The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-02-02
AIOtlsr Mine Fire.
This Time at the No. 3
Shaft. North Tam
arack.
Four Lives Probably Lost.
Another Sad Case-CaIumet Weather
During January-MetrOpOl
Tales Tsrsely Told.


This morning all was excitement when
it was announced there was another fire
underground, this time at the North
Tamarack and parties assembled at the
north end OF the village wherever good
view could be obtained OF the North Tam
arack shafts. From the No. shaft a
small volume OF steam could be seen as
cendng
The day shift men had mostly started
TO work, but when the cage containing
the last party was lowered the men OBJ
served that the plat of the 9th level was
on fire and they immediately rang 10 be
hoisted TO surface. Word was at once
sent through the workings and all the
miners. estimated at about 200 men, got
safely TO the surface with the exception
OF Peter (Tohnson) Limpea and his son
William, who was about 20 years OF age,
and William Tomaczhoski aud his son
Antoine, about ] 6 years of age. 1t is
claimed that Limpea and his son were
seen climbing up the ladders at the 9Th
level and it Is supposed they went back
to where they had been working for some
thing they had forgotten. The other
two had been informed OF the fire and
had left the place at which they were
working.
The trammers at the 9th level had
brought one ear to the shaft and upon
their return to the shaft with another dis
covered a fire at the plat, the signal was
given and the men hoisted to surface as
above. When it was found that the four
men we're missing "A rescuing party dee
cended in the cage, but owing TO the gas
they could not 20 lower than the 4th
level and were forced TO come to surface.
The cage was, however, kept running past
the levels, but very slowly, so az to give
the men chance of getting into it, but
as they did not do so il is more than
probable that they had been overcome
by the smoke and gas.
The officials are sending streams OF
water down the shaft and in addition
large quantity OF compressed air with a
pressure of fifty pounds so that if the
men are still alive there may be some
hope for them yet.
The fire evidently caught, but how, is
the mystery, in some tagging at the plat,
but as there is not much timber in that
vicinity, except the timbers in the shaft,
which on account OF their wet and damp
condition it was always supposed would
not burn, the fire is not likely to last
very long or do any considerable amount
OF damage,
The sketch made this morning by our
artist shows No. 3 and 4 shafts; the No.
3 is dOwncast and consequently the
steam and smoke descend to the 18th
level and pass along that level 10 the
4th which, being an upcast, carries the
steam, gas and little smoke to the sur
face as shown in the sketch,
As may be imagined crowd soon
gathered around The mouth OF the shaft,
among them the relatives OF the men
underground, whose grief was appalling
to see. Some of the men had narrow
escapes, one or two were so much over
come by the gas thay had to be carried
by their friends.
At 3 o'clock this afternoon another
rescuing party made an attempt, but
had TO return on account OF the gas after
reaching the Sd level.