Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-02-27
ONLY ONE ESCAPED.
Twenty-Six Men Perish in Wy
oming Mine Horror.
Fire Spreads Rapidly and Cuts of All
Means Of Escape.
No Hope Of Finding Any Of the Men
Alive.

| Kemmerer. WyO., Feb. 26.-Twenty-
| SIX foreigners, whose names are as vet
understandable, have undoubtedly per
! ished in a fire which was discovered
F, last evening. in the sixth level of the
DiamOndVille coal mine No. /. only
| one man, John Anderson. was able TO
reach the main shaft and make his es-
cape. so quickly did the fire spread
/ through the level. No one knows how
| the fire started. The night shift Of 26
men, all foreigners, had been at work
several hours. and for time We're un-
| aware of their danger. They were seat
| tered along the workings some distance
| back from the main road.
John Andei was the nearest man
to the opening Of the level into the
shaft. He gave the alarm. which was
passed down the tunnel and then
placing i heavy overcOat over his
| head. began a desperate battle with the
smoke, fire and deadly fumes of gas.
to reach the main lead where escape
| might be possible.
| BY this time the outside men Of the
colliery had learned If the fire, and sew
eral went down in the hope Of rescuing
| imprisoned miners. At the opening of
| the level, where the flames We're at
work, they found Anderson completely
| exhausted. He was carried TO the open
air and soon revived, although severely
| burned. fS
| Anderson explained the situation in
| which his companions We're placed and
| every effort was made to reach them.
Every plan known to mining experts
Was quickly put into operation for the
checking uf the fire. but without APP
| no .4,NJ,,
at its opening in order to check the
| draught throughout the workings and
! thus Kill the fire. Bands Of men went
| down the shaft repeatedly and tried to
| face the flames which We're eating their
way through the level, but were in
| Variably compelled to retreat
| There was no let-up in the efforts to
get into the level, however, and this
despite the absolute certainty that
none of the imprisoned men can row
| be alive.
| Officials of the company stated, this
afternoon. that upon investigation they
have come to the conclusion that TIE
| fire started in the drivers cabin at the
| main entrance to the level No. G. 1t is
| supposed to have originated through
| the carelessneSs Of some of the drivers
VINO congregated there between runs
OF the men imprisoned in the work
| lngS only two are known to be Amer
| leans, the balance being Italians and
Firms.
Practically all hope of finding any of
the men alive has been given up. All
entrances to the workings have been
sealed.
list was completed. this afternoon.
OF the men employed at the colliery
ana resulted in placing the number Of
miners lost at rs instead OF So as at
first reported.
me IRE is now supposed TO have been
started by a spark dropping on ola
canvas and oil in q small building
where oil and tools were stored. II was
discovered by a boy driver named
lanes Hetson. who bravely ran and
told many men who were inside. Rich
ara Fern, 10 years old also ran
through levels Nos. 6. and and noti
fed the men. Seven men. headed Nv
Mine Foreman Griffin. made several
desperate attempts to reach the min
ers through the lower level. but their
EFFORTS were in vain. four of the seven
being knocked down by fire damp.