The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-06-17
Eleven Men Perish at
Cape Breton.
RESCuERS AMONG VICTIMS
MEET DEATH IN ATTEMPTI1- y
TO SAVE OTHERS.
Fire Now RACES in the Pits Where
the Disasters Occurred and the
Flames Cannot Be
Quenched.
Special Dispatch to The Gail,

HALIFAX. y. s., June 16-Accord-
ing To an official accUunt of this morn
ins's disaster in the Caledonia mine OF
the Dominion Coal Company at Glaze
Pay. Cape Breton, there were two eX-
plosions, the first killing SIX men and
the second I'VE. Fire started near what
IS known as the Deep pump. the cause
being unknown. Six men, who We're on
their way out were overcome bX an eX-
plosion Of fire damp and sufocated
where they fell. Three-q quarters Of an
hour later party of men We're on their
way to the scene of the fire, headed
by Thomas Johnson. the underground
manager, when an explosion Of gas oc-
Cured, by which they were killed in
stantly The bodies Of the victims,
save one were recovered by a rescue
party in which was John Johnson. as
sistant manager Of the Dominion Coal
Company and a son of one ii the dead.
After great difficulty the position of the
FIRE was located and body of Volun-
teers attacked the flames with water
This work was carried on vigorously
for several hours, when it was found
that the extent Of the fire and the diff
culties of fighting ii rendered efforts
useless.
fire fighters had not been effectual in
eXtinEuishing the flames.
The men who lost their lives in the
disaster are:
THOMAS JOHNSON, underground
manager.
JOHN DOYLE.
JOHN DOYLE JR., father and son,
the latter leaving d widow and three
children.
ARTHUR GRANT, leaving a widow
and three children.
ALEXANDER MCDONALD, leaving
widow and eight children.
STEPHEN MCCORMICK, leaving a
widow and six children.
RORY MCDOUGAL, leaving a widow
and three children.
NEIL MCDONALD.
MALCOLM NcATTLEY.
WILLIAM SIMPSON.
DONALD MARTIN, leaving a widow
and two children.
All of the bodies have been recovered
except that of Martin.
1t was about o'clock that the wills
tie, announcing that something was
wrong in the mine, was blown. In a
very short time the streets were crowd
ed with frantic people.
Johnson, when found was near one
of the crOsscut doors. He was I'M
doubleday killed by the fire of the ex-
plosion.
The scene in the pit was of the most
weird character. The dead men We're
thrown promscuously into the box
cars and rushed to the cage. Darkness
was only broken by the pickering lights
Of the lamps in the hands Of the res
Cuers. The rescuing party was stagger-
ing under the influence of the gas and
almost blinded with the smoke that was
pouring in volumes upon them. one
of the men was found with his hands
around a post. Mccormick was found
with a handkerchief across his mouth
and a WaistCOast over his head. He
probably went into one of the rooms
to save a mate. but the damp had be
come so dense that he succumbed TIE
others were found in different attitudes
and positions
The coal in the West Deep as well
as the timber is on fire. The air cur
rents changed several times while the
volunteers. We're in the pit. This would
indicate that an explosion had taken
place in the West Deep.
Thomas Brown. manager of the Gale
dOna, went down with the rescue vol
unteers and was knocked senseless by
the explosion. He was carried from the
pit uncOpscinus, but will recover
The Caledonia colliery averages 2500
tons per DAY.