Evening journal., 1901-02-27

THlRTY-SIX DEAD
In NINE FIRE
Terrible Disaster in Wyoming
Coal District
LITTLE ATTEMPT TO RESCUE
When II Was Found impossible 10
Check Fire, The Mine Vas
Closed
LITTLE ATTEMPT TO RESCUE

Cheyenne, WyO., Feb. Zf.-lhe WOlst
disaster in the history OF coal mining
IN Wyoming since the Almy horror
eight years ago. occurred at Diamond
vile Monday night. Thirty-siN men
men have perished in a fire which
started in mine No. 1 OF the Diamond
Vile Coal and Coke company
The blaze was discovered shortly
after the night shift commenced work
1t Is thought to have originated from
a careless miners lamp in the oil
room. The flames made such progress
that only one man escaped from the
two entries I'm which Il was confined
His name is John Anderson, and he
was frightfully burned in running the
gauntlet OF the flames. He was sud-
denly confronted by a wall OF fire and
smoke. and. wrapping his head in an
overcoat, he ran in the direction of the
main entrance.
The first intimation the miners in
the other entries had of the fire was
when Anderson came rushing into the
upper level, his clothing in flames. The
alarm was sounded and hundreds OF
miners at work in the mines and on the
outside rushed to the rescue OF their
imprisoned comrades. The fires had
by this time made such progress that
II was impossible TO enter the rooms of
flames. The entire night was spent in
confning the fire to the two entries,
and yesterday Il was necessary to seal
them up TO prevent the-ilames from
spreading to other parts of the mine.
This step was only decided upon
after all hope of saving the lives Of
the men had been abandoned. Moth
ing could live five minutes in the fire,
which was increasing In fierceness
every minute.
The plugging Of the two entries will
smother the fire. but it may be several
days before the barricades can be re-
moved and the chambers explored. The
exact total of men entombed Is not
yet known. as a number are missing,
some on sick leave and others in the
hospital suffering from burns received
while fighting the flames, so that an
accurate count II at present impossible
The scenes at the mouth OF the mine
during the night and day were heart
rending. Relatives and friends OF the
entombed miners rushed to the mine
frantically waving their hands ant
crying to the mine officials and miners
TO save their dear ones. Many OF the
women and children were slightly in.
jured in the crowd and by falling over
obstacles I'm the darkness.
OF the men imprisoned in the work
ings only two are supposed TO be
Americans, the balance being Italians
and Firms Nine OF the men leave
families.
II was given out by Superintendent
Thomas Sheldon and confirmed by
others familiar with the condition.
that the lives OF all the men were Ger
tainly extinguished within three min
utes after the fire gained ascendency.
An additional tragedy followed tn
main one yesterday. Thomas Simpson
with his young son, who are among ia
victims. came 10 Diamondyille fror
Alabama but six weeks ago. bringin
his wife, in the hope that the chang
of climate would benefit her health
The shock Of Monday nights TRACED
was too great for Mrs Simpsons dell
cate health and yesterday she diet
Thus every member Of this family
q victim of the disaster.
The fire was discovered by a DO
driver named James Hetson. VIII
bravely ran and told many men VIII
were inside. Richard Fern, 10 year
old. also ran through levels Nos. 6,
and and notified the men, and man
were saved through his courageous a,
tion. Seven men, headed by Min
Foreman Griffin. made several dei
perate attempts to reach the me
through the lower level, but their e
forts were in yain four of the seve
being knocked down by fire damp. Il
others being compelled to carry the
20 fresh air.
It was just IA months ago yesterd,
that a fire occurred in this same min
It was desperately fought and owe
come by brave men. headed by Supe
intendent Thomas Sheldon That Il
was far greater than this but this Of
has cost a great many more lives.