The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1903-02-06
FIRE M REPUBLIC NINE
FOUR MEN WERE sEvEnGLv
euRNEp.

oAuHiu0 9AsOuHO-NVSoT Sn0 FttD
Men Re-entered and Were Caught IL
TsrrlAs Explosion -ons Man
Blown 20 Feet.
Republic. .wstA.s Feb. 2.--Four mon
were severely burned In = fire followed
by IN .explosion in q winze Of the San
Poll mine. Sam Kerr and Gus SchaseF-
holm had q narrow escape for their
lives by climbing up ladder through
blaze Of burning gasoline and reach
ing safety In an exhausted condition.
Both were badly burned.
Engineer L. J. Chamberlain and III
lis McCannon were caught BY the ex-
plosjon two hours later. McCannon
was blown 40 feet through the air, but
miraculously escaped serious injury.
Chamberlain saved himself by drop
ping fat on his face just a. the ex-
plosion occurred. The damage to the
mine has not been determined a. no
examination was permitted until al
danger Is past. Tns accidents were Of
most peculiar character.
Sam Kerr and Gus 6ohagerholm
were to work getting the old pkids out
of the wines. The missing parts Of
the gasoline hoist had been adjusted,
but the windlass was still In use for
hosting out Of the winze a hve gal
lon can VI gasoline was emptied into
the tank to test the machine when
leakage occurred and the gasoline ran
over the fotr Of the station and drift
ed down the footwall of the winxe.
Five minutes after the gasoline had
been poured into the tank the men in
the winze smelled strong odor Of
gasoline and concluded to make IN
exit. They firmly secured some old
skids to the bucket rope and began
climbing the ladder. The winxe Il 70
feet deep and they were, less than one
half 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 second a streak Of fire shot
up and down the winze. In an instant
4 voice from the station warned the
men to get down the winze and dip
in the water at the bottom.
Schagerholm rushed down in obey
ance, but Kerr hastily stepped from the
ladder to 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 blis-
tered. Schagerho1m followed and was
somewhat more blistered from the fire
than Kerr.
Dropped From Exhaustion.
During this time L. ]. Chamberlain.
the engineer, was pouring water down
, the winze out OF q bucket to protect
the men, and droppes exhausted to the
!. floor of the drift as the last OF the pair
was dragged out.
4 william M. drummer, the superin.
tendent, stocd by the winze and grasp
ed each Of lne men firmly by the wrist
as they got to the top Of the ladder and
pulled them out of present danger.
About / o'clock in the Afternoon
Chamberlain and McCannon4went bach
into the mine to ascertain, II possible
the condition OF things. Both went a
, far as the turnsheet when. McCannoI
, proceeded to the station and took hi
coat from where he had left 1t hanging
while Chamberlain stepped few fee
| away and sat down under the upraise
, McCannon. after securing his coat. wal
, STOPPING to pick up pair of shoes.
i Explosion. s.
The gas smelled strong. and Cham
| berlain saw q spark crawling at thu
winze and q momentary crawling OF
/ small streak Of fire. which was fol
. lowed in an instant by q violent 81
I plosion. Chamberlain instinctivell
1 threw himself on his face. which dir
I ped In the drain water, McCannon .
the same moment being blown 40 feel
v passing Chamberlain like ball ou
r of a cannon. Both men scrambled ou
Of the drift into the main tunnel. eao
j with hands slightly scratched and otf
> McCannon said he thought the 81
n plosion occurred through q rope whic
hung down the winze catching fire
the start Of the accident and smoult
ering until sufficient gas had gem
q rated In the winze for an explosion.
K. Statehood Bill.
e Washington, Feb. 2.-The omnibu
d statehood bill will continue for th
9. present to hold its place as the VI
e. finished business on the senate GALE
TX dar, but 1t seems quite probable th'
70 the discussion Of the statehood bi
n. will come up In connection with Il
ut appropriation bills. Senator Quay hi
le entirely changed his tactics during Il
past week and after trying in vain
secure q quorum for night session
on two different occasions has aba
doned all efforts In that directio
!. leaving the senators who oppose Il
y statehood bill to take the responl
- bility for delay. He now. APPARENT
=. ~ is the least concerned Of all senate
to secure late sessions.
~ Will Pay Militiamen.