Omaha daily bee., 1897-11-15
ASPEN MINES AFlRE
Flames Make Their Appearance First in the
smuggler Mine.
EIGHT HUNDRED FEET BELOW THE SURFACE
Thousands of Cords of Dry Timber Upon
Which to Feed.
FIRE FIGHTERS RENDERED UNCONSCIOUS
Forty Men Nearly Asphi1iated in Efforts to
Subdue Flames.
IRE FIGHTERS RENDERED UNCONSCIOUS
ENTIRE MINING CAMP IS THREATENED
Force of Steam or n CRve-In Are the c
Only Hope of Preventing De-
structi0n of the
Property.
DENVER, Colo, Nov. IA special to the

DENVER, Colo, Nov IA special to the
Republican from Aspen, Colo, says
fire that gives fair promise of closing
down every big mine in the camp Is raging
in the sixth level Of the Smuggler mine. The
cause Of the catastrophe is supposed to be
spontaneous combustion, although there are
a few who are inclined TO the theory that d
careless miner and candle are responsible.
So far the fire is confined to large crib
and is burning at point about 500 feet below
the surface. This crib is eighty feet wide,
164 feet long and 300 feet high. 1t contains
many thousands of cords of dry timber. So
far as known these timbers have not broken
into blaze, but tho supposition is that the
entire base Of the crib is burning.
All efforts to reach the fire have proved
unsuccessful and an attempt TO place bulk
heads In the connection came near losing the
lives of some fifty men, Over forty of those
were so overcome by the deadly gas that for
a time their lives were deSpaired of.
The burning crib is located about sixty feet
from the Moilie Gibson, and the Smuggler
Mollie connection furnished draught for the
fire The Molle Gibson people attempted to
bulkhead their connection but came near los
ing a number of men. At one time twelve
unconscious miners were holsted from the
mine ana stretched out Oh lue SLdlI HOuSe
floor. Shortly thereafter six more were
hoisted out i'm an only slightly less serious
condition. Although physicians were on the
ground it took the energetic and vocferous
efforts of all the bystanders to bring these
men around within three-quarters OF an hour.
A miner named Ed Hogdson, while in dazed
condition. fell down an ore chute and sus-
tanned serious, although, it is believed, not
fatal injuries
MINE OFFICIALS NARROW ESCAPE
At lO:SO Manager Halett, Master Mechanic
Carsons and Cageman Wright made trip
In the burning mine through the Free Silver
shaft. Although under ground less than ff-
teen minutes they were all overcome by gas
AMI had miraculous escape from death
Manager Hallett, asked as to the prospect
OF saving the burning mine, said:
There are two possible chances. One is
that the fire can be eXtingulshed by steam
which we will force in from below; the other
that the fire will soon consume the crib and
cause cavein sufficiently large to smother
the fire. There is no danger OF the gls caus-
ing an explosion Flooding the property will
not Intentionally be resorted to, although
conditions may arise that will make it un-
avoidable. To flood the mine means the
drowning out CT all the big mines in the
camp, including the Free Silver, Della S,
smuggler, Mollie Gibson, Argentum- Jurdata
Deep Shaft Millinee and the Aspen Mining
and Smelling company.
Manager Cox OF the Molie. speaking of the
situation, stated that they were working but
could form no idea of what the result would
be.
A force OF men are at work putting in a
steam line In the eighth level Manager
Hallett states that he expects to have this in
operation by o'clock tomorrow morning
Should the disaster prove as far-rea ching
as 1t is generally supposed tonight Aspen %
a mining camp will be seldom heard from
until silver reaches a figure far beyond Its
present value.
CHICAGO, Nov 14.-The old four-story
building of the Nutrment company, manu-
featuring chemists, was burned tonigh., to-
gether with large stock of pepsn and nu-
tritious foods. The loss is estimated at $780,
600 well insured.