Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-06-17
Two Explosions Caused Loss
of Eleven Lives.
THE DEADLY FIRE DAMP
Was Responsible for the Deaths OF
Most of the Men--All But One OF
the Bodies of the Unfortunates
Have Been Recovered.

Halifax, N. S., June 16.-Accordlng to
an official account of this mornings dis
aster in the Caledonia mine of the Do
min!on Coal company of Glace bay. Cape
Breton. there were two explosions. the
first killing six men and the second five.
Fire started near what is known as the
Deep pump, the cause beng unknown.
Six men who were on their way out were
overcome by an explosion Of fire damp
and suffocated where they fell. Three
quarters of an hour later a party of man
were on their way to the scene of the
fire. headed by Thomas Johnson, the un-
foreground manager. when an explosion
of gas occurred, by which they were killed
Instantly. The bodies of the victims,
save one, We're recovered by a rescue
party in which was John Johnson, assist
n manage of the Dominion Coal com
pany, and a son of the dead man.
After great difficulty the position of
the fire was located and a body of volun-
teers attacked the flames with water.
This work was carried on vigorously fer
several hours. when it was found that
the extent of the fire and the difficulties
Of fighting it rendered efforts useless. Up
to this evening the efforts Of the fire
fighters had not been effectual in extin-
gushing the flames. This men who lost
their lives in the disaster are:
THOMAS JOHNSON, underground
manager.
JOHN DOYLE.
JOHN DOYLE. son Of the latter, leav-
ing a widow and three children.
ARTHUR GRANT, leaves a widow and
three children.
ALEX MDONALD, leaves a widow
and eight children.
STEPHEN MCCORMICK, leaves a
widow and six children.
RORY M'DOUGALL. leaves a widow
and three children.
NEIL MCDONALD.
MALCOLM MOREAUTY.
WILLIAM SIMPSON.
DONALD MARTIN, leaves a widow
and three children.
All the bodies have been ex-
cept that Of Martin. 1t was about 5
O'Clock hat the whistle. announcing that
something was wrong in the mine. was
blown. In a very short time the streets
We're crowded with frantic people.
johnson, when found, was near one of
the cross-cut doors. He was undoubt-
eddy killed by the force of the explosion.
The others who We're with him were
choked with fire damp.
the scene IN the pit was of the most
weird character. The lead men were
thrown promiscuously 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 rescuers.
one OF the men was found with his
hands around a post. Mccormick was
found with a handkerchief across his
mouth ana a Waistcoat over his head. He
probably went into one of the rooms to
save a mate, but the damp had become
SO dense that he s~uecumbed. The others
We're found in different attitudes and DO
sltlons. The coal in the west dip as well
as the timber is on fire. The air cur
rents changed several times while the
volunteers were in the pit. This would
indicate that an explosion has occurred
in this part of the mine.
Thomas Brown, manager of tlle Gale
dohla' went down with the rescue volun-
teers and Waa knocked senseless bv the
second explosion. He was carried from
inc PIT UNCONSCIOUS, but will recover.