The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-02-03
A Miraculous Escape.
That of the Two Lem
peas at the Nor tn
TamaraCk.
Particulars of Their Escape.
The other Unfortunates Not Yet
Heard FrOm-Justice Court Haps
Other Local LacOntcs.

Other Local LacOntcs.
The saying that 1t is the unexpected
that happens never proved true with
greater force than this morning when
Peter (Johnson) Lempea and his son
William, who had been given up for lost
in the fire in North Tamarack mine, were
hoisted to surface. Neither appeared to
be very much the worse for their exper-
fence, although the father is suffering
from a severe nervous shock.
The story OF their escape is about as
follows:
The father and son we're working on
the 9th leyel and knew nothing about the
fire until some time in the forenoon, when
the son, having to go out from where
they were working, noticed that every
thing was quiet and Immediately re-
ported to his father. The father, upon
approaching the shaft, soon found there
was fire, and the two then climbed to
the 9Th level, but finding the smoke there
where their lights went out, and, having
no matches, they continued In the dark;
but, fortunately, Lampea is a man OF
good Judgment and not easily frightened,
so together they dragge a hose back
with them and by the time they got back
to where the smoke was not so dense
they were so overcome they had to place
the hose close TO their faces. As soon az
they had partially recovered Lempea
fixed the hose with some rocks, so that
the mouth of the hose was facing the side
of the drift, wrich diffused the air, which
was coming down with great force, so
that they could breathe freely. In this
condition they remained. The son wished
several times to go to the shaft, but his
father would not allow him as he was
afraid he would die in the attempt. Dur
ing the night Lempea went after his din
ner pail and they ate their crib. This
morning, as the smoke appeared to be
clearing away, Lempea consented that
his son should attempt to make his way
to the shaft aud, if possible, signal to the
surface, which he finally succeeded in
doing.
Young Lempea thinks that he had
rung the bell for about hall an hour be-
fore the cage came, but as in such time
moments seem hours he is, no doubt,
mistaken as to the length OF time he was
kept waiting; besides, his strength might
not have been sufficient flr him to ring
when he thought he did.
When the cage did come with the cap
tains and men in it, young Lemnea was
found near the bell rope and his father
back in the drift They were hoisted to
surface at once, and the glad news was
quickly sent abroad. The men we're soon
taken to their home, on Pine street, near
the News Office. The pathetic scene wit
messed here cannot be described. Tn
wife of Lempea had not given up hope,
as she believed that, as her husband had
such good knowledge OF the mine, il
there was any possible chance for his
safety he would make the most OF 1T. She
was at the shaft yesterday and last even
ing, and with difficulty could be prevailed
upon to go home.
When the men were taken home this
morning DR.. Bobb was summoned and
examined both men. The elder Lempea
suffering from a nervous shock, and
the physician SAYS he must have perfect
quiet and must not be disturbed. The
boy Will did not seem to be at all nervous
and told the story Of their escape, while
washing himself.
At O'Clock this afternoon there was
nothing new IN regard to the fire at the
North Tamarack Mine. party went
down this forenoon in the hope OF finding
the other two men, who are supposed to
be at the 9Th level, but could not get be-
low the 7th level on account of the
smoke. Another attempt will be made
to rescue the men this afternoon and
party will go down shortly after 4
o'clock,
The smoke was coming up strong this af-
ternoon in No, 4 shaft, but not as bad as
it was at any time yesterday. This
morning scarcely any came up for some
time, but it was worse again this after
noon.
There is still hope for the two men
underground as the older is an exper-
fenced miner and il they are in the drift
and do not risk going into the shaft they
may yet be saved.
Several Cases.
Stephen Michilich was arrested today |
on complaint OF Leopold Lesh. who |