Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1903-02-04
FIRE N A REPUBLIC NINE
FOUR MEN WERE SEVERELY
BURNED.
Climbed a Ladder Through Blaze Of
Burning Gasoline-After the Fire
Men Re-entered and Were Caught In
a Terrific ExpIosion-one Man
Blown 20 Feet.

RepuDllc, WaSn., req. I."tOur men
were severely burned in fire followed
by an explosion in winze of the San
Poll mine. Sam Kerr and Gus Schager-
nolm had a narrow escape for their
lives by climbing up a ladder through
a blaze of burning gasoline and reach.
ing safety in an exhausted condition.
ootn were badly burned.
Engineer l.. J. Chamberlain and Ell
lis McCannon were caught by the ex-
plosion two hours later. McCannoh
was blown 40 feet through the air, but
niraculously escaped serious injury.
chamberlain saved himself by Drop
ping t1at on his tace just as the ex-
plosion occurred. The damage to the
mine has not been determined as no
danger is past. Inc accidents were OF
d most peculiar character.
Sam Kerr and Gus Schagerholm
were to work getting the old skids GU,
Of the wines. The missing parts OF
the gasoline hoist had been adjusted,
out the windlass was still in use fol-
noisting out Of the winze. A FIVE gal
Ion can of gasoline was emptied into
the tank to test the machine when a
leakage occurred and the gasoline ran
over the floor Of the station and drift
ed down the footwall Of the winze.
Five minutes. after the gasoline hao
been poured into the tank the men in
the winze smelled a strong odor OF
gasoline and concluded to make AL
exit. They firmly secured some OLD
skids to the bucket rope and began
climbing the ladder. The winze is ~
feet deep and they were less than one
nalf the way up. Kerr's candle was
in his candlestick and hung on the
footwall, but Schagerholm5s was in his
hand as he climbed the ladder.
When about 80 feet from the TOP
the gasoline ignited from his candle
and in a second a streak Of fire shot
up and down the winze. In an instant
voice from the station warned the
men to get down the Wine and dir
in the water at the bottom.
Schagerholm rushed down in obey
ance, but Kerr hastily stepped from the
ladder to a stull and passed over to
the opposite end OF. the shaft, out OF
the way Of the fire.
But the gas was filling the winze
and Kerr concluded to get out. He
rushed up the ladder through the
blaze, getting his hands and the LETT
side of his face badly burned and bills
tered. Schagerholm followed and was
somewhat more biistered from the fire
than Kerr.
Dropped From Exhaustion.
During this time L. J. Chamberlain
the engineer, was pouring water down
the winze out of bucket to protec,
the men. and droppe. exhausted to the
door of the drift as the last of the pail
was dragged out.
William M. drummer, the superin
tendent. stood by the winze and grasp
ed each of the men firmly by the wrist
as they got to the top Of the ladder ano
pulled them out of present danger.
About l o'clock in the Afternoon
Chamberlain and McCannon went bach
into the mine to ascertain, If possible
the condition Of things. Both went AZ
far as the turnsheet when McCannor
proceeded to the station and took his
coat from where he had left it hanging
while Chamberlain stepped few fee
away and sat down under the upraise
McCannon, after securing his coat, wa.
STOPPING to pick up a pair of shoes.
Explosion.
The gas smelled strong, and Cham
berlain saw a spark crawling at the
| winze and q momentary crawling Of 9
small streak of fire. which was fol
lowed in an instant by a violent ex
plosion. Chamberlain instinctively
threw himself on his face, which dip
ped in the drain water, McCannon al
the same moment being blown 40 feet
passing Chamberlain like ball Out
Of a cannon. Both men scrambled Out
Of the drift into the main tunnel, each
with hands slightly scratched and 9th
er bruises.
McCannon said he thought the ex
plosion occurred through a rope which
hung down the winze catching fire al
the start Of the accident and smould
ering until sufficient gas had gene
rated In the winze for an explosion.
Statehood Bill.
Washington, Feb. 2.-The omnibus
statehood bill will continue for the
present to hold its place as the un-
finished business on the senate calen-
dar, but 1t seems quite probable that
The discussion of the statehood bill
will come up in connection with the
appropriation bills. Senator Quay has
entirely changed his tactics during the
past week and after trying in vain to
secure a quorum for night sessions
on. two different occasions has aban.
doned all efforts in that direction,
leaving the senators who oppose the
statehood bill to take the RESPONSE
bility for delay. He now, apparently,
is the least concerned of all senators
to secure late sessions.
She Was willing.
"Mrs. Weeds" said Mr.. Binks, 81
asked your dauC liter TO marry me and