The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-08
AVALANCHE OF ORE
IN OF NEGAUNEE
MINE
Only ONE RESCUED ALIVE
Believed That Fifteen Men or More
Are Dead as a Result of
the Terrible Dis
2ster

NEGAUNEE, Mich, Jan. THE most
distressing accident occurring in this
county for years took place at the Negau-
nee mine today noon, by which from
thirteen to seventeen miners are thought
to have lost their lives. The accident
was the result of a cavern at the bot
tom of the old shaft, and had it occurred
half an hour sooner about $50 men would
have been killed.
Thus far but one body has been taken
out, Jacob Hunlaldas, ard an italian,
dominic Basso, was rescued alive. Bas-
SOS story is as follows:
we were sitting around the pump at
the bottom of the shaft when, without
warning, thousands Of tons of ore came
down. l remembered no more until 1
heard the sounds of picks and shovels
in the hands of rescuers and their shouts.
l was in total darkness and my feelings
cannot be described What seemed ages
to me was but minutes. When the res
cuers found me I was seventy-five feet
from where I had been sitting, and
found myself in a drift. How 1 got
there is a mystery; but can only be ac-
counted for by the conclusion Of the
wind
Hundreds of men are at the mine eager
to hep in the work of rescue, but it is
thought the other bodies cannot be found
within twenty-four hours.
The Negaunee mine is one of the most
unlucky properties in the Lake Superior
district Much trouble has resulted in
sinking and drifting from surplus water
and quicksands. 1t was at this mine
that ST. 100000 was recently expended to
sink a shaft to the ledge.
Rescuing Parties at Work.
From the condition of the shaft it would
seem that the men are surrounded by u
large mass of dirt and broken timber.
The lower portion of the shaft is so
badly twisted that the cage will not OPP
crate within 100 feet Of where the men
are entombed. A rescuing party of about
fifteen of the most skillful miners at the
mine was organized Immediately.
A dull roar and a sound of crashing
timbers gave to the men on the surface
the first Indication of the disaster beng
enacted nearly 500 feet underground. A
rush was made for the shaft, and when
all quoted down, volunteers, under the
lead of Capt. James Piper, descended IN
the cage in an attempt at rescue. 1t
was found, however, that the shaft was
badly damaged, it being Impossible to get
"; thin eighty feet of the level in which
the men were buried
Cries for help were heard at the low
est point reached, and upon removal Of
timbers which blocked the way man was
IOund VINO shortly before the caVe-1n mad
started for the surface. lie was I'M
injured, but was drenched to the skin
and suffering greatly with the sold. The
man could throw no light on the fate of
his associates, the majority Of whom are
thought to be italians and Finl2nders.
Tonight the force Of mechanics en-
ployed at the various mines of the steel
trust are getting other pumps in condi-
ton for operation, but it is predetermined
whether these can be put into commission
soon enough to prevent the mine from
flooding A big force of rescuers, work
ing in relays, is making desperate at
temps to get to the damaged level before
the water reaches it. If the warkmen are
not rescued within the next ten or twelve
hours, all hope of getting them out alive
will be abandoned.
The officials will not make a statement
for publication as to the condition of the
Tdine or the number of men underground