Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-11-17
FIRE STILL BURNING.
Blaze in the Smuggler Mine Fills
Surrounding Mines with
Gas,

Aspen, Col, Nov. ia fire that may
cause the closing of every big mine in the
camp is raging III the eighth level OF the
Smuggler mine.
1t was caused, it is supposed, by spOn-
taneous combustion. SO far it is confined
to large crib and is burning at point
about 500 feet below the surface.
All efforts to reach it have proved I'M
successful. and an attempt to place bulk
heads in the connection came near cauS
ing death to fifty men Over forty of
these were so overcome by deadly gas
that for time their lives were despaired
! Of.
The burning crib is located about thirty
| feet from the Mollie Gibson, in which
| Milwaukeeans are largely interested, and
| the Smuggler- NJ ollie connection furnished
a draught for the fire. The Mollie Glib
son managers attempted to bulkhead their
| connections, but came near losing several
| men. At one time twelve unconscious
| miners were hoisted from the mine and
| stretched out on the shafthouse floor.
| Shortly after six more were hoisted out in
| an only slightly less serious condition.
Il force of men is at work putting Il
steam line in the eighth level. Should the
| disaster prove as far-reaching as it is gen
| orally supposed Aspen as a mining camp.
| it is said will be seldom heard from until
silver reaches 4 figure far beyond its
| present value.
| The fire is burning this afternoon with
| greater force than ever and the gas is
penetrating Smuggler mountain to The
| north with remarkable rapidity. Abont
| $50 men were forced to quit work this
morning in the Della s. and Old John
son workings, and the deadly fumes are
| still working north towards the Park
Regent. Bushwhacker and Alta Argent,
with indications that all the mines oil
| Smuggler mountain will soon have 10
shut down. The putting in of bulllhcads
between the Mollie Gibson and Smuggler
has had the effect of changing the
| draught to the north. In the Clark tun-
mel, 100 feet above Smuggler shafthouse,
| the gas is becoming quite strong. and it
| is more than probable that the workings
will have to be abandoned this afternoon.
| The Owen Haven tunnel is also begin
ming to feel the effect of the gas, although
it is hoped this can be kept clear by COM
pressed air.
A force of Smuggler men worked all
! night in an attempt to get steam line
| to the burning criD. This morning they
| succeeded in getting within fifty feet Of
the burning crib and steam was turned
! on shortly before noon. 1t is hoped that
| by using compressed air for driving the
steam forward the fire can be reached.
| This work was carried on through the
free silver shaft.
/
Smuggler shaft in double the volume of
yesterday, indicating the Roadway being
gained by the fire. SO far the gas has
not started down and the pump station on
the ninth level still has good air. The
relief supply Of water which heretofore
| has been run into the Mollie Gibson has
| been shut off and now the Smuggler
pumps are working to their full capacity
and throwing about 1900 gallons of water
per minute.
| An attempt will be made this after
| noon to recover the relief pump located
on the fifth level by the use of COM
pressed air. The Smuggler shaft has
been abandoned with the exception Of
| hosting the men from the ninth level to
the seventh and eighth, at which points
they are attempting to reach the fire.
| Unless the fire is soon subdued it is
feared that every mine on Smuggler and
| Aspen mountains will become so foul as
to compel a suspension. In this event
the entire district will be flooded. 1t is said
| that thirty-siX hours more will settle
| this phase of the situation.