The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-06-11
ANOTHER TERRIBLE EXPLOSION
At THE PORT ROYAL COLL|ERY
Known to Be a Dangerous Mine, and
Great Care Always Exercised After
the Disaster of Seven Years
Ago-Fire Probably Caused
by Reckless Miners
With Open
fiamn

he body of Taylor Gunsalus, ST., was
brought to the surface by the party
headed by Inspector Callaghan. A big
crowd surrounded the mouth of the
shaft when the corpse was brought out
and the scene was pitiful in the extreme.
Many women were there looking for
their husbands. fathers and brothers
and they wildly appealed to the rescuers
to save their loved ones.
The Port Royal mine has always been
considered dangerous. There was
similar explosion in the mine seven
years ago by which one man was killed.
The use of safety lamps has been made
especially imperative in these mines
owing to the great danger from gas that
was known to exist, but careless miners
sometimes use open lamps because they
can see better to mine by them. This
helps them to make better days
wages This probably caused yesterdays
explosion, but the inquiry which will
follow may develop something new.
+ Last night about 6 o'clock there was a
low rumbling sound, followed by a roar
which sounded like cyclone. then
three sharp and short reports. Imme-
diately the mine catastrophe of seven
years ago. still fresh in the minds of
those made fatherless, was recollected,
and simultaneously rush was made for
the mouth of the mine. When the first
excitement had subsided little it was
decided to try to rescue at least part
of those known to be entombed. AS
quickly as possible a messenger was dis
patched on horseback to West Newton,
which is five miles away, and while
awaiting the arrival of appliances ne
cessary to enter burning mine, a tenn
porary rescue party composed of the
men who had knocked off earlier in the
day was formed.
Fearlessly these men entered the shaft
and started toward the spot where ie
was thought some of the entombed men
may be found. Lying at the bottom of
the shaft were Lawrence Settler and
John Stakes. Unconscious and covered
with dirt. the men were quickly taken
to the top Of the mine. They could give
no information as to what had caused
the fire and told the rescue party that
four other men were entombed.
About o'clock VIM. McCune Of West
Newton, general superintendent of this
district. Dennie WORTHY, pit boss of the
mine. Michael Roy, foreman and several
other bosses. with about 20 men went
down shaft No. /.
About three hours after the rescue
party had been in the mine two more
crowd around the opening of the shaft
had increased. The crowd, included
mothers wives and sisters of many of the
men entombed. All sorts of plans We're
suggested for the rescue of the men.
Some talk of turning the river into the
mines, but many are opposed to the
idea for fear of drowning the miners.
Shortly after 3 o'clock this morning,
w. A. Sweeney, Harry Beveridge and
Frank Stratton succeeded in working
their way to the pit mouth and were
quickly put under the care Of ply sicians.
Beveridge and Stratton are unconscious
and the physicians say they cannot live.
Beveridge's arms are both broken, his
body horribly bruised and it is believed
he inhaled the flames. Sweeney res
Cued Beveridge and literally carried
him along with him. Sweeney himself
is so badly used up that all the informa-
ton he could give of the explosion and
fire was that the explosion came just
at the time when the shifts We're chang
ing from day to night turn. The miners
were hurled in all directions, and Swee-
ney knows of at least three who were
killed outright. He says it is impossible
to tell now just hom many men were
entombed. but he thinks there We're more
than the 81 reported at first.