The daily sentinel., 1900-05-28
DEATH BY FIRE DAMP.
Charles Bird Billings Overcome
by Fire Damp in Burn
inc Mine at PaIisade.

u
Ramey Bros. at Palisade, which fire wac
announced exclusively in this paper last
Monday and denied the next day by an
alleged paper and the next day publish
ed as fact by the same organ which
had denied the story, man met his
death Saturday night about ten o'clock.
Saturday night two men we're working
on the night shift OF the mine, Charles
Bird Billings and Hughey Salisbury.
The occupation Of these men was an at
tempt to dig around the fire, which
ragged all OF last week, to secure air.
About 10 o'clock the men, feeling that
there WAS bad air in the mine, started to
come out. While they had been work
ing the bad air bad penetrated to point
close to where they had been working,
which was about 1000 feet from the
mouth OF the tunnel.
When starting out they ran into
layer Of this bad air and Hughey Sauls-
bury was so far overcome that he fell to
the ground. His companion stopped to
assist him to his feet, which he did, but
the man said to Billings. go ahead,
Bird, I'll get out all right"
After Billings had helped Salisbury
to his feet he started again to find his
way out, but it is believed that during
the time he was helping Salisbury he
WAS so far overcome by the fire damp
that he turned in the opposite direction
from the mouth of the tunnel and met
his death.
Salisbury found his way out of the
mine and knowing that it was death to
the other man il he did not get him out
wet gunny sack and made two inetfect-
ual attempts to find his companion.
He then went to the manager Of the
mine, but could not get him, and
after considerable delay he secured the
very willing assistance of the Lloyd bro
theirs. Arthur, William and David, and
Elmer Purdy, practical miners.
These brave fellows made another
start and, after working all night, at
about o'clock in the morning the body
was secured after these heroic fellows
had penetrated at the risk of their own
lives to where it lay
Several times the members OF the res
cue rarity were overcome by the damp.
but they went persevsringly forward
and at last found the body. 1t was as
they had supposed; the deceased had
turned, after helping his partner, and
started in the wrong direction TO get out
OF the mine
There are conflicting stories regarding
the condition OF the mine. The Billings
brothers contend that the mine was I'M
safe and that it had been so pronounced.
There were insufficient air holes and it
had been ordered that these be increased
in number.
Arthur Lloyd we'll known mine boss,
said that no man could have lived in the
mine any length Of time.
Over the question OF the conduct of
the mine there were several fights at
Palisade yesterday.
| Services were held over the remains
last night at Palisade and the body
brought to this city at midnight and
taken to the undertaking parlors OF w
81. Bannister. They were buried from
there this afternoon. after being viewed
by the coroner's jury.
The deceased has father e. Billings
watchman at the mill OF the Grand
Junction Milling and Elevator company
and five brothers, John, Frank. Arthur
Lewis and William, to mourn his un.
timely death. The deceased was just
% years OF age and a very bright and
promising young man