Arizona republican., 1902-10-06
MCABE MINE FIRE
Interesting Story of Methods Em'
 ployed in Distinguishing It.

On account of the conflicting reports going around town in regard to the fire in the Model mine in McCabe, the Prospect sent a representative down there on Thursday to investigate the matter and to learn all that was to be learned about it. He was to interview Manager Felt and also everyone else he might run across. Unfortunately MT. Felt had just left on his trip east, but Nr A. C. Massey, the foreman, gave a most lucid description of the entire happening. as well as the situation up to date of writing. Below is the result of the investigation.
 In regard to the cause of the fire it is thought by all that one of the miners left his candlestick sticking in a dry timber. with the candle burning. and when it burned down and fell through it ignited either the timber it was on or some indamabIe material below.
 1t o'clock a. m. of Friday. the 26th of Septern Der. Foreman \. C. Massey Of the McCabe mine. was sleeping soundly. He had seen the mine prop erIy closed at o'clock the night before for the McCabe was only running day shift. though the ten stamp mill was running day and night-when th,.e came a laundering at his door, and springing up he found the fireman from the mill who told him in few words that the mine was afire. For the benefit of those who have not been there I will state that the big three compartment shaft is under the same roof with the engines and the stamp mill Massey sent him to awaken the hoist engineer and hurried to the mine. In a few moments the engineer gave the alarm on the steam whistle, aTous- ing the entire camp. and in five minutes or less the boys were pouring in from all directions. ready and willing to lend their aid wherever it was needed But there was little to be done. The smoke was rolling in volumes from the mouth of the shaft and even carrying sparks with it. It was necessary to knock off part of the roof to let is es- cape, for it was so thick that the men could not breathe Then leaving orders to batten down the shaft and fill all crevices with wet clay and tailings. of which there were plenty at hand Massey. after arranging signals with the engineer. in case of trouble took one miner with him and went down the ladder Of an outside shaft that con- rected directly with the main works They got down to the 300 foot level and there the smoke and gas became un- bearable. rolling above them in vast volumes. They saw. too. that they would succumb if they did not reach the outer air. so they retreated before it.
 From what observations he was able to take he thinks the fire started at the 400 level. but it had not reached the 3OC level. where they were, though it was gaining rapidly.
 Meanwhile. when he reached the sur face the heat from the main shaft was so intense that it was necessary to keeT playing water on it and into it to keeI the fire back from the upper works at least. and also to allow the men to con- plete their task of sealing up every crack or crevice where smoke was es- caping, or the mill house would burst into flames and everything would go.
 On first reaching the fire the two pumps down in the mine were tried Steam was turned down to them and it was found that one would not work while the other soon emptied the sumI