The Portland daily press., 1901-02-27
Hope of Saving Them
About Given Up.
Fire Caused by Spark Dropping
on Oil.

Kemmerer, Wy, February 26.-Twenty-
six foreigners, whose names are as yet
rnobtainable, have undoubtedly perished
In fire which was discovred last evening
in the sixth level OF the Diamond Coal
Mine No. /. Only one man, John Ander-
son, was able to reach the main shaft and
make his escape, so quickly dii the lire
spread through the level.
No one knows how the fire started. The
night shift all foreigners, had been at
work several hours, and for a time were
unaware of their danger. They were
scattered along the workings, some dis
tance back from the maiD level.
John Anderson was the nearest man to
the opening of the level into the shaft.
He ga.o tfsa alarm which was passed
down the tunnel tad then placing
heavy overooat over his head began
desperate battle with the sinoke, lire and
deadly fumes OF gas, to reaciNths main
lead where escape might be possible.
BY this time the outside men >of the
ooIliery had learned of the fire and several
went down in the hope Of rescuing tae
imprisoned miners. AT tine opening OF
the level, where the flames were at work,
they found Anderson completely ex-
haustsd He was carried to the open air
and soon revived. Although severely
burned Anderson explained tho situation
1 In which his companions were placed and
aevery effort was made to reach them.
Every plan known to mining experts was
uickly put into operation for the check
.ag of the fire, but without apparent
#ffeot.
Tue lsyel was plugged at its opening in
order to check the draught throughout
the workings and thus Kill this fire.
Bands of men went down the shaft re-
peatsdly and tried to face the flames
which were eating their way through the
level, but were invariably compelled to
retreat
There was no let up m the efforts to
get into the level, however, and this, de-
spite the almost absolute certainty, that
none of the imprisoned men can now be
alive.
Officials of the company stated this aft
ernoon that upon investigation they have
come to the conclusion the fire started in
the drivers cabin at the main entrance to
level No. 8. 1t is supposed to have origi-
mated through the oarelsssnsss of some of
the drivers who congregated there be-
tween runs.
OF the men imprisoned In the work
ings only two are known to be AmeIi
cans, the balance being Italians and
Firms.
Practically all hope OF finding any Of
TIE men alive has been given up. All
entrances to the workings have been
sealed
A list WAS complied this afternoon OF
the men employed in the colliery and re-
suited in placing the number of miners
lost at twenty-six instead of fifty as at
tirst reported.
The fiIe is now supposed to have teen
started by spark dropping on old can
vAss and oil in small room where oil
and tools were stored, 1t was discovered
By a boy driver named James Hetson,
who brsvely ran and told many men who
were inside. Richard Fern, fifteen years
old also ran through levels numbers six,
seven and eight and notified the men.
Seven men, headed by mine foreman
Griffin, made several desperate attempts
to reach the miners through the lower
levels, but their efforts were in vain, four
of the seven being Knocked down by tire
damp.