The Forrest City times., 1901-03-01
THIRTY-SIX PERISHED.
Fearful Results of Fire in wyomin: Coal Mine-Oniy One Man
 Escaped.

Cheyenne, Wyo., Feb. 27.-The worst disaster since the Almy horror. eight years ago, occurred at Diamondville, Monday night, when fire broke out in Mine No. l of the Diamondville Coal and Coke Co.,, which was attended with great loss of life and destruction of property. Thirty-six miners per ished, and their charred bodies are still in the mine. A list of names of the dead is now being made up, and will be issued in a few hours.
 Only One Man Escaped.
 The fire was discovered shortly ar- ter the night shift commenced work. It's cause is not known, but the flames made such progress that only one man escaped from the two entries in which it was confined. His name is John Anderson, and he was frightful- ly burned in running the gauntlet of the flames. He is unable to give any account of the accident other than that he was suddenly confronted by wall of fire and smoke, and wrap- ping his head in an overcoat he ran in the direction of the main entrance.
 First Notice of tine Fire.
 The first intimation the miners in the other entries had of a fire was when Anderson came rushing into the upper level, his clothing in flames. He fell unconscious, and was carried to the mouth of the mine. The alarm was sounded, and hundreds of miners at work in the mines and on the out side rushed to the rescue of their i'm prisoned comrades.
 The fire had by this time made such progress that it was impossible to enter the rooms in flames.
 The Entries Sealed Up.
 The entire night was spent in con- fining the fire to the two entries, and by morning it was necessary to seal them up to prevent the flames from spreading to other parts of the mine.
 This step was quickly decided upon after all hope of saving the lives of the men had been abandoned. Noth- ing could live five minutes in such a fire, which was increasing in fierce ness every minute.
 The plugging of the two entries will smother the fire, but it may be sev- eral days before the barricades can be removed and the chambers explored. Careful Count md Estimate of Dead.
 Superintendent Sheldon has made careful co-nt, and he believes 36 men lost their lives instead of 50, as has been reported, as large number of men are missing, some on sick leave and others in the hospital suffering from burns, received while fighting the flames.
 Henrtrendins Scenes.
 The scenes at the mouth of the mine during the night and yesterday were heartrending. Relatives and friends of the entombed miners rushed to the mine, frantically waiving their hands and crying to the mine officials and miners to save their dear ones. Many of the women and children were slightly injured in the crowd and by falling over obstacles in the darkness.
 Many Fires, but this the Worst.
 Diamondville has been the scene of a number of disastrous fires since the coal mines were opened there ter years ago, but the confiagrations were never attended with serious loss of life.
 The DinmondvilIe Mines.
 Almost all the mines at Diamond vile are owned by the Oregon Short Line railroad. The output of mine No. is about one hundred and seven- ty thousand tons of coal per year. and upward of -00 roiporS ora a,,.