The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-30
GAS EXPLOSION or ERUPTION.
Those Familiar With the Topography Dit
+, fer In Opinion. - af3'y> +

Special to Tho journal. - S7z-.s =,
Winnipeg, Man, April 30.-Maynard
COWan of Spokane, one or the principal
Of the East Crows Nest Coal
company, whose mines are situated within
a few miles of Frank is here. He is we'll
acquainted with the town and its sur
roundings and cannot understand how
there could be volcanic eruption and is
inclined to the opinion that gas caused the
catastrophe. For some time past about
1900 tons CT coal@a day have been taken
out of the mine, the Canadian Pacific rail-
road using it exclusively for its engines
an dother requirements in that section Of
country. X = s.
Mr.. Cowan says: "rThe mine entrance
is at the foot of the Turtle mountain.
When was there last the excavation was
in length 1000 feet by IS feet in heighth
and Is feet wide. 1t is possible that this
may have filled with gas and exploded,
but in such case the explosion should
have been at the mouth of the mine and
should not have affected the town In the
way it appears to have done. The town
was named after H. L. Frank, owner OF
the mine. 4 x
Man Who Owns the Mine.
Mr. Frank went in there when there
was only a hole thirty feet deep. That
was three years ago and he has since that
time spent $25o,0o0 in opening it. He
built about sixty cottages for the miners,
several nice dwellings and hotels. The
Turtle mountain is the first of the Rock
les as you enter: the pass The mountain
above the coal is composed OF solid lime
stone. d. Mr.. Frank and S. w. Gebo, man
ager of the mine, are at-presents on their
way to Paris with the object Of selling the
mine to a French syndicate, and their hs-
ure for it was $500, 900. .-, ss''ses>t !
| An Eruption Says Leonard. :; q
| Assistant General Manager Leonard o.
the Canadian Pacific railroad said he hat
little to add to the dispatches. =. He wa:
of, the opinion that the catastrophe was
caused by volcanic eruption, as no mine
explosion could have such a far-reach
| ing effect. =.
my advices from General Superintend
ent Jameson at Calgary he said, "shoV
that the rock is blown into the river
! com pletely blocking it up, and that tn
top Of the mine is still burning. an
afraid that. things will turn out worse thai
the first dispatches indicate, but ever!
PREPARATION is being made. Jameson ha
sent out trains from Mcleod and Gran
brook and Fernie with doctors, nurses am
hospital stores, to give the necessary aid
| Our agent at Cranbrook, says the rail
| way track is covered for. a distance o
two miles east of the station with from
forty to fifty feet of rock. u. The Franl
i coal is we'll suited for our purposes am
we used about 700 tons a day. The popu
lation of Frank is about 1,200.' 49,,
: Frank as 1t. Was. -=i:'
d: w. McIvor, immigration officer was
I up to Sept: Is last, E. resident of Frank
| where he acted as mining engineer. II
gives the following description.
i 'It is," he said, "a one street town
etarting from the station there are o.
each side Of the street stores and hotels
Then further away from the station to
wards Gold creek are three rows Of min
ers' cottages on the west side of tn
street: on the east side is a boarding hous
for single men and also another row {
miners cottages. Further down there
a. large coke oven: then comes Gold cree
, and just across it is the large mountai
called Turtle mountain, which is fro1
IS, 900 to 10000 feet in height
1T is at the base Of this mountain tina
the main entrance to the mine is located
The mine is about a quarter OF a mil
: from the railway station. The top G
l the mountain practically projects owe
/ the town Of Frank and 1t would be eas
for anyone who knows its situation t
recognize how easy it would be in cas-
of an eruption, such as is described, fe
the town to be crushed out Of existence
When left Frank 500 men were engage
! in the mines" e. p. - a.., Z