tonight and they will
undertake their hazardous task tomor-
row morning.
number of smoke protectors We're
ordered from the manufacturers at
Indianapolis today, indicating that the
Smuggler people anticipate a long siege
of fire and are preparing for it.