The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-01
Another Mine Disaster Near
Victoria, b. G.
Miners Lighted Lamp the Cause
as Usual.
FREQUENT EXPLOSIONS
Prevent Successful Efforts at
Rescue.
Fire Was Still Burning When
Last Heard From.

Victoria, B. c., Oct 1.-Seventeen men
are dead as a result of fire and ex-
plosion in Extension mine No 2. be-
longing to the Wellington colliery. The
flames started from a curtain which
caught fire from a miners lamp.
James Thomas, rope rider had q
thrilling escape. He was riding down
the slope, and, seeing the fire coming,
jumped off the car and ran. George
Southcomb and Eugene Griffith, timber
men, called to him to follow them, bur
he ran on up the slope to its mouth and
barely escaped with his life The other
men were overtaken by the flames and
perished.
A miner running No. 2 workings, fell
exhausted and in falling knocked open
a door into another gallery and thus
escaped.
A sad case is that of Mrs. William
Blakely. Her husband and father, JLo-
McCallum. are both in the mine and tine
woman, who is in delicate health, Is
distracted. Her condition is considerevf
dangerous.
The fire is still raging. but 1t is hoped
to extinguish it without flooding the
mine.
HOW IT HAPPENED.
NlClOI1d, -, OCl~ Ia 0l1RdlCAA
from Extension. 3. c.. giving details
of the fire In No. slope of the Duns-
muir mine says:
The fire broke out at the bottom Of
level No. 8 and was communicated
across the slope by one of the curtains
In half an hour the whole slope was on
fire. Rescue parties entered the mine
and reached the place where the miners
had been at work but the men had gone,
running with the fresh air instead of
against it in an attempt to get out by
|. ,a6 fI1rc
death half way. While the rescuers
were at work the mine exploded, block
ing them, and explosions continued all
afternoon and evening. When it was
realized that the men could not be
saved a strong force started to choke
the mine but their work was undone
by terrific explosion which blew down
the barricsde. At o'clock the fan
house was burned
Here is corrected list of dead received
from Extension:
GEORGE SOUTHCOMB. timberman,
married, with family. resided at Lady
smith, about 26 years of age, a native
of Australia; worked here about two
years.
EUGENE GRIFFITH, timbermali.k .
married; family resides at Isadysmitii- (
- WELSH, manager of the Lady=
JOHN PATTERSON, miner, mar
ried resided at Ladysmith.
JAMES WATSON. miner. aged so.
married; resided at Ladysmith-
MICHAEL DOLAN, miner, aged 25,
married; resided at Ladysmith
WILLIAM POLLOCK, miner, aged 27,
single; resided at Extension.
E. LYND, miner, aged 30 married;
resided at Ladysmith.
JOHN MacCALJ1UM, miner, married;
resided at Extension.
K. BLACKLEY, miner, aged %;
single.
E. HAZEL, miner. single, recently
came from Idaho.
FRANK MOTTISHAW, pusher,
single, of Nanaimo.
CHARLES NOYE, pusher, single, re-
sided a { Ladysmith.
ARCHIBALD BEEVES, married, re-
sided at LadySmith-
- BOYD, pusher. resided at Exten-
sion.
HAMILTON, pusher. single, resided
at Extension.
ANTONIO PESCETTELLI, miner,
single. resided at Extension. PescetelH
worked alone in No. 1 level and there
was no hope whatever for him. His
escape was Immediately cut off when
the fire started.