Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1901-02-28
PERISH IN A NINE.
THlRTY-SIxMEN NENTOMBEDI SHAFT
NO. lat DlAMONDvlLLE, wy.

All But Three of the Victims Are Foreign
ers--Origin of the Fire is Mystery
Flames Are Now Believed to Be Under
Control.
Kemmerer, Wy, Feb. 27.-The fol
lowing is a list of the men known to
be dead in the Diamondville No. l
mine from the fire which broke out
Monday night: Damiona de Fran
cazce, Giuseppe Endrizzi, Sioradono
Gabardi, Athleio Kucol, Giuseppe
Iransoi, Toronzo Frenzoi Fanto For
moleo, Bielehenela, Tanao, Avanyini
Alesandro Barfagnolli, Vrado Angeli
Donanado Ronai, Palmazo ROAM, Bis
tista Basolo, John Heikinens, James
and Hemmiuki Phyalihti, John Pasa-
mem, Nat Tasmar Emilio Aho, RAM
Ransamla, Thomas Simpson and IT.
year-old son, Herbert; Frank Dwyer.
With the exception of Thomas Simp-
son and his son and Frank Dwyer,
all the above are Austrians. In addi-
tion. there are five Italians and seven
FinlanderS, whose names are not vet
learned, making total of 36 lives
lost 1t is given out by Superintend-
ent Sneddon and confirmed by others
familiar with the conditions that the
lives of all the men were certainly
eXtlnguished within three minutes of
the fire gaining the ascendancy. The
fire is believed to be extinguished
and Superintendent sheldon an
nounces that he will open the mine
today for the recovery of the bodies.
Ghastly preparations are now under
way for the reception of the bodies,
the blacksmith shop having been pre-
pared as temporary morgue
While the horror is of less propor-
tions than the disaster at the Scotield
mines and the still later one in Brit
ish Columbia, the large proportion of
men OF families among the victims
adds to the general distress, and all
night long women and children hung
around the slope filling the air with
their lamentations for their lost hus-
bands and fathers. BY daylight most
OF them were removed by the gentle
hands Of ministering friends An ad-
ditional tragedy followed the main one
today. Thomas Simpson, with his
young son. who are among the vic
tins, came to Diamondville from Ala
bama but six weeks ago bringing his
WIFE in the hope that change Of
climate would benefit her health The
shock OF the tragedy was too great
for Mrs Simpsons delicate health
and She died. thus every member of
this family is a victim of the disas-
Ter There are many other sad and
distressing incidents being witnessed
but none more pathetic.
The origin of the fire has not been
definitely determined, but it is
thought it was the result of careless
ness of some one i'll the drivers cabin,
back of the sixth level At this point
the drivers congregate while waiting
for the loads and it is thought n
lighted wick was left TO s1nolder
among the rubbish. The fire was dis
covered by Driver James Hudson.
and he states that had the miners
who have lost their lives been Eng
llsh speaking the death list would
nave been much lower. for he gave
the alarm thoroughly and was severe
ly burned himself in his efforts to com
municate the danger to the unfortu
mates. He was himself rescued with
great difficulty and is now under the
doctors care. The failure of Simp-
son and his son and Dwyer to respond.
to this summons is accounted for by
their being too far distant to hear
Hudson's voice.
Shortly after the breaking out of
the fire. Superintendent Sheldon ar
rived. An examination proved to him
the impossibility of single soul be-
Ing alive in the heavy flames and
gases generated. \ second attempt
at rescue was made. but without avail
and when the hopelesSness of saving
any lives became apparent. Superin-
tendent sheldon gave orders to close
the level This was done at once. with
the result that the fire was broueht
under control. every opening being
hermetically sealed