The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-27
SEALED UP IN a FURNACE
MINERS LEFT TO THEIR FATE IN
FIERY WYOMING PIT.
Thfrty-Six Men Entombed i'm n Col
Iiery That Is u Mass OF In
GENERATING Flames.

CHEYENNE, wyo. Feb. 26.-The worst
disaster in the history of coal mining in
Wyoming since the Amy horror. eight
years ago, occurred at Diamondville. last
night, when fire broke out in mine No.
l OF the Diamondville Coal and Coke Com
pany. Thirty-six miners persisted, and
their charred bodies are still in the mine.
Some of the entombed are: Damiona De
Francisco. Cineppe Endrizzi. Scordono
Cabarde. Athlio Kucol. Santo Formoto.
Pricle Kencla, John Pickener, all single;
Giuseppe Fyandzi. Toronzo Franzoi, Flan-
ano Avavzini. Ellesadro Barfagnolli. Boz
RADIO Angeles, Dorado Rorni Talmasci
Roama,. John Parquen, Bistisa sola. all
married; John and Hemminki Tiplalahti.
brothers; Nat Tastuen, Emiliaho Ranzram-
tama, Thomas Simpson and son. fifteen
years old. Herbert Simpson. Frank Dyer
With the exception of Simpson and his
son and Dyer all those named Aus
TRANS. In addition there are five Italians
and seven Finlanders, whose names are not
yet learned, making a total of thirty-six
lives lost
The fire was first discovered shortly after
the night shift commenced work. Its 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
frightfully 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 a wall
of fire, and wrapping his head in an over
coat, he ran in the direction of the main
entrance. The first intimation the miners
in the other entries had of fire was
when Anderson came rushing into the up
per level, his clothing in flames. He fell
unconscious. and was carried to the mouth
OF the mine.
The alarm was sounded. and hundreds
or miners at work In the mines ana on the
outside rushed to the rescue of their i'm
prisoned comrades. The fire had by this
time made such progress that 1t was i'm
possible to enter the pit. The entire night
was spent in combining the fire to the
two entries, and this morning 1T was neces-
sary to seal them up to prevent the flames
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. Nothing could live
| five minutes in such a fire, which was in
creasing in fierceness every minute.
1t is given out by Superintendent Thomas
| sheldon, and confirmed by others familiar
with the conditions, that the lives of all
| in three minutes Of the fire gaining the
ascendancy. AT 6 o'clock this evening the
| fire was believed to be extinguished; at
| any rate. it was fully under control. Su-
| perintendent Sheldon announces that he
| will open the mine tomorrow for the re-
| covery of the bodies. CHASTITY p>epara-
tons are now under way for the reception
| of the bodies. the blacksmith shop having
been prepared as temporary morgue-
| An additional tragedy followed the main
one to-day. Thomas Simpson. with HIS
young son, who among the victims,
came to Diamondville from Alabama but
six weeks ago., bringing the wife and
mother in the hope that the change of
| climate would benefit her health. The
shock Of last nights tragedy was too great
| for Mrs. simpsons delicate health. and
to-day she died, thus every member of this
| family being victim of the disaster.