The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-08
Were at Work I'm Michigan Mine
When Thousands of Tons of Iron
Ore Crashed Down.
LITTLE HOPE ANY ARE LIVE
RESCUING PARTIES WE'RE AT WORK
LAST NIGHT, HOWEVER,
And Will Attempt to Reach the Mer
Before the Level Is Flooded
A Survivors, story.

NEGAUNEE, Mich, Jan. 1.-The most
distressing accident in this county for
years took place at the Negaunee mine at
noon to-day, when thirteen to seventeen
miners supposed to have lost their
lives. The accident was the result of a
cave-in at the bottom of the shaft and
had 1t occurred half an hour sooner about
$50 men would have been killed The names
of the dead, so far as known, are: William
Williams, John Sullivan, John Pascoe, John
Pearce and Jacob Hunlala. Thus far but
two bodies have been taken out QIullala
an Italian, and Dominic Basso) alive.
Basso's story is as follows: 1--WE were
sitting around the pump at the bottom of
the shaft when without warning thou
sands of tons of ore came down. L re-
membered no more until l heard the sound
of picks and shovels in the hands of res
cuers and their shouts. l was in total
darkness and my feelings cannot be de-
scribed. What seemed ages to me were
but minutes. When rescuers found me l
was seventy-five feet from the place where
i was sitting and found myself in a drift
How i got there Is a mystery, but it can
only be accounted for by the concussion
of the wind
Hundreds of men are at the mine eager
TO help in the work of rescue, but it is
thought the other bodies cannot be found
within twentv-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
Sl,0O0,000 was recently expended to sink a
shaft to the ledge.
From the condition of the shaft it would
seem that the men are surrounded bv a
large mass of dirt and broken timber. The
lower portion of the shaft is so badly
twisted that the cage will not operate
within eighty feet of where the men arc
entombed a rescuing marty of ahont
fifteen of the most skillful miners at the
mine was organized Immediately Thirty
men were working on the level during the
morning, but the majority of them went TO
the surface to eat their dinners, those later
caught under the debris having taken their
lunch with them.
A dull roar and a sound of crashing tim
bers nearly SEQ feet under ground gave TO
the men on the surface the first Indication
of the disaster A rush was made for the
shaft and when all had quieted down vol
unteers under the lead of Cant lanes
Piper descended in the cage in an attempt
al the rescue. IL was found however tha T
the shaft was badly damaged, ii being i'm
possible to get within eighty feet of the
level in which the men were buried
Cries for help were heard at the lowest
point reached and the removal of the tim
bers which blocked the way showed a
man who shortly before the cave-in had
occurred, had started for the surface. He
was uninjured but was drenched to the
skin and suffering greatly with the cold.
The man could throw no light on the fate
of his associates, the majority of whom
are thought to be Italians and FindIanders-
The steam pipes leading TO the under
ground pumps were so damaged that II
would be impossible to opera te the pumDs
even II possible TO reach them, and as the
mine is the wettest in the iron country the
shaft is making water very fast
Tonight the force Of mechanics employed
at the various other mines of the steel
trust are getting other pumps in condition
for operation, but II is prOblematical
whether these can be put into commission
soon enough to prevent the water from
flooding the mine. The flooding Of the
nine would result in great loss to the COM
pany and would necessitate a suspension of
mining work for some time 10 come. A big
force of rescuers working in relays is max
ing desperate attempts to get TO the dam
aged level before the water reaches IL.
If the workmen are not rescued within
the next ten or twelve hours all hope OF
getting them out alive Will be abandoned
The officials would not make a statement
for publication as TO the condition of the
mine nor the number OF men underground
In fact. they will not be able to tell until
all the other workmen In that level report
az the office IL Is assumed that this will
be- done tomorrow. The workmen who had
such a narrow escape were too excited TO
remain at the mine this afternoon.