The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-15
SMUGGLER MINE ABLAZE
DANGEROUS FIRE PERILING SILVER
PROPERTIES AT ASPEN, COL.
Many WOrIkmen Rendered UncOn-
vent Spread of the Flames.

ASPEN, Col, Nov. 1.-A fire that gives
promise of closing down every big mine in
the camp is raging in the eighth level of
the Smuggler mine. The cause of the catas-
trophe is supposed to be spontaneous COM
bustion, although there are a few who are
inclined to the theory that a careless miner
and a candle are responsible So far the
fire is confined to a large crib and is burn
ing at point about eight hundred feet be-
low the surface. This crib is eighty feet
wide, 164 feet long and three hundred feet
high. 1t contains many thousands of cords
of dry timber. So far as known these
timbers have not broken into a blaze, but
the supposition is that the entire base of
the crib is bun Ming.
ALI 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
were so overcome by gas that for time
their lives were despaired Of The burning
crib is located about thirty feet from the
Mollie Gibson and the Smuggler- -Mollie con-
nection furnished a draught for the fire.
The Mollie Gibson people attempted to bulk
head their connections, but came near los
ing a number of men. AT one time twelve
unconscious miners were hoisted from the
mine anu StESlCnSu OuI On Tie SudLIuOuSe
floor. Shortly afterwards six more were
hoisted out in an only slightly less serious
condition. Although physicians were on the
ground, 1t took the energetic and
vigorous efforts of all the by
stanuers to bring these men around
within three quarters of an hour. miner
named I'D HougeSon, While in a dazed con-
dition, fell down an ore chute and suf-
fered serious injuries. AT 1880 Manager
Hallett Master Mechanic Carsons and
Cageman Wright made a trip into the
burning mine through the Free Silver shaft.
Although underground less than fifteen
minutes they were all overcome by gas and
had narrow escape from death. Manager
Hallett, asked as to the prospect of saving
the mine, said: 'There are two possible
chances. One is that the tire can be eXtln-
guished by steam, which we will force in
from below; the other that the fire will
soon consume the crib and cause a cavern
sufficiently large to smother the fire. There
is no danger of the gas causing an explo-
sion. Flooding the property Will not inten-
tionally be resorted to-, although conditions
To flood the mine means the drowning
out of all the big mines in the camp, in
cluding the Free Silver Della s., Smuggler,
Mollie Gibson, Argentum-J uniata deep
shaft, Millinee and the Aspen Mining and
Smelling Company.
Manager Cox, of the Mollie, speaking of
the situation, stated that they were work.
ing but he could form no idea of what the
result would be. A force of men is 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 to-mor-
far reaching as it is generally supposed to-
night, Aspen as mining camp will be sell
dom heard from until silver reaches fig
ure far beyond its present value.