The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-21
y men SMOTHER
Terrible Disaster at the Snug
gler- Union Mine.
Over a Score of Miners Known
TO Have Been Killed.
Many More We're in the Mine
and May Be Dead.
AT BULLION TUNNEL.
Fire Started and Spread to All
Buildings.
Smoke Was Drawn Directly Into
the Tunnel.
Two Hundred Men Had Gone in
Before Fire Started.
Many More We're in the Mine
and May Be Dead.
AT BULLION TUNNEL.
Fire Started and Spread to All
Buildings.
Smoke Was Drawn Directly Into
the Tunnel.
Two Hundred Men Had Gone In
Before Fire Started.

Telluride, Col, Nov. 21-Nearly hun
tred men were probably suffocated III
the Smuggler- Union mine in Marshali
Basin as a result of fire when con-
sumed the buildings at the mouth OF the
Bullion tunnel. Twenty-Five miners are
known to be dead and scores of others
ire in the mine workings either SUI
focated or seeking safety in remote
parts of the mine until the place IS
cleared of foul gases and smoke
Fire broke out in the tramway bunk
house at the mouth of the Bullion tun-
mel, the principal opening from which the
property is worked and spread rapidly
to the boiler and engine house, black
smith shop, the tramway terminal with
its great ore bins and several smaller
buildings. were all soon wrapped IN
flames.
A strong draft drew the smoke from
the burning buildings directly into the
tunnel and the miles of drafts. up
raises and slopes connecting with II
began to fill rapidly with the smoke
In the excitement of trying to corral
the fire in the outside buildings, the
mine was forgotten and before the stu
alton was realized the workings were
time the buildings about the mouth or
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 rock were blown down INTO
the tunnel mouth and the opening stop
ped, but not until the workings were
filled and the smoke working its wass-
through the shafts to the surface mile
or more up the mountain from the tun-
mel house.
The day shift. some 200 men, had
gone into the mine and reached their
stations before the fire started 1t is
known that some of the men escaped
through the old Sheridan tunnel and
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 and Boston capitalists.
Persons who have come into town
this morning from the Smuggler-U Union
mine, which is four miles distant be-
tween Marshall Gulch and the noun
tainS, say the workers have almost
abandoned hope of finding any of the
imprisoned men alive Every entrance
to the property is the scene of active
work and the willing hands are only
stayed by fear of certain death if they
enter the smoke filled levels.
Every few minutes men make a rush
inside, only to crawl back helpless and
strangling as they meet the foul smoke
which fills the tunnels and levels
The officers refuse to talk, either in
giving information in expressing
opinions as to the likelihood of early
rescue of the unfortunates yet in the
mine. They will only say that the work
will be continued until every body has
been recovered and will be hastened in
haf
alive.
The telegraph and telephone wires
were destroyed by fire and the only
means of communication is by messen-
ger.
ESTIMATED LOSS $4,000.
Denver, Nov. 21-The damage caused
by the fire in the loss of the buildings
at the Smuggler- Union mine is esti-
mated 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-TJnion
mines are worked, is located not over
30 or so feet from the burned buildings
The smoke from the start seemed to be
drawn to the mouth of the tunnel and
it encircled that point as if there were
no other place of escape. This was due
to suction, as the air in the mine was
warmer than that outside. On account
of the suction movement, the majority
of mine and tunnel entrances have iron
doors ready to lower in place at a min
uJe'S nOJlce TO stop smoke or fire. I'm
fortunately the Bullion tunnel did not
possess one of these safeguards
1t appears that much of the stupefy-
ing effect of the fire was due to the
flames in the converter house. which
was saturated with oil and which
emitted the darkest smoke imagina Bile.
The tunnel is situated about midway
between the top or apex of the mine and
the ninth level. 1t is an intermediate
working tunnel The seventh level is
i.15O feet below the surface and the
ninth level, where between Il and 90
miners We're working when the fire oc~
curred, is 1000 feet below the surface
At last accounts all attempts to ~
plore this level had been frustrated Nv
the smoke Seventeen of the fventy
two bodies recovered We're found in f6a
seventh level The fire did not penetrare
the mine workings, and the frightf1,l
loss OF me was due entirely to smoke
HISTORY OF THE MINE.
The mine was originally owned bv
company. of which John Porter of fbic
city was president, and A. Fl EouIa, liz
secretary and treasurer Abo,lt Two
years ago, the mine, with q number of
others in the same locality was all
sorbed by the New England Fxnlora tio,,
company, of which 3. J. Lawrence is
now the head and one of the princinaI
stockholders The New England COM
pany is controlled by Boston Capitalists
Mr. Lawrence went to New York a abol1t
4 week ago Arthur Collins manager
OF the mine, Is also absent on a trim to
Mexico. Jacob Films. attorney for the