, 1897-11-18
HOPES FOR Aspen.
IT is BELIEVED THAT THE FIRE
IN THE SMUGGLER MAY
BE CONTROLLED.
The Burning Timbers Are Now Being
Deluged With Water and Steam
Manager Hallett Believes That He
Will Soon Be Able to Show Re
suIts-Fifteen Men Overcome.

Aspen, Colo. Nov. 17.-"To all up
]pearances satisfactory progress is be-
ing made towards subduing the fire n
the Smuggler NINE is the way a
Smuggler attache stated the case to a
reporter this morning. We have 10
Gated the fire beyond question as being
in the big crib between the seventh and
eighth levels and have bulkheaded it in
and are now playing on it with a five
inch stream of water under 700-foot
pressure from the seventh level. Or
the eighth we are soaking the burning
crib with steam, and | think we have
the best of the situation"
Manager IIallett was seen. While
taking a most encouraging view, h.
stated that he had not beer down in
the mine and was not prepared to Civ"
out a statement from personal KNOW
edge. He said. however, that the sew
enth and eighth levels were clear and
that the crib had been examined for so
feet above the seventh level and no
fire found. indicating positively that
the fire is below.
We have closed up the Slope at all
points below the sixth level and are
now soaking the timbers with water
O'Clock this morning, and we are now
awaiting results. We will open IN and
make an examination at { O'Clock this
afternoon. at which time | hope to give
you the news that the fire is extin-
suished.'
Mine Inspector Nye arrived in the
city At a late hour last night and wae
closeted with Manager Hallett at the
mine for some time this morning. H
will go into the mine this afternoon.
The gas issuing from the Smuggler
shaft is not so great as yesterday but
the smoke has increased. This is look
ed upon as meaning that the fire has
reached the w~ater-soaked timbers and
is smouldering rather than blazing. II
is believed that the fire is about 80 feet
below the seventh level. and some 80
feet from the Mollie Gibson.
Some Is men were overcome by the
gas in the Mollie Gibson and Della S
properties last night. An attempt was
being made in the former property to
bulkhead the ninth level when seven
men were overcome and a repetition of
Sundays wholesale asphyxiation seem
cd nminonf Non,ror D,Ir,nr nrJ
Superintendent Cox. who were at the
opera house, were sent for post haste.
This created considerable excitement
at the time. but soon quoted down
when the facts were learned.
The attempt to bulkhead the connec-
ton between the burning mine and the
Della S. has not been successful al
though a number of men have beer
knocked out.
The Smuggler mill shut down this
morning. owing to the failure to recov-
err the lead stope," leaving no ore to
handle. This throws out of employ
ment about 40 men.
The Park Regent people say that
while they cannot operate their prop
erty, the air is not so bad but what they
will be able to work their pumps for an
hour or so per day and thus keep the
mine from flooding.
The contractors on the Cowenhoven
tunnel extension are able to work as
the air from the drills forces the gas
back for a considerable distance from
the breast. They are loading cars with
waste and running them back. but the
air is so bad in the main TUNE that
they cannot be hauled out.
The air in the Argentum seems to be
clearing and the fear of yesterday that
this property was to be affected is
growing less.
The general feeling at l o'clock is
one of hope, and Manager Hallett's aft
ernoon report is awaited with an inter-
49,. 49, T.