Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-11-28
MANY LIVES LOST IN,
THE MINE DISASTER

iilI HiNL- DlUhO LII
Telluride, COL, Nov. 21.-Nearly 100
men were probably suffocated 10 the
Smuggler Union mine, in Marshall
/ basin, as the result of a fire which con
suaied the buildings at tho mouth OF
the Bullion tunnel. Twenty-Five miners
are known to be dead. and scores OF
others are in the mine workings either
suifocated or seeking safety 10 remote
parts OF the mine until the place is
cleared of foul gas and smoke.
Fire broke out in the trsmway bunk
house at the mouth Of the Bullion tun-
mel, the principal opening fiom which
| the property is worked, and spread
rapidly to the boiler and enginehouse,
the blacksmith shop. the tramway
terminal, with its gysat ore bins, and
several small buildings. A strong draft
drew the smoke from the burning
buildings into the tunnel, and the mile
OF drifts, upraises ard slopes connect.
ing with it began TO fill rapidly with
smoke.
In the excitement OF trying to control
the fire in the outside buildings the
mine was forgotten, and bafore the
situation was realized the workings
were fast filling with dense smoke.
by this time the buildings about the
mouth of the tunnel were all ablaze,
and nothing could be done to stop the
smoke from going IN. As soon as it
was possible great bodies of iacas we're
blown down into the tunnel mouth and
the opening stopped, but not until the
workings were filed and the smoke was
working it's way through the shafts to
the surface, a mile or more up the
mountain from the yunnel house.
The day shift, about 200 men, had
gone into the mine and reached their
tas btsfore tosinhe fire started. 1t is
known that some Of the men escaped
through the old Sheridan tunnel, aud
also through the old Union workings.
but they are thought to have been but
small part Of the force in the mine.
The Smuggler Union is the largest
mine In the Telluride district, the out
put being about two-thirds OF the total
from the camp. 1t is owned by New
York sId Boston capitalists.
Denver, COL, Nov. u. --Only meagre
report concerning the disastrous fire at
the Smuggler- Union mine, near Tel
luride, has been received at the local
Office OF the company. 1t was not known
here this morning whether the loss of
life will reach 100, ae feared, ur whether
any bodies have been found in addition
to tho % which were recovered and
identified last night. The damage caused
by the fire in the loss Of the buildings
is estimated at $4,000, but the mine
will have to be closed for at least
month.
The mouth of the Bullion tunnel,
through which the Smuggler Union
mine is worked, is located not over SO
or 60 feet frc a the burned buildings.
From the start the smoke seemed to be
drawn to the mouth of ths tunnel, and
it encircled that point as il there was
no other place of escape. This was due
TO suction, as the air In tine mine was
warmer than that outside. On.aecount
of tho suction movement, the majority
of mine and tunnel entrances have iron
doors ready TO lower in place at q
minutes notice to stop smoke or fire.
Unfortunately the Bullion tunnel did
not possess ono OF these safeguards. IL
appears that much of the stupefying
elect of the fire was due to the flames
IN the conv erterhousa, which was sat
urated with oil and emitted the darkest
smoke imaginable The tunnel is stu
ated about midway between the top of
the mine and the ninth Level. 1t is
an intermediate working tunnel. The
seventh level is l,750 feet below the
surface, and the ninth level, where
between 70 and 80 miners were working
when the fire occurred, is 1900 feet
below the surface At last accounts
all attempts to explore this level had
been frustrated by the smoke. Seven
teen -of the % bodies recovered were
found in the seventh level. The fire did
not penetrate the mine workings, and
the frightful less Of life was due en-
tirely to smoke
The mine was originally owned by
company of which John Porter of this
city was president and A. II. Fowler
secretary and treasurer. About two
years ago the mine, with a number of
others in the same locality, was absorbed
by the New England Exploration Co.,
of which B. j. Lawrence is now the
head, and one Of the principal stock
holders. The New England Exploration
q. is controlled by Boston capitalists.
Mr.. Lawrence went to New York about
a week ago. Arthur Collins, manager
of the mine, is|also absent, on trip to
Mexico. jacob Films, attorney for the
company, lett for Telluride last night to
make an investigation.
The executive board of the Western
Federation OF Miners, now in session in
this city, discussed the disaster at It's
meeting today. The members averred
that agitation would commence in labor
circles to procure legis alton which
would remedy the evils which caused
the fire at the Smugger- Union mine.
In 1873 snowsIlde occurred just
above the Bullion tunnel, when 27
people lost their lives and it was here
on July I'd last that the fighting oonse.
quent upon the strike of Smrggler- |
Union miners occurred.